Collaborating to grow our Chinese market 

Two of our New Zealand team recently travelled to China to learn more about the UHT Cream market there, and how we can develop great new products for our customers.

Raha Haddadian, Research Technologist at Fonterra Research and Development Centre (FRDC) in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and Gary Burdett, Category Marketing Manager, recently visited to Shanghai, China with the aim of enhancing our presence and growth in the Chinese market. 

China is one of the fastest-growing food and beverage markets in the world and Fonterra has been part of it for more than 40 years. Embracing the opportunities that the Chinese market presents is a key priority for Fonterra, and for this reason we continue to invest in research and growth in the region.  

The itinerary was jam packed while in China, Raha and Gary carried out several activities in order to strengthen ties. The attended the Bakery China Trade Show, to explore market offerings and engage with equipment suppliers to gain insights into the UHT cream landscape in China to help them develop new product innovation for the market. 

Collaborative workshops were held also during the trip - Gary facilitated cross-functional workshops with the China teams, focusing on UHT Creams pipeline development, future product development, local projects, and other opportunities. 

Raha collaborated with a Chef and China’s Innovation team to provide technical training, align handbooks, conduct application testing, and develop new recipes and prototypes.

Another key priority was market engagement. Raha and Gary visited main channel and application customers, gathering valuable market insights, understanding customer needs, and identifying new opportunities for UHT Creams.