Pictured at the Fonterra awards were, from left, Commercial Manager Warren Hanna, Site Services Manager Mike Hawkins, Depot Manager Simon Aykroyd, Te Awamutu Operations Manager Russell Muir and Director, New Zealand Manufacturing, Alan Van Der Nagel.
Te Awamutu milk tanker drivers can take a bow.
Their work has helped Fonterra’s Te Awamutu site win an award at the company’s annual Best Site Cup ceremony,
The site won the Transport Cup and was also the runner-up for best medium site.
The plant, which supplies 10 per cent of butter in the Greater China region, was awarded the Greater China CEO Special Quality Cup at the 2021 awards.
The awards, in their 17th year, encourage some friendly competition between plants and the opportunity to win in a range of areas, from sustainability and innovation to efficiency.
They celebrate the successes of Fonterra’s manufacturing sites across the country.
The Transport Cup is awarded on Tanker Activity Management System scores. The scoring system helps to ensure Fonterra tankers are driven safely and efficiently by monitoring the vehicles’ acceleration, braking and speed.
Fonterra Te Awamutu.
A company spokesperson said having won the cup, Te Awamutu can claim to have the safest and most efficient Fonterra fleet in New Zealand.
“Considering the weather events that have affected the past year, as well as the twists and turns in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty’s roads, the Te Awamutu fleet’s score is a remarkable achievement,” the spokesperson said.
The Best Medium Site Cup recognises the best medium-sized site for the 2023 financial year and is based on performance and site culture.
Judges said Te Awamutu was runner up for the Best Medium Site Cup for reasons including making remarkable progress in the sustainability space, showcasing strong improvements throughout the year, particularly with waste to landfill and water quality – and success with site engagement and culture, measured in a people and culture survey taken by employees across Fonterra.
Te Awamutu Operations Manager Russell Muir says being recognised as one of the best is a real feather in his site’s cap.
“We take real pride in the fact that we’re improving year on year and creating great results for shareholders and the local community.”
The Te Awamutu employs more than 330 people and produces whole milk powders, skim milk powder, buttermilk powder, butter and anhydrous milk fat.
In peak season it processes up to three million litres of milk every day, The site was established as a creamery in 1889.
