Fonterra last month announced the launch of Mainland Cheese in Malaysia. The product, which will be available in hypermarkets and supermarkets across the country from June this year, was launched in conjunction with New Zealand week, held between 11 and 15 March in Kuala Lumpur.
Managing director Fonterra Brands Malaysia David Ross says Fonterra was proud to be bringing Mainland cheese to Malaysia.
“Mainland cheese was developed in New Zealand in the 1950s. The brand is built on generations of cheese-making expertise and today, it is trusted by people in more than 20 countries across the globe who rely on the brand to provide a range of great tasting cheese for every occasion.
“Mainland is committed to producing only the highest quality, best tasting cheese and we know that it will soon become a favourite for people across Malaysia,” he says.
Six different types of cheddars from the range will be introduced, including Mainland Vintage, Mainland Tasty, Mainland Tasty Light, Mainland Colby, Mainland Edam and Mainland Gouda.
The announcement was made during a talk on cheese and a demonstration by chef Firuz from Fonterra Brands Malaysia before the start of the gala dinner marking New Zealand Week in Malaysia.
Chef Firuz, a chef at Fonterra who creates and develops new recipes for the market, said Mainland cheese was his first choice.
“The quality and flavour of Mainland cheese speaks for itself. I use it whenever I use cheese in a meal, whether in creating new pasta or salad dish or even a sandwich for work or making dinner for the family at home. I’m looking forward to being able to buy it in the supermarket so I can enjoy it even more frequently with friends and family at home.”
Mr Ross says it was fitting the launch of Mainland cheese was being held in conjunction with New Zealand week.
“Fonterra is New Zealand’s largest company and a leader in providing top quality dairy nutrition.
“Here in Malaysia, we have been supplying high quality dairy for more than 40 years and today’s launch allows us to build on this proud tradition.
“Our consumer brands are trusted by people across the country to provide high quality, great tasting dairy nutrition for the whole family and we know that Mainland will join these brands as Malaysian’s first choice in cheese,” he says.
Established in Malaysia in 1975, Fonterra today is a market leader in the retail dairy sector – particularly in adult and maternal milk, yoghurt and dairy products for the bakery and casual dining foodservice channels. Fonterra has two manufacturing plants to meet the growing need for dairy products in Malaysia. The milk powder manufacturing plant at the Subang Jaya Hi-Tech Industrial Park processes around 30,000 metric tonnes of dairy product each year, while Fonterra’s Dairymas plant manufactures around 20,000 metric tonnes of yoghurt and cultured milk drink annually.
In 1996, Malaysia also became the regional packing centre for Fonterra’s milk powder brands throughout Asia. Today, around half of the products currently manufactured in Malaysia are exported to Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and the Middle East. Leading consumer brands under Fonterra include Anmum Materna, Anmum Essential, Anmum Lacta, Fernleaf, Solivite, Calciyum, Anlene and Chesdale. Fonterra Foodservices is a market leader for the local foodservices industry with top-selling dairy products such as Anchor, Mainland and Perfect Italiano. All of Fonterra dairy products in Malaysia are Halal-certified by both the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the New Zealand Islamic Meat Management and New Zealand Islamic Processed Food Management.
