Two New Zealand dairy companies have formed a partnership to take advantage of the growing global demand for a2 milk products.
Synlait Milk and A2 Corporation have teamed up and will next month despatch the first consignment of a2 Platinum infant formula to China – the culmination of an 18 month process which saw the production of the infant formula and other a2 ingredients.
A2 milk products contain only the A2 version of the beta casein protein which is more comparable to protein that mothers naturally produce than other versions of the protein found in standard milk.
The a2 Platinum infant formula will be available in Australia and New Zealand later this year.
Synlait Milk general manager Nutritionals, Tony McKenna, said that on current projections, a2 milk from certified herds will grow to be eight percent of the Company’s supply.
"Synlait is unique in the way our supply base is structured to deliver the right type of milk to meet specialised demand. Our plant is also unique in that we can keep specialised milks separate and process each run to meet the exacting specifications for high value end products.
"Integrity is in the makeup of every Synlait Milk product. It’s a core value we share with A2 Corporation whose business is founded on delivering the healthiest and best tasting milk and dairy products particularly for those consumers who have digestive discomfort issues with ordinary milk," he said.
Synlait Milk will be processing a2 milk from 10 suppliers from August this year, and McKenna expects many of them to achieve the internationally-accredited ISO 65 certification through Synlait's Lead with Pride program, which hallmarks excellence and sustainability throughout all aspects of operations.
This will make the suppliers the first in Australasia to gain ISO 65 accreditation.
Earlier this year, Australia experienced a shortage of baby formula after health scares in China caused shelves here to be stripped.