This double-digit revenue growth is directly tied to significant capital investments in production capacity. Westland’s Hokitika facility, for instance, has seen its consumer butter production capacity boosted by 10,000 tonnes. Simultaneously, ODL’s Glenavy facility has increased its skim-milk powder capacity, while the Rolleston site has raised UHT cream production by 20% to meet the growing demands of the Chinese market. These targeted upgrades are crucial in allowing the companies to capitalize on premium product segments.

The strong top-line performance is also translating to the bottom line, with a combined before-tax profit growth of 12% for the first half of 2025. This profitability is expected to continue climbing well into 2026 for both companies. The success is a direct result of Yili’s strategic vision for its New Zealand assets, proving that focused investment in advanced production capabilities can yield significant returns in the competitive dairy economics landscape.

A key driver of this success has been the implementation of a unified sales strategy. Since 2024, the companies have been operating under a collaborative external sales arrangement. This cooperative model is designed to create greater efficiencies and provide more opportunities to optimize the product mix, further building on their high-value strategy. This approach not only streamlines operations but also positions the companies to be more agile in responding to market demands.