Fonterra's new cream cheese plant in Canterbury has started production and is set to manufacture up to 24-thousand metric tonnes of cream cheese annually, bound for China.
Fonterra says the 20 kilogram blocks of cream cheese will meet growing demand for bakery goods, like cheese cakes and cheese tarts.
Spokesperson Susan Cassidy says growth in China's middle class, rapid urbanisation and changing consumer tastes have contributed to explosive growth in the number of consumers wanting New Zealand dairy.