China-based infant formula manufacturer Beingmate is to buy 65% of a subsidiary of local dairy products company Meilijian Group.

Beingmate, in which New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra is a shareholder, has agreed to pay CNY117m for the stake in Meilijian's unit in Dunhua, in China's north-eastern Jilin province.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

In a statement, Beingmate said the deal ensures the company will secure a "long-term, stable supply of high-quality milk".

Meilijian Dunhua was established by Beingmate in 2007 and sold to Meilijian in 2008. Its major business is supplying other Meilijian subsidiaries in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang and Anhui. In 2014, Meiliijan Dunhua earned CNY12.8m in net profit, compared with a loss of CNY4.25 million in 2013.

Meilijian Group, based like Beingmate in the eastern city of Hangzhou, has its own dairy farms and manufactures infant formula as well as other dairy products, including milk and condensed milk.

The deal was announced as Beingmate reported its financial results for 2014. Net profit dropped by 90.4% to CNY68.8m due to a high level of inventory and fierce price competition in the market.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact