New Zealand dairy group Fonterra has welcomed the ruling by the country’s Commerce Commission ordering Open Country Cheese to pay the group in excess of NZ$800,000 (US$506,144).
 
The Commerce Commission found Open Country Cheese to be in breach of its contract with Fonterra and ordered the company to meet its commitments. The ruling followed a complaint to the Commission by Open Country Cheese itself concerning the price it paid Fonterra for milk supplied under the terms of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act.
 
Barry Harris, director of milk supply at Fonterra, said the method for calculating the wholesale milk price was clearly set out in the legislation, and Fonterra had always been confident that its pricing was in line with both the letter and the intent of the legislation. “The intent of the legislation is to ensure a ready supply of raw milk at a fair price, and this is clearly being achieved,” Harris said.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

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

Find out more

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