Warrnambool’s reputation as a major player in the cream cheese supply chain is spreading
Regional Victorian city Warrnambool, renowned for its legendary Kermond’s Hamburgers and for being the Gateway to the Great Ocean Road, has another claim to fame – cream cheese.
Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB) today announced it had signed a long-term agreement with cheese giant Kraft Foods to produce a specially formulated cream cheese.
Under WCB’s Sungold Brand, the product is set to be exported to Japan, China, Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle East.
The
crafty deal
will provide a staged increase of up to 5,000 metric tonnes of cheese product per year for WCB exclusively, effective from the second quarter of the 2013 calendar year.
The cheese agreement follows a recent announcement that WCB would develop a premium low fat cheese, marketed under the Livefree brand, for Kraft Foods.
According to WCB, the unique cheese contains 80 percent less fat and half the energy of regular tasty cheese, while maintaining a delicious cheddar flavour.
Kraft Foods Managing Director of Foods Darren O’Brien says the collaboration is proving to be a key ingredient for success.
“Australian food companies are strong in innovation and our products are trusted around the world, so it’s great that we’re making the most of our local manufacturing capabilities, supporting our farmers by sourcing locally and capitalising on the brilliant export opportunity,” O’Brien says.
WCB CEO David Lord says the cheese agreements are exciting.
“Both agreements are consistent with WCB’s strategy to build a portfolio of higher margin products and deliver more customer specific applications,” Lord says.