Western Dairy Limited - Launch Today

Couple invests in Fiji

Nov 10|15:59 pm

Today marked the launch of Western Dairy Limited - a joint venture between three founding shareholders, Chedly Khalek and Ellen La Porte – founders of the pasta company Pacific Fine Foods, CAFF Investments from Noumea New Caledonia, owners of Socalait – biggest dairy company in New Caledonia and FNPF, as an initial loan provider and equity partner.

Husband and wife team of Chedly Khalek and Ellen La Porte made an investment of $3.5 million in Fiji producing local dairy products which is recognized globally.

Based at Votualevu, Nadi, Western Dairy Limited has a fully operational laboratory for batch testing and three production areas – pasta production, yogurt production and juice and ice cream production.

The company started low scale production in January 2010 and is now equipped with all the necessary machinery for full production.

The Minister for Health, Dr Neil Sharma while opening the Western Dairy Factory Plant said the investment is an innovative development in the food industry in Fiji.

“Locally produced food items using plentiful local products are being introduced to the Fijian taste buds and the world famous pasta of Italian roots is being produced using local rourou, pumpkin and tomatoes,” Dr Sharma said.

The company is also producing ‘Yoplait brand’ of yogurt using local fruits such as bananas, guava, mango and sugarcane.

The Minister said the use of local produce by the company addresses the need to change our taste buds to accommodate healthier food items like pasta and yogurt.

Dr Sharma said the approach by Western Dairy also advocates for ‘Buy Fiji’ made products which is healthier and a step towards marketing locally-made products globally.