A SLICE OF THE CAKE As one of nine children, Tatua sales and marketing general manager John Powell often found himself fighting with his siblings over the choicest slices of birthday cake, and watched intently as it was cut into 11 pieces. “We never once considered buying mum a bigger cake tin,” he says. “These days, everyone wants a bigger share… shareholders, customers, employees. Instead of cutting the cake smaller, another option is to make the cake bigger – something I didn’t think of as a child.” Tatua – established 102 years ago with 330 employees processing 200 million litres of milk per annum predominantly sold outside of New Zealand to more than 60 countries – is a co-op with 119 shareholders who farm within a 12km radius of the site in Tatuanui in the Waikato. Its customers say they want certainty of supply, safe products and the ability to add value to their businesses through innovation… and Tatua has listened. “We need to understand customer business, and we need their insights,” Powell says. “We get close to our customers through our six business units.” The company is now involved in technological research covering topics such as enzyme modification, VHT, ion exchange chromatography, spray drying, aerosol technology, membrane separation and freeze-drying. It considers issues like human nutrition, processed food and quality as important for future research and development. “You can never stop innovating,” Powell says. www.foodtechnology.co.nz 15
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