TATUA Dairy Products (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.（大拓乳制品（上海）有限公司） is the China-based subsidiary of Tatua Cooperative Dairy Company Ltd., a globally recognized New Zealand dairy cooperative known for its specialized dairy ingredients and foodservice innovations. Established to support regional distribution, localization, and customer service in the Chinese market, Tatua Shanghai plays a pivotal role in connecting Tatua’s premium New Zealand-origin products with food and beverage manufacturers across China and greater Asia.
Core Business and Product Offerings
Tatua Dairy Products (Shanghai) specializes in high-performance dairy ingredients and customized solutions tailored to the nutritional, culinary, and food manufacturing industries. Their offerings include:
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Nutritionals:
- Protein Hydrolysates (e.g., enzymatically processed whey and casein proteins)
- Functional Lipids (e.g., milk-derived MCTs)
- Specialty Proteins (e.g., lactoferrin, alpha-lactalbumin)
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Flavours:
- Cheese Flavours (natural, concentrated)
- Butter Flavours
- Cream & Milk Flavours
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Ingredients:
- Caseinates (Sodium and Calcium Caseinates)
- Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC 35–80)
- Anhydrous Milkfat (AMF)
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Foods:
- Foodservice dairy solutions for bakery, dessert, and beverage sectors
- Retail dairy products (UHT whipped cream, sour cream, culinary cream)
- Custom-formulated dairy ingredients for industrial applications
These products are made from New Zealand milk sourced exclusively from Tatua’s farmer-owned cooperative, ensuring full traceability, quality, and purity.
Specialization and Core Strengths
Tatua’s core strength lies in its deep specialization in value-added dairy ingredients rather than bulk commodity products. Its distinct advantages include:
- Small-scale, high-value model: Unlike large-volume dairy exporters, Tatua focuses on precision manufacturing of niche, high-performance dairy ingredients.
- R&D-driven innovation: Significant investment into dairy protein technologies, enzyme treatments, and emulsification systems.
- Customization capabilities: Flexibility to co-develop unique dairy formulations for client-specific applications across nutritional, foodservice, and pharmaceutical categories.
Tatua’s Shanghai subsidiary ensures localized technical support, faster supply chain responses, and regulatory compliance for the Chinese market.
Financial Insights
Tatua Cooperative Dairy Company Ltd. is among the most profitable dairy companies per liter of milk processed in New Zealand:
- Annual revenue: Approximately NZD 400–500 million
- Milk processed: ~200 million liters annually (vs. billions for Fonterra), focusing on high-margin exports
- EBITDA per kgMS (milk solids) consistently higher than industry average
The Shanghai subsidiary functions as a regional hub to support this high-value export model in Asia.
International Shipments and Export Performance
Tatua exports to over 60 countries, with China being one of its fastest-growing markets:
- Products exported to China include caseinates, protein hydrolysates, anhydrous milk fat, and foodservice cream products
- Distribution via the Shanghai office enables reduced lead times, better cold chain handling, and compliance with China’s food import regulations
- Partnerships with premium bakeries, dessert brands, beverage chains, and infant nutrition companies
According to export data, China represents over 25% of Tatua’s total export revenue, making the Shanghai entity critical to its global operations.
Target Market and Industry Applications
Tatua serves a diverse range of sectors:
- Infant Nutrition & Medical Foods: Specialty proteins and protein hydrolysates
- Bakery & Confectionery: Cream, butterfat, caseinates
- Foodservice & Culinary: Whipping cream, cooking cream, ready-to-use dairy toppings
- Beverage Industry: Stabilized dairy creamers, milk-flavored syrups
- Functional Foods & Supplements: Lactoferrin, bioactive dairy peptides
Tatua’s focus on functional performance, natural origin, and clean labels makes it highly attractive in premium segments.
Capabilities and Infrastructure
- Tatua’s New Zealand headquarters: Equipped with advanced membrane filtration, enzymatic processing, drying, and blending lines
- Shanghai office: Dedicated to technical support, customer training, application development, and regulatory liaison
- Robust cold chain logistics from New Zealand to China, ensuring product stability and compliance with MOFCOM and SAMR requirements
Tatua’s global infrastructure enables it to deliver consistent, high-spec dairy ingredients with assured provenance.
Certifications and Compliance
All Tatua products supplied via the Shanghai entity comply with strict international and Chinese regulations:
- ISO 9001, ISO 22000, HACCP
- Halal and Kosher Certifications
- China CIQ registration and traceability for dairy imports
- Infant-grade ingredients produced under certified GMP protocols
- Non-GMO and clean-label declarations available for most ingredients
These certifications ensure trust, safety, and marketability in regulated industries such as infant nutrition and healthcare.
Brands and Market Positioning
- Tatua is the master brand under which all global and regional offerings are marketed.
- The brand is positioned as premium, reliable, and technically superior, particularly in foodservice and B2B ingredient channels.
In China, Tatua has built a reputation for New Zealand-quality cream solutions, particularly among high-end bakery and dessert manufacturers.
Achievements and Recognition
- Top per-liter payout dairy cooperative in New Zealand for over a decade
- Tatua’s infant and clinical nutrition ingredients are used by leading global brands
- Recognized as a model of sustainable and high-value dairy export operations by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)
- Shanghai subsidiary awarded for food safety excellence and compliant import operations in the Pudong Free Trade Zone
TATUA Dairy Products (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. represents the elite segment of New Zealand dairy innovation, offering high-value, science-backed, and application-ready dairy solutions to China's dynamic food and health industries.
