Maui Milk appoints Malcolm Edward as CEO

NEW ZEALAND – Maui Milk has appointed Malcolm Edward, a sheep dairy farmer, as CEO of the company and its genetics programme, Southern Cross Dairy Sheep Technology, succeeding Greg Hamill.

Edward currently operates his own sheep dairy enterprise milking Southern Cross ewes with staff assistance, providing him firsthand understanding of the operational challenges and opportunities facing Maui Milk’s supplier base.

The new CEO identified expanding milk supply base as Maui’s immediate priority, acknowledging that demand now exceeds available supply through new supply partnerships that have outpaced production capacity growth.

Edward emphasized commitment to continuing advancement of the Southern Cross Dairy Sheep Technology genetics programme, which represents critical intellectual property and competitive advantage for New Zealand’s emerging sheep milk sector.

“Our current focus on Maui is on expanding our milk supply base, as demand now exceeds supply through new supply partners, and continuing to advance our genetics programme. Additionally, we aim to strengthen our production and sales partnerships through some exciting new product developments.”

Mengniu, Maui Milk partner to expand sheep milk exports

Recently, Mengniu, a leading dairy company in China, partnered with Maui Milk, a manufacturer of sheep milk powder, to expand sheep milk exports and boost dairy production.

This partnership offers Maui access to a significant distribution network and strengthens Mengniu’s global strategy by accessing New Zealand’s premium sheep milk, a market increasing in popularity since Maui began exports to China in 2015.

Greg Hamill, CEO of Maui Milk, emphasised that this collaboration with Mengniu helps Maui quickly enter new markets, enhancing their sales channels and commercial scalability.

He added that the increasing demand for high-quality sheep milk in China aligns with the improving Chinese economy.

“Partnering with Mengniu helps Maui Milk quickly enter additional markets, expanding our sales channels and enabling commercial scalability,” he said.

For Maui Milk, the partnership boosts its recognition and credibility in global markets, especially in Asia, while supporting the rapid development of New Zealand’s sheep milk industry and enhancing export revenue.

Through this partnership, Mengniu, whose brand is owned by Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy Limited, aims to strengthen its international image and secure its supply chain.

By doing so, it ensures a response to the rising consumer preference for healthy, nutritious, and personalised dairy options, spotlighting sheep milk as a functional choice.

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