Just months into his role as Danone New Zealand supply point director, Chuen Kiat (CK) Tan has big plans. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the company’s operations, having worked for Danone for 13 years in various roles, including internationally.
“This role is sort of a homecoming for me because from late 2019 to 2024, I was the site manager for the Balclutha plant, and I was previously living in Dunedin and making the commute to Balclutha daily,” says CK. “I have worked closely with the Mayor of Balclutha and was also there when Danone commissioned its biomass boiler, so I was a part of that journey.”
Part of his experience includes a role with Danone in Europe as supply point director in Wexford, Ireland. He expects to leverage this global perspective in his new role, which will include helping to roll out the next phase of the Renew Danone strategy in New Zealand.
“Renew Danone works on building culture and capabilities to deliver results,” he says. “It’s about leveraging the good work that has already been done with our people and company to take things into the future. Renew Danone aims to reconnect the company with a sustainable, profitable growth model. It involves a cultural reset, an executional reset and a financial and business model reset, alongside proactive portfolio management.”
“Our next chapter emphasises science and innovation, operational discipline and a focus on health and nutrition, particularly protein and gut health, as well as expansion into away-from-home and medical nutrition markets.”
As part of this approach, Danone New Zealand is pioneering the rollout of the Integrated Work System, a continuous improvement programme that New Zealand is implementing independently. CK, due to his international experience with the Integrated Work System, will spearhead this initiative locally.
“Danone is focused on protecting the planet while delivering strong returns. It’s about combining profitability with environmental responsibility, leveraging science, innovation and operational excellence.”
Sustainability remains a central pillar of Danone’s growth strategy. In Auckland, at its canning and production facility, the company installed over 3,500 solar panels on the facility’s roof in 2025. The new panels will generate around 1,490 kW of energy and 1.66 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually, covering roughly 23% of the site’s energy needs. CK says this achievement aligns with the company’s sustainability framework, the Danone Impact Journey, underscoring its commitment to environmental and social stewardship.
The Balclutha plant has also been at the forefront of sustainability with a state-of-the-art biomass boiler reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 13,500 tonnes annually. The plant sources raw milk from 20 local farms, which is then spray-dried into base powder for both domestic processing and international export.
Previous research initiatives in partnership with Synlait and AgResearch have further highlighted Danone’s leadership in regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices. “Danone is focused on protecting the planet while delivering strong returns. It’s about combining profitability with environmental responsibility, leveraging science, innovation and operational excellence,” explains CK.
He says that the Balclutha site, one of the key employers in the region, also contributes to the local community through corporate social responsibility initiatives, including sponsoring the Balclutha Half Marathon and, in 2025, a local school bus.
Leading multinational food and beverage company Danone operates across essential dairy and plant-based products, water, and specialised nutrition, with more than 100,000 employees and products sold in over 120 markets. Its portfolio includes international brands such as Actimel, Activia, Alpro, evian, YoPRO and Volvic, alongside strong local brands including Aptamil, Karicare, Fortisip, Souvenaid and Nutricia. CK says Danone New Zealand has always been a strategic site for the business.
“Our operations are scaled to meet the needs of both domestic and export markets, so it’s about continuing to enhance our performance and delivery of high-quality products.”
