Cowala Seamless Quality Protection Logistic System Launching Ceremony

On the 10th December 2015, Evergrande GMP Dairy proudly launched its “Cowala Seamless Quality Protection Logistic System” at its state of the art new logistic centre in East Tamaki, Auckland.We were honored to have MP Mr Stuart Smith (Member of Social Service Committee, Deputy Chairperson of Primary Production Committee) & MP Mr Jamie-Lee Ross (Member of Foreign Affairs, Defense & Trade Committee and Chairperson of Parliamentary Service Commission Precincts Committee), CCIC, China Shipping NZ and various VIPs & guests join us on the day to share this special occasion. Mr Stuart Smith had especially flown from Wellington to Auckland to attend the event.

MP Mr Stuart Smith giving a speech

MP Mr Jami-Lee Ross giving a speech

Cowala Seamless Quality Protection Logistic System Official Launching Ceremony.

Cowala Seamless Quality Protection Logistic System Official Launching Ceremony

In the past year, Evergrande GMP has grown at a rapid speed. Since November 2014, Evergrande GMP has exported around 3 million cans (450 TEU) of its Cowala 900g infant & adult formula to North Asia including China and Korea. Cowala milk powders are not only consumed by around 80 thousand families in China; Cowala infant formula has also become one of the top selling New Zealand infant formula brands in Korea’s high-end supermarkets.

Evergrande GMP Dairy upholds the “Quality Above All” belief and implements the highest pharmaceutical standards for production management, which means that rapid development of production scale is matched by acceleration in product quality and product safety.
With excellent product quality and its good reputation established by consumers’ word of mouth endorsement, Cowala has been voted as “China’s most influential infant formula brand 2015” on China’s Sina network, it has also won “2015 Mummy’s most recommended imported infant formulas 2015”, a survey which was participated in and voted by thousands of mothers in China.

Evergrande GMP’s Seamless Quality Protection Logistic System

Evergrande GMP’s logistic system provides the best assurance possible that the quality of our product is maintained without compromise during its long journey from the Land of the Long White Cloud, all the way to ports in China.
It is a Seamless Quality Protection System because at every step of the way, at every product movement, every storage location, risks to product quality have been assessed and we have taken appropriate measures to eliminate or minimize those risks. There are no gaps in the process, no missing links in the chain and product quality is protected at each movement and at each storage point.
All GMP’s products are manufactured in accordance with the Risk Management Program pertaining to that site and meet all quality parameters under that RMP.
GMP’s containerization step is especially unique and innovative. GMP’s warehouse has a fully enclosed indoor area where we can position and load 8 40ft containers at once, in a fully secure environment, 100% protected from the weather.
GMP maintains an excellent relationship with shipping partners and has in place agreements whereby our containers are loaded onto container ships at or below the water line. This ensures containers are placed where they are most protected from temperature extremes which could affect the temperature-sensitive vitamins and essential fats and oils in baby formula. As an extra assurance, every container carries a temperature data logger, which continuously records the inside temperature. This data is collected at the end of the journey and checked to confirm that the travel conditions met our requirements and expectations.

Having arrived at one of the ports in China, our local team takes care of the product, so it again returns to our control. It is moved to bonded warehouses while it awaits CIQ clearance. These storage facilities are monitored for temperature and are kept as cool as possible.

GMP Logistic Centre QA manager Nicola Scholes Introduces Evergrande GMP’s Seamless Quality Protection Logistic System.

Evergrande GMP’s Seamless Quality Protection Logistic System

At time of manufacture, each and every can of Cowala product is batch coded with the usual information (Batch, Date of Manufacture, and Best Before) and in addition to this, each can receives its own unique 2D QR code – no two cans will ever have the same QR code. This is part of our patented “Black Box” system with which are able to link product information, raw material information, testing results, foreign matter detection images, and (in the unlikely event that we should we ever need it) recall information, to each individual can.
Anyone with the appropriate app on their smart phone can scan the QR code and will be directed to the website where are the relevant information is accessible.
The 2D code of each can is recorded as it passes along the production line and for the 6 cans in each shipper, there is a 2D code printed, denoting the 6 cans inside. At time of distribution, the code on the shipper can be scanned and the information is now available of which particular cans are being sent to which destination.

GMP leads New Zealand Food Safety to a New Level

Evergrande GMP Dairy has a reputation in New Zealand as an infant formula manufacturing company which is very focused on the quality of our products, our quality control systems, and our strict adherence to food safety regulations. At GMP Dairy we continually strive to deliver only the highest quality products for our consumers, as babies are the most delicate “consumers” of all.

On 13th November 2015, Evergrande GMP Dairy, ably assisted by New Zealand Food Safety Minister Hon Jo Goodhew, Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross, China Trade Commissioner Mr Zhang Fan and Evergrande Agri-Husbandry Group Chairman Mr Xu Wen, officially launched the “New Zealand Food Safety College” at its state of the art head office in East Tamaki, Auckland.

Here at Evergrande GMP Dairy, our philosophy is “Quality above all”. To support this philosophy and in order to emphasise to our employees and business partners the importance of food safety, Evergrande GMP Dairy has established the “New Zealand Food Safety College” to provide food safety training courses to help our distributors, employees and business partners understand New Zealand and International food safety programs and systems.

During the opening ceremony, Evergrande GMP Dairy signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with AsureQuality and China Certification & Inspection Group (CCIC) to provide professional training support to GMP Dairy regarding New Zealand & China’s food safety regulations and expectations. Evergrande GMP Dairy’s goal is to have at least 365 people completing the food safety training course by the end of 2016.

AsureQuality is one of New Zealand’s leading government approved food safety auditing and testing organisations. They play a vital role in making sure the foods produced in New Zealand are safe for millions of people worldwide. They are unique in their end to end focus on the food supply chain through a combination of auditing, inspection, farm assurance, and laboratory testing capabilities.

China Certification & Inspection Group (CCIC) is an independent third party certification and inspection organization dedicated to providing inspection, verification, certification and testing services, with accreditation by General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China(AQSIQ), Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China(CNCA) and  China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment(CNAS).

GMP Dairy Ltd was initially part of GMP Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a leader in the pharmaceutical industry in NZ and Australia, with over 20 years experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing. GMP Dairy is the only dairy manufacturer applying pharmaceutical standards to production in NZ and Australia. In October 2014, Evergrande Dairy Group acquired a 51% stake in GMP Dairy Limited, thus becoming Evergrande Dairy Group’s first overseas dairy manufacturing base.
GMP’s food safety and quality standard has become even more strict after being partnered with Evergrande Agri -Husbandry Group who strongly believe that “Quality is the foundation of a brand”.Now having being partnered with AsureQuality & CCIC has brought Evergrande GMP to a complete new level in terms of further enhancing its food safety system.

A Chinese corporation has made $73 million sales within 12 months of launching its New Zealand infant formula.

Evergrande Dairy has sold two million cans of Cowala branded infant formula in China; it aims to double sales this year.

Evergrande Dairy Group general manager Yu Wei Ming says this shows NZ infant formula is making a comeback in China after Fonterra’s false botulism scare two years ago. It also proves infant formula made in NZ still resonates well with Chinese consumers, he says.

Ming was in Auckland recently to attend a Cowala charity event: for every can of Cowala sold in China, Evergrande is donating 10c to the Foundation of Youth Development in NZ.

Evergrande hopes to make Cowala a top infant formula brand in China. Ming says the100% NZ product is the main reason for Cowala’s early success.

NZ infant formula’s reputation in China took a hit after Fonterra’s false botulism scare in 2013. This allowed infant formula makers in Europe to steal our market share.

Ming says competition remains strong but the NZ brand is making a comeback.

“After the crisis, NZ branded infant formula sales dropped a little,” he told Rural News. “But each year we have millions of new babies and new mothers and there is new awareness about NZ infant formula.

“We are gradually seeing NZ products getting back and in the next two-three years NZ products will get back on the right track.”

Evergrande markets its Cowala infant formula as 100% from NZ and the best in the world.

He notes that Cowala’s first year sales form a small proportion of the total infant formula sales in China.

“We are focussing on lifting sales and targeting to double sales this year; tripling sales will be even better.”

Evergrande Dairy owns 51% of GMP Dairy, a South Auckland infant formula maker among the first to get new accreditation from Chinese authorities.

GMP Dairy managing director Karl Ye says the company has received great support in NZ over the last 14 years. “It’s now time to pay back to the community for the support,” he says.

The ‘Cowala 10c of Love’ charity was launched to coincide with the mid-autumn moon festival in China.

Evergrande and GMP were a big sponsor of a charity auction night for children with autism, held in June by Young Business Women in NZ.

Evergrande Dairy is part of the Evergrande Group, which started in real estate and has since diversified into other businesses including fast moving consumer goods.

Cowala infant formula’s claimed point of difference is its world-first patented traceability via the cans: this allows consumers to use their smartphone to scan a barcode telling them the milk powder’s history and shows an x-ray picture of the contents.

Shipping information on each can helps streamline access at the Chinese border.

GMP was proudly nominated as the finalist for three awards for NZTE International Business awards.

Celebrating the passion, vision and new approaches that New Zealand businesses are taking to achieve international success, the Awards are run by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and its Strategic Partner ANZ.
NZTE is the Government’s international business development agency, helping to boost global reach and build capability so our companies can grow bigger, better, faster. They leverage their connections and government influence on behalf of businesses, and apply local knowledge.

The New Zealand International Business Awards are organised by NZTE, it is one of the biggest business awards in the year. This award is considered to be extremely authoritative and have been running since 2009. The purpose of the award is to celebrate New Zealand business success in the world and recognise professional excellence and innovative practice. They provide an opportunity for New Zealand businesses to benchmark performance, build capability and boost employee morale.
Therefore, GMP was extremely honored to have been nominated as one of the finalists, competing with some of the top enterprises in New Zealand.

Our General Manager, Ravinesh Kumaran was presented the finalist certificates for 3 categories on 13th March in a breakfast hosted by NZTE at the Better by Design CEO Summit held at Villa Maria.

GMP was nominated as finalist for three awards we have applied:

• ANZ Best Business Operating Internationally – Over $50m Award
• Excellence in Innovation Award
• Excellence in Operations Award

Peter Chrisp, Chief Executive of NZTE, said the diversity exemplifies an increased appetite from businesses to push frontiers and embrace innovation.
“In this year’s finalists we can see companies who are going premium with new business models and who are leveraging the New Zealand brand. They’re building businesses that are offering more tailored and bespoke products and services and the results are evident in their success.”
David Green, Managing Director Institutional at ANZ New Zealand, said: “The great diversity of this year’s finalists reflects the significant potential for New Zealand businesses when they take the time to understand offshore markets, pursue new growth opportunities and innovate to develop products that meet the needs of end-consumers. Their success is contributing to New Zealand’s growing achievements in doing business globally, which is supporting job creation, economic growth and a stronger future.”

GMP was the winner of ‘Most Innovative Approach’ award in 2010.

The company has shown incredible growth since its inception, applying ingenuity to business process and growth strategy. High standards of quality, increased customer support and growth has enabled recognition from numerous government bodies, industry bodies and business associations leading to numerous awards. Over the years the company has been conferred with a number of business excellence awards and recognition for significant contribution to the natural products industry and manufacturing sector.

We believe GMP has become a key player in the industry and demonstrated to other New Zealand companies, that small companies with no large corporate type international backings can still be successful if they persevere and work hard. Our motto is “To work harder for your success” and we strongly believe that this culture is important for success. Our success has emanated into multiple business awards and business introductions to some of the largest public and state owned companies in China. In addition, we have had multiple visits from parliament members, prime minister, Trade Minister Fonterra and other high profile people from New Zealand and China that have shown interest in the GMP story. We believe that we are significant contributors to the Nutraceutical and Infant Formula industry and our pharmaceutical background gives that advantage.

Our winning formula is putting food safety as the foundation of our business and aim for perfection in every aspect of production. We aim to deliver only the best to the consumers.

At GMP, we pride our success for giving back to the community. We believe we’ve got a responsibility to give back to the wide communities, therefore we have being supporting and sponsoring educational and not for profit associations to help a wide range of people and communities.
A Lantern Festival party was held by Auckland Students & Scholars Association at GMP premises on the 6th March 2015. The main purpose of the event was to build a bridge for exchange students and New Zealand’s local outstanding enterprises. We also took the opportunity to celebrate Chinese Lantern Festival.

Auckland Students & Scholars Association was established in 2010 by the China Scholarship Council. They are a group of elites in China who are studying or have studied in China’s top Universities. They are funded by the China Scholarship Council to come to New Zealand to study PHD & research. Their major varies from science, food nutrition, technology and so on. The Chinese government is very supportive to them and the Association now has 165 people in total.

With the attendance of Mr Fang (The Consulate-General of The People’s Republic of China in Auckland), PHD students from Auckland & AUT universities and some local enterprises, the event has been very successful.

During the event, Mr Fang highly commented on GMP on its rapid growth and development over the short period of time. He was incredibly proud of GMP’s contribution towards China & New Zealand’s economy by creating jobs for migrates and expending the export industry. He said that GMP is a role model for Chinese Enterprises in New Zealand and played an extremely important role within the Chinese community.
He was also thankful that as a well established Chinese enterprise in NZ, GMP is still actively enhancing cross-cultural communication and sharing knowledge for Chinese Students in New Zealand.
“A good business, not only relies on its operation, income and brand value to be successful, what is more important is to take responsibility and contribution to society. GMP has demonstrated good practice and leadership for other Chinese/New Zealand enterprises”.

The evening was filled with laughter and joy. GMP staff & the students also had an enjoyable “Dumpling Making competition”. Our Deputy General Manager Ravinesh Kumaran also experienced his first ever dumpling making. Trust the event was meaningful and memorable for all parties involved.

GMP has been supporting the educational communities for the past few years. We have also sponsored Students Association for Culture Exploration in 2014. We worked alongside the Consulate-General of The People’s Republic of China in Auckland to enhance cross-cultural communication and to share knowledge for Chinese students in New Zealand. The Maori and Kiwi culture exploration gives international students more chance to interact with the local communities and helps enrich their life experience overseas.