Dairy Processing - November/December 2024 - 30

said what Suntado is offering the marketplace is
what their customers are seeking.
" Suntado has a fantastic foresight into the
future of what they're investing in now to enable
many years of success, " Rutz said. " They're very
visionary, strategic and a great partner. Our
customers are their customers, and this is what
our customers have been asking for. "
The beverage market has changed
dramatically, said Pedro Gonçalves, vice
president of marketing for Tetra Pak US and
Canada. And he sees Suntado as the future.
" Dairy is still the biggest platform to bring
innovation to the marketplace, " he said. " That
means we will have more diversification in the
industry ... We see Suntado as a key player in
bringing these types of products to (market). "
Dairy is still
the biggest
platform to
bring innovation
to the
marketplace. "
Pedro Gonçalves, Tetra Pak
US and Canada
Many of the products produced by Suntado
will be packaged in Tetra Pak cartons, ranging in
sizes from 8.5 to 33.8 oz.
In addition to packaging, Tetra Pak's
processing equipment can be found throughout
Suntado's facility, from separators to filling
machines. Tetra Pak filling and packaging
equipment can process regular pasteurized milk
and creamers that stay fresh in the refrigerator
for two to three weeks, and refrigerated ESL
products that stay fresh for up to 120 days.
The initial lines at Suntado include five
Tetra Pak shelf stable and ESL packaging
lines - two TT/3 filling machines, two A3/Flex
aseptic filling and one A3/Compact Flex aseptic
filling machine.
The partnership between Suntado and Tetra
Pak has been instrumental in ensuring the
success of the new venture, Nichols said.
" I think every time we came against a
challenge where we felt like we needed to pivot,
they delivered, " he said. " Tetra Pak is invested in
us as much as we are invested in them. "
Mat Rutz, vice president of contract
manufacturing for Tetra Pak US and Canada,
30 NOV-DEC 2024 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
LOOKING AHEAD
While 95% of the plant's portfolio is focused on
dairy products, Suntado is equipped with ample
capacity to innovate and reshape the traditional
dairy and alternative beverage market.
" I think what's important is that our owners
are dairymen and our priority is to make dairy
beverages, " Nichols said. " But they're also
entrepreneurs and they understand that when
you make a capital investment like this, at some
point, to keep something of this scale running,
you're going to make other products. "
At the beginning of October, Suntado was
running commercialized products on four of
its six filling systems, with plans to begin full
commercialized product on the fifth line by the
middle of the month.
" It's progressing very fast, as expected, "
Nichols said. " We've had a few small bumps
in the road, but it's going very smooth. " The
company plans to be up to full production and
full capacity by May 2025.
As far as what's ahead, the company is
focused on meeting the needs of its customers
and of consumers.
" Suntado will be very focused on ramping
up and looking toward the future and toward
high protein drinks, " said Nichols. " We're just
very optimistic and very, very busy. The milk
supply is in demand, organic and conventional,
and we're very fortunate that we're vertically
integrated and have our own supply. "
Tetra Pak
http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Dairy Processing - November/December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dairy Processing - November/December 2024
