A Southland sheep milk operation is to use a significant investment from Indonesia to increase its production and expand its marketing.
The Overseas Investment Office has approved an application by the Tachril Family of Indonesia, to buy a 50% stake in Blue River Dairy, based in Invercargill.
The amount paid is confidential. but the company runs three farms in the Invercargill area, as well as a processing plant.
Blue River Dairy had its beginnings as a small co-operative in South Otago. It produces sheep milk powders, cheese and icecream for export.
Company director Keith Neylon, says the new partner will use its business network to help spread the products into new Asian markets.
Blue River Dairy runs a flock of about 15,000 milking ewes and plans to expand that to 20,000 sheep.