Two years ago, the Hokitika co-op had no product in the domestic butter market, despite having produced Westgold butter for export since 2004.

Today, Westgold butter is the third biggest-selling butter in the North Island, with two million packs sold since its New Zealand launch in August 2016.

Westland chief executive Toni Brendish outlined Westgold’s success at the recent Dairy NZ Farmers Forum in Hamilton.

Brendish joined Westland in September 2016 with a brief from the co-op’s 400 farmer suppliers to turn the business around. To meet objectives she turned her attention to consumer feedback and business trends