Synlait Milk has officially opened its $100 million infant nutritional facility near Dunsandel - the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
The facility was commissioned on time in September, despite challenges arising from the earthquakes in the Canterbury region.
Synlait Milk manufactures infant formula products for a range of customers and, while China was the most important market, chief executive John Penno expected the company would be working with more than 10 customers in five countries by mid-2012.
The company was actively seeking new customers as well as building on established relationships. Feedback from staff who attended the world's largest food and beverages trade show in Germany last month was that demand for milk products was "soaring", Dr Penno said.
Discerning customers were willing to pay a premium for safe, nutritious food that they trusted, which created opportunities for the company's farmers, shareholders and New Zealand as a whole.
More than 104 staff work for Synlait Milk, a more than 100% increase on the initial 44 staff who began with the company four years ago.
The company was still recruiting and expected to employ about 120 permanent staff by the end of the season.
Synlait Milk's product range included infant and adult nutritional formulations, functional food ingredients and specialised milk powder products for human health and well-being.
Trade Minister Tim Groser, who officially opened the facility, said it was another major step forward in New Zealand's rapidly expanding trading relationship with China.
It would create more export growth and sustainable jobs in New Zealand but, more broadly, it was another sign of a much bigger picture that was reshaping the world, Mr Groser said.
Even before the global recession began in 2009, the shift of economic and political power to the emerging economies, led by China and India, was taking place at a "breath-taking pace". That would accelerate, he said.
Synlait Milk recently made the Deloitte Fast 50 index for the fourth consecutive year.
Given the business was only four years old, exceeding the 144% growth threshold between 2009 and 2011 to make this year's index was a huge achievement, Dr Penno said.
Synlait Milk is one of 12 South Island-based businesses to make the Deloitte Fast 50 index and one of only three manufacturing businesses from the South on the list. It achieved a growth rate of 165.4% this year.