Welcome to Woodlands Dairy, Home of First Choice
In 1995, we started our journey as a modest packaging plant for the milk produced on Woodlands Farm, in the picturesque Eastern Cape, under the ownership of the Gutsche family. Rooted in these humble origins, Woodlands Dairy has since evolved into one of South Africa's foremost manufacturers of UHT milk, proudly marketed under our brand, FIRST CHOICE®.
Besides FIRST CHOICE®, we specialise in the processing, production, and packaging of high-quality house brand dairy products for esteemed retailers like SPAR and Woolworths.
In an exciting development, the Woodlands Group acquired Fairfield Dairy, located in the enchanting Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands, in 2022.
While Fairfield boasts a limited range of Fairfield branded products, its true strength lies in processing, producing, and packaging high-quality house brand dairy items for esteemed retailers such as SPAR, Woolworths, and Pick ‘n Pay. Fairfield is renowned for its exceptional yoghurts, flavoured milks, and fresh milk.
Within our FIRST CHOICE® range, we offer an extensive selection, including a variety of cheeses, butter, cream, amasi, custard, flavoured milk, high-protein milk, extended shelf life (ESL) fresh milk, UHT milk, milk powder, dairy desserts, dessert toppings, yoghurt, honey and ice cream.
What is sustainability really and why should Woodlands Dairy and you care?
The dictionary definition for sustainability is:
• The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.
• Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
In business sustainability is generally dealt into three core pillars: Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). Woodlands Dairy takes ESG very seriously and has aligned its sustainability values to the UN’s 17 Sustainable
Development Goals.
In 2012 Woodlands Dairy started its environmental sustainability journey by having its baseline green house gas
emissions measured. The next year they introduced the Woodlands Dairy Milk Standard and the Woodlands Dairy Sustainability Project in partnership with Trace and Save on their supplier farms.
This means that our supplier farms have assistance to farm more sustainably and get surveyed and audited on several criteria in intervals. Since then they’ve put in renewable energy systems, a resource recovery plant where they recycle their water, increased their corporate social Investment spend and improved the renewable
materials used in their packaging.
On the social front, we prioritise employee development, community support, and job creation, contributing to the well-being of our region. In the realm of governance, we uphold integrity and ethical business practices in all our endeavours, ensuring trust and transparency. Our comprehensive approach to sustainability underscores our commitment to creating a positive legacy for future generations.
Sustainability is not just a buzz word for Woodlands Dairy, it’s a reality.
ESG Facts
We are excited to share our 2023 ESG Report, click on the link below to view.
2023 ESG Report
