The dairy co-operative, Westland Milk Products, says a consumer shift towards more natural fats is helping drive butter sales.
Westgold butter Photo: Supplied.
New Zealand sales of the company's Westgold butter product, which was launched in 2015, have just passed the three million mark.
Westland's general manager for marketing, Hamish Yates, said reports indicate that demand for butter, cream and other dairy-rich products continues to increase globally, in line with consumers' renewed taste for natural fats.
"Globally, we are seeing an increasing consumer demand for natural, wholesome foods, and a return to the simplicity that products such as butter offer," he said.
International retail butter sales are expected to expand by 2.9 percent to $US19.4 billion in 2018, outpacing the 1.9 percent growth in sales volumes, according to Euromonitor International.
Westgold butter was first launched in 2004 as an export consumer brand.
Westland Milk Products said more than eight million blocks were sold into international markets each year, including Australia, China, Singapore, South Korea and Azerbaijan.
It said this figure was set to increase with the development of new markets and product sizes to meet growing consumer demand.
