World Milk Day: Nestlé Nespray champions SA dairy farmers

This World Milk Day, Nestlé Nespray highlights the sustainable journey of its 100% locally sourced milk. Discover how responsible farming practices and rigorous quality controls deliver essential nutrition to school-age children across South Africa.

Celebrated globally on 1 June, World Milk Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to recognise milk’s important role in nutrition and celebrate the people and industries behind it.

Under this year’s theme, “sustainability in the dairy sector,” Nestlé Nespray is inviting South African families to look beyond the glass and discover the journey behind the brand, from local dairy farms to the trusted quality standards families rely on every day.

At the centre of this story is Skimmelkrans, the dairy farm that supplies fresh milk to the Nespray factory in Mossel Bay, highlighting the people, care and processes involved in bringing Nespray products to families across the country.

The journey explores how locally sourced milk moves from farm to factory, showcasing the dedication of dairy farmers, the importance of quality control and the role responsible farming practices play in supporting long-term food production in South Africa.

Nestlé Nespray’s local value chain supports 13 000 community members while delivering vital micronutrients (iron, zinc, and 10 vitamins) to school-going children. Photo: Nestlé Nespray

“World Milk Day is an opportunity to celebrate the people, communities and local expertise behind the products families enjoy every day. From trusted local dairy farms like Skimmelkrans Farm to the teams working behind the scenes at the Mossel Bay Factory, there is great care taken at every step to help deliver quality milk to South African families.

“This is our promise to parents and caregivers across the country,” says Masechaba Sekhitla, senior brand manager for Ambient Dairy, Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region (Esar).

A story rooted in South African farms

Nestlé Nespray is made using 100% locally sourced fresh milk from over 96 South African dairy farms across the Eastern and Western Cape, supporting local agriculture and the communities connected to it.

Together, these farms demonstrate how dairy production can support environmental preservation without compromising high production standards.

Leading farms such as Rooiheuwel Farms, Oakdale Agricultural High School, and Grasslands Agriculture set strong examples of low-carbon practices. Rooiheuwel, a 426ha farm, sustains a predominant herd of Jersey cows, each yielding 21ℓ of milk daily.

At Skimmelkrans, careful processes and rigorous quality checks help ensure consistency, safety and quality consumers expect from the brand. Behind every Nestlé Nespray is a network of local farmers, processors and experts working together to deliver a trusted product to South African families.

Jean Higgs, agricultural services group manager at Nestlé Esar, emphasised the importance of delivering high-quality milk to consumers. “Sourcing milk locally guarantees that the milk we use to make Nestlé Nespray is as fresh as possible. This enables us to guarantee that the milk satisfies our exacting requirements for safety and quality,” Higgs said.

Supporting growing children every day

Milk plays an important role in supporting physical growth for school-going children. Nestlé Nespray is specially formulated to support this important stage of development.

Designed for children between 7 and 14 and trusted by families across South Africa, Nestlé Nespray is formulated to meet the needs of school-age children, providing a source of 10 vitamins, iron and zinc to support their overall growth and development.

A commitment that extends beyond the glass

Globally, World Milk Day has increasingly become a conversation about sustainability, responsible food production and the important role dairy plays in supporting communities and livelihoods.

Beyond environmental gains, this initiative significantly impacts local communities. The Mossel Bay dairy farms and the factory employ over 1 000 people and support more than 13 000 individuals, uplifting the local economy.

For Nespray, quality goes hand in hand with responsibility.

From responsible sourcing practices to mindful resource management, the brand continues to support approaches that contribute to the long-term sustainability of local dairy production and the communities connected to it. This broader commitment reflects an understanding that the journey from farm to family should create lasting value for consumers, communities, and future generations alike.

Encouraging families to ask the good questions

Nespray will continue the conversation beyond World Milk Day through an ongoing social content series encouraging families to “Ask the good questions”.

Whether it’s where ingredients come from or how products are made, these everyday questions become opportunities for shared learning and greater connection to the food families enjoy every day.

Because when you understand the journey behind your food, every glass means a little more. Nestlé Nespray, always giving more.