Fonterra — the world’s largest exporter of dairy products is planning a public stock offering.

Fonterra was formed through the 2001 merger of the two largest co-operatives, New Zealand Dairy Group and Kiwi Co-operative Dairies, together with the New Zealand Dairy Board, giving it more might to compete on a global basis. Today, it has near-monopoly control of the New Zealand domestic and export dairy industries, sets the milk price for its loyal 11,000 farmer-shareholder base and has operations in 140 countries spanning Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Last year, 2011, was a record year in sales for Fonterra, enough to catapult it past the giant French and Dutch co-operatives, Lactalis and FrieslandCampina, and today it trails only its corporate competitors, Nestle S.A. and Danone S.A.

Source: Market Watch, Ben Weiss