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Bulla Dairy Foods, founded in 1910 by Thomas Sloan in Melbourne, Australia, is one of the last remaining Australian-owned products in the dairy aisle. The company, which has grown to an international level, exporting to 17 countries, is headquartered in Derrimut, Melbourne, with manufacturing sites in Colac, Dandenong, and Mulgrave, Victoria. Bulla sources its milk directly from Australian farms and employs more than 600 people within Victoria, Australia. The company has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by investing in energy cogeneration modules and adopting sustainable packaging practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1910 |
| Founder | Thomas Sloan |
| Current owner | Family-owned |
| Parent company | Regal Cream Products |
| Headquarters | Derrimut, Melbourne |
| Manufacturing sites | Colac, Dandenong and Mulgrave, Victoria |
| Number of employees | 450-600+ |
| Annual gross sales | $400 million |
| Products | Cream, ice cream, cottage cheese, soft-serve ice cream, yoghurt |
| Milk supply | Direct from Australian farms |
| Environmental initiatives | Member of the Australian Packaging Covenant, two MTU onsite energy cogeneration modules |
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What You'll Learn
Bulla Dairy Foods was founded in Melbourne in 1910
Bulla Dairy Foods, Australia’s largest and oldest family-owned dairy company, was founded in 1910 by Thomas Sloan in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, as the Bulla Cream Company. Thomas Sloan developed a new method of thickening cream by burning wood, creating heat to pasteurise the cream in copper cans. His brother, William Sloan, owned a farm in Bulla, which provided the milk used to make the cream. The copper cans filled with milk were transported to Moonee Ponds and were labelled 'Bulla', which unintentionally became the name of the company.
In its early days, the company's product was distributed by horse and cart, with the cans draped in wet bags to keep the cream cool during transportation. In 1914, Thomas Sloan's brother-in-law, Hugh Anderson, became a partner in the business, and in 1918, Hugh's brother, Jack Anderson, also joined the company. The business was now a partnership among three interrelated families, who continue to own and operate Bulla Dairy Foods today.
The first expansion of the company involved the purchase of a butter factory in Drysdale, southwest of Melbourne. In 1921, the company bought land to build its first factory in the Western District town of Colac, and by 1922, the butter factory in Drysdale was sold, and operations were moved to Colac. In 1928, Bulla Dairy Foods relocated its headquarters from Moonee Ponds to North Melbourne, and by the following year, the company had begun to produce ice cream from its factory on Murray Street in Colac. In 1930, Bulla purchased Colac's local ice factory, which produced its own Regal Ice Cream. The Regal Ice Cream brand was continued alongside the Bulla brand for many years, and today, the parent company is known as Regal Cream Products (trading as Bulla Dairy Foods).
Bulla Dairy Foods has grown to become an international company, exporting its products to 17 countries, while also supplying its products nationally within Australia to supermarket retailers. The company employs more than 600 people across three manufacturing sites in Victoria, Australia, and has an annual gross sales figure of approximately $400 million.
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Bulla is one of the last Australian-owned products in the dairy aisle
Bulla Dairy Foods, founded in 1910 by Thomas Sloan in Melbourne, Australia, is one of the last Australian-owned products in the dairy aisle. Bulla has a rich history, starting as the Bulla Cream Company and expanding into a diverse range of dairy products, including ice cream, cottage cheese, soft-serve ice cream, and yoghurt. The company's Australian heritage is an integral part of its brand identity, emphasised in its advertising campaigns and packaging designs.
Bulla sources its milk directly from Australian farms, supporting local farmers and ensuring the best quality milk for its products. The company has a strong presence in Victoria, with manufacturing sites in Colac, Mulgrave, and Dandenong, and employs hundreds of people in the region. Bulla's commitment to sustainability is evident through its involvement in the Australian Packaging Covenant and the installation of energy cogeneration modules, reducing its environmental impact and energy costs.
As one of the few Australian-owned dairy options, Bulla has a unique position in the market. The company invests significant time and resources into product innovation, ensuring it delivers exciting new offerings while also maintaining the family favourites that its customers know and love. Bulla's products have gained international recognition, exporting to 17 countries, including China, and making a significant impact in the highly competitive dairy industry.
Bulla's success is a testament to its enduring popularity with Australian families. Through its long history, commitment to innovation, and support for local farmers, Bulla has established itself as a trusted and well-loved brand, with a strong focus on its Australian heritage and tradition. As the dairy industry faces challenges, Bulla's success provides a ray of hope, showcasing the potential for Australian dairy products to thrive on the world stage.
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Bulla sources milk directly from Australian farms
Bulla Dairy Foods, founded in 1910 by Thomas Sloan in Melbourne, is an Australian family-owned company. Bulla sources its milk directly from Australian farms, supporting local farmers and sourcing the best quality milk for its products.
Bulla's supply of milk is sourced directly from Australian farms, with more than 100 suppliers in Victoria alone, providing over 1 million litres of milk. The company uses specific methods of pasteurising milk using ultra-heat treatment. In 2017, Bulla transitioned to a direct farm supply of milk, moving away from third-party suppliers. This shift allowed Bulla to showcase its support for Australian farmers and highlight its Australian heritage.
Bulla's main manufacturing sites are located in Colac, Victoria, employing over 500 workers in this location alone. The company also has manufacturing sites in Mulgrave, Victoria, and Dandenong, Victoria, employing more than 450 people across these two sites. Bulla's products are distributed internationally, exporting to 17 countries, including China and Southeast Asian countries.
In addition to its focus on sourcing local milk, Bulla is committed to sustainable practices. The company has introduced onsite energy cogeneration modules, reducing energy costs and improving its ecological footprint. Bulla is also a voluntary signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, designing packaging for reuse, transport, recovery, and litter reduction.
Bulla's direct sourcing of milk from Australian farms is a testament to its support for local agriculture and its commitment to providing high-quality dairy products to consumers.
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Bulla is a member of the Australian Packaging Covenant
Bulla Dairy Foods is an Australian dairy company that manufactures a range of dairy products, including ice cream, table cream, yoghurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and imitation cream. Established in 1910, it is still owned and operated by the three inter-related families who founded the business. The company has its head office in Derrimut, Melbourne, and its main manufacturing sites are in Colac, Victoria, Mulgrave, Victoria, and Dandenong, Victoria. Bulla employs more than 600 people and has an international presence, exporting its products to 17 countries.
Bulla has been a voluntary member of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) since 2010. The company is committed to reducing its environmental impact and ensuring its packaging is sustainable. As a member of APCO, Bulla uses packaging assessments and sustainable packaging guidelines to meet the requirements to be considered a 'sustainable' product. This includes designing packaging for reuse, transport, recovery, and litter reduction, and ensuring it is made with renewable energy resources. Bulla is also actively researching options for using more sustainable materials in its packaging to reduce its consumption of non-renewable resources.
In 2023, Bulla achieved its goal of including the Australasian Recycling Logo (ARL) on all its primary retail packaging. As of that year, 80% of Bulla's primary retail packaging was recyclable, 15% was conditionally recyclable, and 5% was check locally by standards. Bulla is also a participant in the Dairy Australia Sustainable Packaging Working Group, which collaborates to improve packaging design for circularity and expand markets for used packaging.
Bulla has made significant strides in sustainable packaging. For example, the company has transitioned from problematic plastics to more sustainable alternatives, such as paperboard for frozen cup products and polypropylene and PET for chilled cup products. Additionally, Bulla has implemented a lower-gauge plastic film, reducing the use of single-use plastic from 70 to 46 tonnes annually across its pallet stretch film. The company is also working with its suppliers to trial recycled content within its pallet wrap.
Bulla is committed to keeping up with packaging reform and preparing to comply with changing packaging legislation. The company aims to achieve a 50% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions and set an emissions mitigation pathway by 2028. Furthermore, Bulla has set a goal of zero food waste to landfill in its manufacturing operations by 2030.
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Bulla is a family-owned company
Bulla Dairy Foods, founded in 1910 by Thomas Sloan, is a family-owned company based in Melbourne, Australia. Sloan started the company as the Bulla Cream Company in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, with milk sourced from his brother William's farm in Bulla. The milk, transported in copper cans to Moonee Ponds, bore the label "Bulla", unintentionally giving the company its name.
Bulla Dairy Foods remains a family company to this day. It is one of the last remaining Australian-owned products in the dairy aisle. The company has a rich history and has been trusted and loved by Australian families since its inception. In 2014, Bulla unveiled a new logo and packaging suite, showcasing the heritage and traditional values of the brand while adding a contemporary element to better communicate the care, craftsmanship, and passion of Bulla's history.
Bulla's main manufacturing sites are in Colac, Victoria, employing more than 500 people in this location alone. The company has additional manufacturing sites in Mulgrave and Dandenong, Victoria, and its head office is located in Derrimut, Melbourne. Bulla sources its milk directly from Australian farms, supporting local farmers and sourcing the best quality milk for its products.
Bulla has grown from its humble beginnings to become an international brand, exporting its products to 17 countries, including China and other Southeast Asian countries. The company has an annual gross sale of approximately $400 million and is the largest-selling branded cream in Australia. Bulla is also a leader in the Australian ice cream market, with its products being loved and instantly recognized by customers.
Bulla Dairy Foods is a proud family-owned company that has become an integral part of Australia's dairy industry, providing stable and regular income to local farms and contributing to the economy of small towns like Colac.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bulla Dairy Foods is Australian-owned and was founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 1910.
Bulla Dairy Foods is the largest wholesaler of cream in the southern hemisphere. It also produces ice cream, cottage cheese, soft-serve ice cream, and yoghurt.
Bulla sources its milk directly from Australian farmers. The company has over 100 suppliers within Victoria, providing more than 1 million litres of milk.
