Omari Gates
Dairy Farmers Pty Ltd was 100% Australian-owned by Australian dairy farmers for 107 years. In 2008, Dairy Farmers was acquired by Kirin Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Japanese Kirin Group, and became a brand of National Foods. In 2020, Bega Cheese, an Australian company, purchased Lion Dairy & Drinks, including Dairy Farmers, for A$550 million, making Dairy Farmers Australian-owned once again. While some Australian milk brands are owned by foreign companies, Australia has a range of locally-owned dairy manufacturers, including Bega Cheese, Bulla Dairy Foods, Norco Co-operative, and Australian Consolidated Milk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Bega Cheese (ASX-listed firm) |
| Previous Owners | Kirin Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd (part of the Kirin Group of Japan) |
| Year Acquired by Previous Owner | 2008 |
| Year Bega Cheese Repurchased | 2020 |
| Dairy Farmers' Head Office Location (until 2008) | Homebush Bay, Sydney |
| Bega Cheese Headquarters | NSW |
| Dairy Farmers' Rank in Dairy Sales in Australia (2005) | Third-highest |
| Major Australian-Owned Dairy Companies | Bega Cheese, Bulla Dairy Foods, Beston Global Food Company, Norco Co-operative, Australian Consolidated Milk, Kyvalley Dairy, and Union Dairy Company |
| Dairy Farmers' Production | Fresh milk (NSW and Queensland), UHT "long-life" milk (Australia-wide), "Thick & Creamy" yoghurt, desserts, creams, custard, and buttermilk |
| Australian Dairy Exports | Approximately 30% of milk production, valued at $3.3 billion in 2022-23 |
| Dairy Farmers' Cooperative Board Composition | Four dairy farmers and one independent director with finance and business management expertise |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Dairy Farmers Pty Ltd was Australian-owned for 107 years
In 2008, Dairy Farmers was acquired by Kirin Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Kirin Group of Japan. This marked the end of 108 years as a cooperative company. Kirin Holdings subsequently acquired the alcoholic beverage company Lion Nathan in 2009, leading to the merger of National Foods and Lion Nathan to form "Lion Nathan National Foods". The new entity later became Lion and Lion Dairy & Drinks in 2011.
In 2020, it was announced that Bega Cheese would purchase Lion Dairy & Drinks, including all subsidiaries such as Dairy Farmers, for a reported A$550 million. This marked a return to Australian ownership for Dairy Farmers for the first time since 2008. Bega Cheese, an Australian dairy company traded on the Australian Securities Exchange, refuted claims that Dairy Farmers was owned by the Chinese Communist Party or any Chinese company.
Authenticating Australian Currency: How to Spot Counterfeits
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$17.74 $19.95
In 2008, it was acquired by Kirin Holdings, a Japanese company
Dairy Farmers Pty Ltd was 100% Australian-owned for 107 years. In 2008, Dairy Farmers was acquired by Kirin Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Kirin Group of Japan. With this acquisition, Dairy Farmers became a brand of National Foods, which Kirin had purchased the previous year. This ended Dairy Farmers' 108-year run as a cooperative company.
Kirin Holdings, a Japanese-owned food and beverage company, continued to make acquisitions in the Australian market. In 2009, Kirin acquired the alcoholic beverage company Lion Nathan, and subsequently merged National Foods and Lion Nathan to create "Lion Nathan National Foods". The combined entity would eventually become Lion Dairy & Drinks, with its head office in Melbourne.
The acquisition of Dairy Farmers by Kirin Holdings marked a shift in ownership from Australian to Japanese control. This change in ownership structure is notable as it represents a transition from its roots as a cooperative company owned by Australian dairy farmers to becoming a brand under a larger, international corporation.
While the acquisition by Kirin Holdings ended the period of Australian ownership of Dairy Farmers, it is important to note that the company continued to operate within the Australian context, employing Australians and collecting milk from Australian-owned family farms. The acquisition also positioned Dairy Farmers within a larger corporate structure, potentially impacting strategic decisions, resource allocation, and market reach.
In 2020, it was announced that Bega Cheese, an Australian dairy company, would purchase Lion Dairy & Drinks, including Dairy Farmers, for A$550 million. This development marked a return to Australian ownership for the Dairy Farmers brand, which had been a fixture of the Australian dairy industry for many years.
Replacing UK Plugs with Australian Ones: A Simple Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Bega Cheese purchased Dairy Farmers in 2020
Dairy Farmers Pty Ltd was 100% Australian-owned by Australian dairy farmers for 107 years. In 2008, Dairy Farmers was acquired by Kirin Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, part of the Kirin Group of Japan. This ended 108 years as a cooperative company.
In 2020, Bega Cheese purchased Lion Dairy & Drinks, and all subsidiaries, including Dairy Farmers, for a reported A$550 million. This acquisition marked a significant milestone for Bega Cheese, an Australian diversified food and drinks company with a long history in the dairy industry.
Bega Cheese's origins can be traced back to the 1850s when dairying began in the Bega Valley, New South Wales. In 1899, local farmers established the Bega Co-operative Creamery Company, and the original Bega Cheese factory was opened in 1900. For much of the 20th century, Bega Cheese remained regionally focused. However, by the 1960s, the company started to expand its operations, serving broader markets.
The acquisition of Lion Dairy & Drinks by Bega Cheese in 2020 was a strategic move that expanded Bega's presence in the Australian dairy sector. The deal included major dairy brands such as Dairy Farmers, Pura Milk, Dare Iced Coffee, and Yoplait yogurt, among others. This purchase brought Dairy Farmers back under Australian ownership, with Bega Cheese's farmer-suppliers holding close to half of the publicly traded shares.
The acquisition by Bega Cheese also had implications for the supply chain. Lion Dairy & Drinks owned the only national cold supply chain in Australia, which was used to distribute perishable dairy products across the country. With this acquisition, Bega Cheese expanded its milk suppliers to include farmers in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and southeast Queensland.
Cricket's Media Makeover: Australia's Evolving Game
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dairy Farmers is a brand of National Foods
Dairy Farmers Pty Ltd was 100% Australian-owned by Australian dairy farmers for 107 years. In 2008, Dairy Farmers was acquired by Kirin Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Kirin Group of Japan. Following the acquisition, Dairy Farmers became a brand of National Foods, which Kirin had bought the previous year. This ended Dairy Farmers' 108-year run as a cooperative company.
National Foods was then merged with Lion Nathan, another Kirin acquisition, to become Lion Nathan National Foods in 2009. The new entity became Lion in 2011, with Lion Dairy & Drinks as a subsidiary. Dairy Farmers remained a subsidiary of Lion Dairy & Drinks until 2020 when it was sold to Bega Cheese for A$550 million.
Bega Cheese, an Australian dairy company traded on the Australian Securities Exchange, returned Dairy Farmers to Australian ownership. Bega Cheese started as a dairy cooperative in 1899 and is based in the NSW town of Bega. The company is now one of the largest Australian-owned dairy companies, alongside other major players such as Bulla Dairy Foods, Beston Global Food Company, Norco Co-operative, and Australian Consolidated Milk.
Dairy Farmers' main products include fresh milk, UHT "long-life" milk, "Thick & Creamy" yoghurt, desserts, creams, custard, and buttermilk. The brand is also used for milk supply, with Dairy Farmers Milk Co-operative (DFMC) being a farmer-run and farmer-owned organization promoting best farm practices and animal welfare.
Soapstone Sources in Australia: A Comprehensive Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dairy is one of Australia's most important rural industries
The industry includes everything from boutique, single-site businesses to large manufacturing, distribution, and export networks. Some of the major Australian-owned dairy companies include Bega Cheese, Bulla Dairy Foods, Beston Global Food Company, Norco Co-operative, Australian Consolidated Milk, Kyvalley Dairy, and Union Dairy Company. There are also dozens of smaller Australian milk processors, cheese producers, and fresh dairy product manufacturers operating across the country.
The Australian dairy industry has a strong history of cooperative ownership, with Dairy Farmers Pty Ltd being 100% Australian-owned by dairy farmers for 107 years before being acquired by Kirin Holdings in 2008. The company was then sold to Lion Dairy & Drinks, a subsidiary of Japanese-owned Kirin Holdings, in 2009. In 2020, Bega Cheese, an Australian company, purchased Lion Dairy & Drinks, making Dairy Farmers Australian-owned once again.
The industry is supported by organisations such as Dairy Australia, a national service organisation funded by farmer levies and government research and development funds, and the Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF), the national advocacy body representing dairy farmers across Australia. The Rural Research and Development (R&D) for Profit program also boosts funding for rural research and development corporations, with grants available for eligible partners.
PlayStation Gear: Shipping to Australia?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Dairy Farmers was 100% Australian-owned by Australian dairy farmers for 107 years. In 2008, Dairy Farmers was acquired by Kirin Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, part of the Kirin Group of Japan. However, in 2020, it was announced that Bega Cheese would purchase Dairy Farmers, making it Australian-owned once again.
Bega Cheese is an Australian dairy company traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. It started as a dairy cooperative in 1899 and is based in the NSW town of Bega.
There are several Australian-owned dairy companies, including Bulla Dairy Foods, Norco Co-operative, Australian Consolidated Milk, Kyvalley Dairy, and Union Dairy Company.
The Rural Research and Development (R&D) for Profit program boosts funding for rural research and development corporations (RDCs) to conduct nationally coordinated strategic research that benefits Australian producers.
DFMC is a farmer-run and farmer-owned cooperative that works to provide better outcomes for dairy farmers and manufacturers. It promotes best farm practices and animal welfare and works to ensure a sustainable and thriving Australian dairy industry.
