
Devondale is a well-known Australian brand name in the dairy industry, producing a range of dairy products including milk, cheese, butter, and spreads. Devondale Murray Goulburn, a dairy-processing cooperative corporation, was previously a leading Australian-owned dairy company, with its products being rated highly by Australian consumers. However, in 2018, the company was sold to Saputo Inc., a publicly listed Canadian dairy company, for $1.31 billion. This sale resulted in Devondale no longer being Australian-owned, marking a shift in the ownership of a prominent household name in the country's dairy industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current owner | Saputo Inc. (a Canadian company) |
| Previous owner | Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (an Australian company) |
| Year of acquisition | 2018 |
| Current status | Operating under Saputo's Dairy Division (Australia) |
| Manufacturing plants | 9 plants in Victoria and Tasmania |
| Suppliers | Over 2,500 |
| Employees | Over 2,000 |
| Milk supply | Over 35% of Australia's milk supply |
| Markets | Domestic and export (over 100 countries) |
| Annual turnover | Approximately A$2.4 billion |
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What You'll Learn
- Devondale Murray Goulburn is 100% controlled by Australian dairy farmers
- Devondale was sold to Canadian company Saputo Inc. in 2018
- Devondale has nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania
- Devondale is one of the most recognised Australian brands
- Devondale's milk is produced at state-of-the-art plants in Melbourne and Western Sydney

Devondale Murray Goulburn is 100% controlled by Australian dairy farmers
Devondale Murray Goulburn produces a full range of dairy foods, including drinking milk, milk powder, cheese, and butter, as well as a range of ingredient and nutritional products, such as infant formula. The company supplies the retail and food service industries globally with its flagship Devondale, Liddells, and Murray Goulburn Ingredients brands. Devondale's fresh milk has been rated the highest by Australian consumers.
The company operates as a cooperative, meaning that the farmers who produce the milk control the company that sells it. This cooperative structure ensures that the farmers have a direct say in the company's operations and that their interests are aligned with providing high-quality milk to Australian consumers.
In 2018, Devondale Murray Goulburn was sold to Saputo Inc., a publicly listed Canadian dairy company, for $1.31 billion. Despite this sale, Devondale Murray Goulburn remains a prominent example of a successful Australian dairy cooperative, with its products continuing to be sold under the Devondale brand name in Australia and internationally.
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Devondale was sold to Canadian company Saputo Inc. in 2018
Devondale Murray Goulburn, Australia's largest dairy foods company and a household name for Australians, was sold to Canadian company Saputo Inc. in 2018. Devondale was a dairy-processing cooperative corporation, 100% controlled by Australian dairy farmers. It had been formed in 1950 and grew to consist of more than 2,600 farmer shareholders and 2,400 employees. Devondale processed over 35% of Australia's milk supply, with its products sold in both domestic and export markets.
In 2014, Canadian dairy giant Saputo, Inc. acquired 85% of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company Holdings, of which Devondale had previously attempted a takeover. In 2016, Devondale won a five-year supply contract with Coles Supermarkets, but was dropped by Woolworths, costing the cooperative around AUD 108 million. Devondale also faced financial difficulties due to milk prices falling below production costs, prompting calls for the cooperative to be sold.
In 2018, Devondale was sold to Saputo Inc. for AUD 1.31 billion. The trading name of the business was later changed to AG Warehouse, and the cooperative was placed into liquidation in 2020. Saputo, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, now sells products under the Devondale brand name, among others.
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Devondale has nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania
Devondale Murray Goulburn, Australia's largest dairy foods company, has nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania. The company is a cooperative that is 100% controlled by Australian dairy farmers. Devondale's manufacturing plants have been accredited as ISO 9001:2000 facilities and are NSF HACCP – 9000 certified for hazard analysis and critical control points. The company has over 2,500 suppliers and 2,000 employees, and it processes over 35% of Australia's milk supply (3.3 billion litres).
Devondale's milk is produced with care and attention because the farmers who produce the milk also control the company that sells it. The company's manufacturing plants are located in Victoria and Tasmania, with state-of-the-art chilled milk processing plants in Laverton, Melbourne, and Erskine Park in Western Sydney. In 2013-2014, Devondale expanded its fresh milk dairy plants in Erskine Park and Laverton to accommodate increased capacity from a recently awarded Coles contract. The expansions included a main plant, warehousing, cool rooms, waste treatment facilities, and offices.
Devondale Murray Goulburn trades in over 100 countries and is the largest container user in the Port of Melbourne, exporting over 375,000 MT (23,500 containers) annually. The company's international business accounts for approximately 9% of the world's dairy trade, with an annual turnover of A$2.4 billion. Devondale's processing plants are independently validated by Dairy Technical Services, located in Melbourne, Victoria.
In addition to its manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania, Devondale Murray Goulburn has a significant presence in other parts of Australia, supplying private-label, daily pasteurised milk, and cheddar-style cheese to Coles Supermarkets in Victoria and NSW.
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Devondale is one of the most recognised Australian brands
Devondale Murray Goulburn has a strong presence in the dairy industry, with nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania and over 2,500 suppliers. The company processes over 35% of Australia's milk supply, amounting to 3.3 billion litres, and trades in over 100 countries. Its international business accounts for about 9% of the world's dairy trade, and it has an annual turnover of approximately A$2.4 billion. The company's processing plants are accredited and certified for their quality and safety standards.
In 2018, Devondale Murray Goulburn faced financial difficulties and was sold to Saputo Inc., a Canadian dairy company. Despite this change in ownership, the Devondale brand remains recognised as an Australian staple in supermarkets and continues to be a trusted name for dairy products. The brand is now part of Saputo's Dairy Division (Australia), and its products are sold in several countries, maintaining its presence in the global market.
Devondale's award-winning milk and dairy products are a testament to the brand's commitment to quality and taste. With its wide range of offerings and strong presence in the Australian market, Devondale has become an iconic and well-loved brand, known for its delicious and nutritious dairy products sourced from local farmers.
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Devondale's milk is produced at state-of-the-art plants in Melbourne and Western Sydney
Devondale is one of the most recognised Australian brands in supermarkets across the country. Devondale Murray Goulburn is Australia's leading dairy foods company, with its flagship brand, Devondale, and other brands such as Liddells and Murray Goulburn Ingredients. Devondale's milk is produced at state-of-the-art plants in Melbourne and Western Sydney.
The company was formed in 1950 and consists of over 2,600 farmer/shareholders and more than 2,400 employees. Devondale Murray Goulburn has nine manufacturing plants located in Victoria and Tasmania, processing over 35% of Australia's milk supply. The milk is produced with care and attention because the company is 100% controlled by the Australian dairy farmers who make the milk. This means that the farmers have a vested interest in producing the best-tasting milk possible for Australian consumers.
The processing plants are accredited as ISO 9001:2000 manufacturing facilities and are certified by the NSF HACCP – 9000 standard for hazard analysis, critical control points, and good manufacturing practices. Devondale's milk is manufactured at MG's chilled milk processing plants in Laverton, Melbourne, and Erskine Park in Western Sydney. These facilities allow Devondale to supply fresh milk to Australian consumers and export their products to over 100 countries.
In 2018, Devondale Murray Goulburn was sold to Saputo Inc., a Canadian dairy company, for $1.31 billion. Despite this sale, Devondale's milk production remains rooted in Australia, with its state-of-the-art plants in Melbourne and Western Sydney continuing to produce milk for the Australian market.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Devondale is no longer Australian-owned. In 2018, Devondale Murray Goulburn, a dairy-processing cooperative corporation, was sold to Saputo Inc., a Canadian dairy company.
Devondale Murray Goulburn faced financial difficulties and issues with suppliers over sustainable prices. In 2016, the company was in turmoil as the milk price fell below production costs, leading to a change in leadership. However, the challenges persisted, and the cooperative was eventually sold to Saputo Inc. in 2018.
Saputo Inc. is a publicly-listed Canadian company. It is one of the top ten dairy processors in the world and holds a leading position in Canada, Australia, and Argentina. Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a wide range of dairy products, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk, and cream products.

































