
Devondale Murray Goulburn (Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited) was a dairy-processing co-operative corporation and Australia's largest dairy foods company. It was established over 65 years ago by a group of Victorian dairy farmers. In 2018, after facing financial difficulties, the company's business assets were sold to Saputo Inc., a publicly listed Canadian dairy company.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current ownership | Sold to Canadian company Saputo Inc. in 2018 |
| Previous ownership | Australian-owned co-operative |
| Current trading name | AG Warehouse |
| Previous trading names | Devondale Murray Goulburn, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited |
| Location of manufacturing plants | Victoria and Tasmania, Australia |
| Number of manufacturing plants | 9 |
| Number of suppliers | 2,500+ |
| Number of employees | 2,000+ |
| Milk supply | 3.3 billion litres |
| Milk supply in 2016 | 3.6 billion litres |
| Milk supply forecast for 2021 | 1.9 billion litres |
| Number of countries traded with | 100+ |
| Annual turnover | A$2.4 billion |
| Number of jobs created at Melbourne site | 50 |
| Number of jobs created during construction and commissioning of Melbourne site | 500 |
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What You'll Learn
- Devondale Murray Goulburn is Australia's largest dairy foods company
- Murray Goulburn was sold to Canadian company Saputo Inc. in 2018
- Murray Goulburn processes over 35% of Australia's milk supply
- Murray Goulburn was established by Victorian dairy farmers over 65 years ago
- Murray Goulburn has nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania

Devondale Murray Goulburn is Australia's largest dairy foods company
Devondale Murray Goulburn (Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited) is Australia's largest dairy foods company. It was established over 65 years ago by a group of Victorian dairy farmers, who wanted a better deal for their milk. Today, it is the primary partner of Australian dairy farmers, with dairy products sold worldwide.
The company has over 2,500 suppliers and 2,000 employees, processing more than 35% of Australia's milk supply (3.3 billion litres) into products for domestic and export markets. Devondale Murray Goulburn trades in over 100 countries, exporting more than 23,500 containers in a financial year. Its international business accounts for approximately 9% of the world's dairy trade, with an annual turnover of A$2.4 billion.
Devondale Murray Goulburn has nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania, with the latest addition being a state-of-the-art factory in Laverton, Victoria. This factory is environmentally sustainable and equipped with advanced processing technology, delivering high-quality standards. The company's processing plants are accredited with ISO 9001:2000 and certified for hazard analysis and critical control points, adhering to good manufacturing practices.
Devondale Murray Goulburn has a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and community. It has played a significant role in shaping the dairy industry, influencing standards and practices that continue to impact Australian and global markets. The company's values continue to drive its success and maintain its revered place in dairy history.
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Murray Goulburn was sold to Canadian company Saputo Inc. in 2018
Devondale Murray Goulburn, also known as Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited, was established over 65 years ago by a group of Victorian dairy farmers. It grew to become Australia's largest processor of milk, with over 2,500 suppliers and 2,000 employees, and processed over 35% of Australia's milk supply.
However, in 2016, the company faced turmoil as milk prices fell below production costs, leading to calls for leadership changes or a sale of the cooperative. Despite efforts to restructure and stabilise the company, Murray Goulburn continued to face financial difficulties, with milk supplies decreasing significantly.
As a result, in 2018, Murray Goulburn was sold to Saputo Inc., a publicly-listed Canadian dairy company, for $1.3 billion. This acquisition was supported by the farmers, with nearly 96% agreeing to the sale. The trading name of the business was subsequently changed to AG Warehouse, and the cooperative was placed into liquidation in 2020.
Today, as part of Saputo, Murray Goulburn's values of dedication to quality, community, and innovation continue to drive the company's success and maintain its revered place in the dairy industry.
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Murray Goulburn processes over 35% of Australia's milk supply
Devondale Murray Goulburn (Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited) is an Australian dairy company that was established over 65 years ago by a group of Victorian dairy farmers. It is the largest dairy foods company in Australia, with nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania, over 2,500 suppliers, and over 2,000 employees.
The company processes over 35% of Australia's milk supply, which amounts to 3.3 billion litres of milk. This milk is processed into products sold domestically and internationally, with exports to over 100 countries. Murray Goulburn is the largest container user in the Port of Melbourne, exporting more than 23,500 containers in a single financial year.
In 2014, Murray Goulburn opened a new state-of-the-art fresh milk factory in Laverton, Victoria, which is capable of supplying up to 150 million packaged litres of milk annually. This new facility was part of a groundbreaking partnership with Coles, which involved a 10-year contract for supplying fresh milk. The contract with Coles allowed Murray Goulburn to invest in advanced technology and environmentally sustainable practices, such as the use of stainless steel pipework to prevent land and groundwater contamination.
Despite its success, Murray Goulburn faced financial challenges in the latter part of the decade. In 2018, the company was acquired by Saputo Inc., a Canadian dairy company, for $1.3 billion. This acquisition was prompted by financial difficulties and disputes with suppliers over sustainable prices. The new ownership aims to regain market share and boost milk intake to 2.5 billion litres.
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Murray Goulburn was established by Victorian dairy farmers over 65 years ago
Devondale Murray Goulburn, also known as Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited, was established by a group of Victorian dairy farmers over 65 years ago. Each farmer was passionate about securing a better deal for their milk. Since its inception, the company has grown to become Australia's largest dairy foods company and the largest processor of milk in the country. It has a supplier-shareholder base of over 2,200 across southeast Australia and is the primary partner of Australian dairy farmers.
Murray Goulburn's products are sold in domestic and international markets, with exports reaching over 100 countries. The company has nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania, and its processing plants are accredited as ISO 9001:2000 manufacturing facilities. It is also certified by the NSF HACCP – 9000 standard for hazard analysis and critical control points and good manufacturing practices.
In 2014, Murray Goulburn opened a new state-of-the-art fresh milk factory in Laverton, Victoria, in partnership with Coles. This factory was aimed at assisting the successful launch of the Devondale brand of fresh milk, providing consumers with a choice to buy 100% Australian-owned milk. The opening of this plant created 50 highly skilled jobs and allowed the company to meet its 10-year contract with Coles to supply fresh milk.
Despite its success, Murray Goulburn faced financial challenges in recent years. In 2016, the company was engulfed in turmoil as the milk price fell below production costs, leading to calls for leadership changes. In 2018, the business assets were sold to Saputo Inc., a publicly-listed Canadian dairy company, for $1.3 billion. This transaction was one of the quickest to gain farmers' approval in the industry. The cooperative was placed into liquidation in 2020, and the trading name of the business was changed to AG Warehouse.
Although Murray Goulburn's ownership has changed, its legacy and values endure. The company's dedication to quality, community, and innovation continues to drive its success and maintain its revered place in dairy history.
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Murray Goulburn has nine manufacturing plants in Victoria and Tasmania
Devondale Murray Goulburn (Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited) is Australia's largest dairy foods company. It was established over 65 years ago by a group of Victorian dairy farmers who were seeking a better deal for their milk. Today, it is the primary partner of Australian dairy farmers, with dairy products available worldwide.
In 2014, Murray Goulburn opened a new dairy plant in Melbourne's west. The state-of-the-art factory in Laverton, Victoria, was aimed at assisting the successful launch of Devondale-brand fresh milk. The new plant was equipped with the latest processing technology to deliver the highest possible quality standards. It was designed to supply up to 150 million packaged litres of milk annually, allowing Murray Goulburn to meet its 10-year contract with Coles to supply fresh milk.
The opening of this plant created 50 highly skilled jobs, with a further 500 jobs generated during construction. The partnership with Coles was expected to deliver a sustainable increase in the farmgate milk price of Australian dairy farmers.
In 2018, following financial difficulties, the business assets of Murray Goulburn were sold to Saputo Inc., a publicly listed Canadian dairy company. The sale included the Koroit plant in western Victoria, one of Murray Goulburn's three biggest assets.
Despite the acquisition by Saputo Inc., Murray Goulburn's legacy endures, and its values of dedication to quality, community, and innovation continue to drive the company's success.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Murray Goulburn is not Australian-owned. In 2018, the company, which was facing financial difficulties, was sold to Saputo Inc., a publicly listed Canadian dairy company.
After the sale, the trading name of the business was changed to AG Warehouse, and the cooperative was placed into liquidation in 2020.
The sale of Murray Goulburn to Saputo Inc. was significant for the Australian dairy industry. Murray Goulburn was Australia's largest processor and supplier of milk, with a strong commitment to quality and innovation. The company's contributions shaped the industry, influencing standards and practices that continue to impact Australian and global markets.
















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