Australian-Owned Brands: A Comprehensive Guide To Aussie Brands

what brands are australian owned

Many Australian brands are household names, but are they Australian-owned? From Arnott's biscuits to Bushells tea, several Australian brands have been sold to international companies. However, there are still many Australian-owned brands across various industries, from food and beverage to manufacturing and skincare. Supporting Australian-made and Australian-owned products is important for the local economy and is celebrated through initiatives like Australian Made Week and the Australian Made logo, which certifies products as 'genuinely Australian'.

Characteristics Values
Australian-owned companies Bushells tea, Arnott's biscuits, Uncle Tobys Oats, Tindo Solar, Austribe Australia, Deeps Engineering, Lyndoch Lavender Farm and Cafe, JAGRD, Maxine Faye Handcrafted Jewellery, AusMedio, JEEERKS, Australian Wine, Invisiguard, Procover, Curcumin, Janelles Soaps
Australian-made products TimTams, Vegemite, Bushells tea, Arnott's biscuits, Uncle Tobys, Golden Circle, Tindo Solar panels, Austribe Australia fudge, Deeps Engineering soaps and bath bombs, Lyndoch Lavender Farm and Cafe products, JAGRD wood-fired outdoor cooking, Maxine Faye handcrafted jewellery, AusMedio beef jerky, JEEERKS rock rods, steering rods, tie rods, etc., Australian Wine, Invisiguard foaming hand sanitiser, Procover protein shakes, Curcumin vegan capsules, Janelles soaps and succulents
Australian-owned and Australian-made certified Tindo Solar, AusMedio, Janelles Soaps

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Bushells tea and Arnott's biscuits

Bushells is an Australian company that produces tea and coffee. The company was founded by Alfred Bushell in 1883, when he opened a tea shop in Queensland. Bushells remained Australian-owned for over a century before being sold off in 2006 to Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), a joint venture between Nestle and General Mills. The tea brand was then owned by British-Dutch company Unilever until 2022 when it was divested along with most of Unilever's tea business to CVC Capital Partners.

Bushells has been a part of everyday Australian life for generations, with the brand being featured in PANDORA, Australia's Web Archive. The company was first established when Alfred Bushell began selling tea and coffee from a shop in Brisbane. Bushell's sons later moved the enterprise to Sydney in 1899 and began selling tea commercially, founding Australia's first commercial tea seller. A Bushells tea factory was set up in Harrington Street, Sydney, and a coffee roasting department was established at Atherton Place in The Rocks.

Arnott's biscuits are another iconic Australian brand. The company was founded by William Arnott, who opened the first Arnott's factory in Newcastle, NSW. Arnott's is known for its popular biscuits and crackers, such as Shapes, Scotch Finger, and Tim Tam, which have become household staples in Australia. Despite its Australian origins and strong ties to the country, Arnott's is currently owned by the US food giant Campbell Soup Company. However, the products continue to be manufactured in Australia, and the company refers to itself as an "Australian icon."

Both Bushells tea and Arnott's biscuits are offered at Driver Reviver stops across Australia, where Bushells Coffee has been sponsoring the iconic program since 2000. This partnership provides free cups of coffee and biscuits to tired drivers, creating a safe and refreshing environment for them to rest and refuel before continuing their journeys. These brands have become deeply ingrained in Australian culture, offering comfort and familiarity to people from all walks of life.

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Bega, the company that owns Vegemite

Vegemite is an iconic Australian spread, born in Melbourne 95 years ago. It was owned by Mondelez International, the company that resulted from the 2012 spin-off of Kraft Foods' North American grocery business. However, in 2017, Bega Cheese announced a deal to buy Vegemite, along with ZoOSh mayonnaise and Bonox, for A$460 million. This purchase brought Vegemite back into Australian hands and represented a diversification for Bega beyond its dairy business.

Bega Cheese is based on the far south coast of New South Wales and has a passionate belief in the importance of Australian food businesses to the prosperity of rural Australia. Its facilities are in towns and the countryside, and its milk supply comes from dairy farmers across the country. Bega Cheese's executive chairman, Barry Irvin, has stated that the company's success means it can invest more in its capacities, facilities, and employees.

Prior to the Vegemite deal, Bega Cheese had experienced some setbacks. In 2016, it lost a key contract with Coles to supply its home-brand cheese, and it also had to write down the value of its infant formula investments due to falling demand in China. However, Irvin worked to strengthen the company's balance sheet and position it for growth, which enabled it to acquire Vegemite and bring the iconic brand back to Australia.

The acquisition of Vegemite by Bega Cheese is significant as it represents the return of an Australian nostalgic brand to local ownership. It is also a reminder that many Australian pantry staples are foreign-owned despite their Aussie roots. Vegemite's return to Australian ownership has been celebrated, with Mondelez International acknowledging its history as the brand's custodian and its transformation into a global icon synonymous with Australia.

Bega Cheese has faced challenges since acquiring Vegemite, with rising farmgate milk prices contributing to increased annual costs. In 2022, the company's CEO, Paul van Heerwarden, announced his departure, and the company has had to grapple with cost management. Despite these challenges, Bega Cheese continues to be a prominent Australian-owned company, with Vegemite as one of its flagship brands.

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Tindo Solar, a solar panel manufacturer

Tindo Solar is an Australian-owned solar panel manufacturer based in Adelaide, South Australia. The company was founded in 2011 by Adrian Ferraretto, and its name comes from the Kaurna Aboriginal word for 'sun'. Tindo Solar is the only certified Australian-made solar panel manufacturer and is currently the only solar panel manufacturer in Australia.

Tindo Solar's manufacturing plant is located in Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, on a 65-hectare site situated 12 km north of the Adelaide CBD. The company has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility where it produces high-quality solar panels using anti-reflective glass, innovative wiring technology, and reduced internal resistance. Tindo Solar sources high-quality parts globally, including Q-cells solar cells, Dupont back sheets, and Dow Corning edge seals. Their panels are engineered and assembled in Australia, and they have a strict quality control process with over 25 checkpoints to ensure their panels' durability and performance.

Tindo Solar offers panels and solar panel systems for both residential homes and commercial properties in Adelaide. Their panels are designed to withstand harsh Australian climates and are IP68-rated to withstand rain, wind, and sun. The company provides a generous 25-year warranty on their panels, ensuring long-term reliability and performance. Tindo Solar's panels have a very low failure rate, with only 1 in every 200,000 panels failing, making them 200 times more reliable than the global average.

Tindo Solar is committed to providing tailored solar solutions to meet the specific energy needs of homes and businesses. Their panels are designed to help customers save money while reducing their carbon footprint. With their Australian-made panels and trusted brands of inverters and solar batteries, Tindo Solar offers the perfect system for any budget.

Tindo Solar is proud to support the local economy by manufacturing their panels in Australia and providing jobs to South Australians. The company has spent years refining its processes and implementing strict quality control measures to ensure that their panels are built to last.

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JAGRD, a wood-fired outdoor cooking company

JAGRD is an Australian wood-fired outdoor cooking company that was established in 2014. The company was founded by people who had loved and worked with wood-fired cooking for over 12 years. They spent 5 years serving wood-fired pizzas on the road and speaking to others about their love for wood-fired cooking. This gave them an insight into what people wanted to see available in their own backyards.

The company's flagship product is the JAGRD Outdoor Oven-Smoker, an all-Australian, all-in-one, award-winning barbecue pit. The oven is built from 6mm steel and features a fully insulated firebox and cooking chamber. It comes with a sturdy trolley with heavy-duty casters, making it easily movable. The oven can be fired up to 250-300 degrees within 30 minutes and features two stainless steel cooking levels, which can hold four large baking trays. It can also cook five 9 1/2" pizzas at one time, in just 10 minutes.

The JAGRD Outdoor Oven-Smoker is a versatile product that can be used for baking, roasting, pizza making, and low and slow smoking. It can also be used as a cold smoker for meats and cheeses. The oven is economical, requiring just one milk crate of wood or charcoal to run for hours. It comes with strong stainless mesh racks and is available in models with two or three cooking levels.

JAGRD is based in Bakers Hill, Western Australia, and sources materials from local businesses. The company offers a range of products and services related to wood-fired outdoor entertaining, including recipes, installation, events, barbecue, grilling, kitchens, decor, and outdoor kitchen renovations.

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Janelles, a soap and bath bomb company

Janelles is an Australian-owned company specialising in natural skincare products, including soap and bath bombs. Janelles' products are crafted from natural, plant-based, cruelty-free, vegan, and non-toxic ingredients, with a focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing.

The company was founded in 2004 by Janelle Roberts, a passionate advocate for natural skincare and sustainability. Janelle started creating her own soap and bath bomb recipes made with locally sourced, natural ingredients, and the business grew from there. Janelle's commitment to quality and sustainability has earned the brand a loyal following, with customers praising the products' luxurious feel, wonderful scents, and eco-friendly packaging.

Janelles' soap bars are natural, nourishing, and cold-processed, enriched with shea butter and essential oils. The soaps lather beautifully and are long-lasting, providing a luxurious and sensory experience. Janelles also offers liquid handwash soaps, soy wax candles, and reed diffusers, extending the sensory experience beyond the bath.

The bath bombs are handmade and eco-conscious, with bold colours and scents. They are 100% cruelty-free and use natural, locally sourced ingredients and recyclable packaging. Janelles' bath bombs provide a fun and therapeutic bath experience, with essential oils for aromatherapy benefits and natural botanicals inspired by the Australian landscape.

Janelles is proud to be Australian-owned and remains dedicated to its local community and sustainability values. The brand supports local businesses and suppliers, minimising its environmental impact and fostering a connection to the Australian landscape that inspires its products. Janelles is committed to reducing its environmental footprint at every stage of production and encouraging sustainable practices in the industry.

Frequently asked questions

Bushells tea was Australian-owned for more than a century until it was sold off in 2006 and is now owned by Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), a joint venture between Nestle and General Mills.

Arnott's biscuits are manufactured in Australia but owned by the US food giant Campbell Soup Company.

Tindo Solar is the only certified Australian-made solar panel manufacturer.

You can find a list of Australian-owned companies on websites such as Australian Made and Austribe Australia.

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