Latest statistics published by Australian research survey company Roy Morgan suggest Australians are increasingly choosing natural yoghurt. However, fruit or flavoured yoghurt still remained the most popular amongst survey participants with 52 per cent of consumers eating fruit or flavoured yoghurt in a four week period. Drinking yoghurt or pro-biotic/cultured milk was being consumed by 9 per cent of consumers. The research was based on a survey undertaken by Roy Morgan of 18,483 Australian consumers... ...Read more »

A national standard for the amount of time allowed between the last feed and slaughter of bobby calves in Australia has been agreed to by the main players in the Australian dairy industry. Bobby calves are the young male calves which are slaughtered for human consumption every year. They are the bi-product of the dairy industry as milking cows must be impregnated to lactate each year and the male calves are eliminated since they cannot produce milk. The industry decision came after Primary Industries... ...Read more »

National Foods to close Wetherill Park and Cobden sites National Foods today advised its workers that the Wetherill Park and Cobden fresh dairy sites will be closed over the next two years, with 280 jobs to be lost. The company will expand its Morwell site in Victoria and Baulkham Hills site in NSW, with volumes expected to triple and equipment to be imported from the closing factories. National Foods plans to spend $55 million on infrastructure for the expansion of the Morwell facility and $10.5... ...Read more »

National Foods announced yesterday that it will be closing down its plant in the Ipswich suburb of Booval in favour of an expanded site at Crestmead. The company is planning to invest $55 million in the Crestmead manufacturing facility, increasing production from 140 million litres capacity to 250 million litres. There is currently no firm date for the end of production at Booval. National Foods Supply Chain Director, Arthur Murphy, said the company was excited about the expansion. “We have... ...Read more »

The head of National Foods has admitted the Australian dairy group is still “some distance” off generating “acceptable” returns as the company integrates local firm Dairy Farmers. National Foods managing director Andrew Reeves said the coming together of the two companies during 2009 had created a “leading branded dairy and juice business” – and he insisted the combined group was “well-positioned” to invest in its business. While Reeves said National... ...Read more »

Japanese food and drink group Kirin Holdings has shuffled its management pack as the company looks to push on with plans to drive earnings. Kirin, which owns Australia’s Dairy Farmers and National Foods, said today (10 February) that executive vice president Senji Miyake would become president and CEO from next month. Current CEO Kazuyasu Kato will become Kirin’s chairman. The promotion of Miyake is the latest move from Kirin to establish “a leading company” in food and health... ...Read more »

Kirin Holdings has received approval from Lion Nathan shareholders for a multi-billion dollar takeover that will create the largest food and beverage group in Australia. Australia’s second-largest brewer will join National Foods and Dairy Farmers as recent acquisitions by Kirin in Australia as the Japanese firm looks to boost profits while their home market remains in a rut. A meeting with shareholders was held today with 98.75 per cent of votes cast in favour of the scheme. Pending final court... ...Read more »

Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings has reported a 16 per cent drop in operating profit as the exchange rate hurts their Australian operations and Japanese consumption remains subdued. Despite the drop in profit, the owner of National Foods consolidated Dairy Farmers into their Australian fruit juice and dairy business with better-than-expected results and has now raised their profit expectations for the full year. Kirin said that Lion Nathan, which they are currently seeking to buy (they currently own... ...Read more »

Dairy firm Parmalat this week competed the $70 million purchase of assets from National Foods, which will boost their revenues in Australia by around 26 per cent. The transfer of 12 National Foods depots in the NSW and ACT and 13 Dairy Farmers depots in South Australia, as well as the Lidcombe processing plant was made on Monday. The maker of Pauls milk also receives a 2 year licence to manufacture, distribute and sell the Daisy Fresh and Pura range of fresh white milk in NSW and the ACT along with... ...Read more »

Italian-based dairy business Parmalat has today received regulatory approval for their proposed $70 million purchase of a number of the dairy assets held by National Foods. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission advised that they would not oppose the deal, which was brought about due to the takeover of Dairy Farmers last year by Kirin subsidiary National Foods. The manufacturing operations had combined revenue of around $200 million in the twelve months to 30 June 2008, with tangible... ...Read more »