Australian dairy Co-operative Dairy Farmers has been awarded with the world’s best dairy innovation at the 2008 International Dairy Federation (IDF) Marketing Awards for their Thick & Creamy yoghurt .Held in Mexico at the World Dairy Summit last week, the 2008 IDF Marketing Awards received 24 entries from 10 leading dairy companies world-wide. Dairy Farmers General Manager for Marketing & Innovation John Wardley, said the Co-operative had won the prestigious innovation award based on... ...Read more »

The purchase of Dairy Farmers by National Foods will be implemented next week after receiving court approval today… Australian Co-operative Foods Limited (ACF), which trades as Dairy Farmers, today announced that the National Foods offer to acquire all of the shares in the Co-operative had been approved by the New South Wales Supreme Court. National Foods won shareholder approval last week for their $910 million proposal. ACF Chairman Ian Langdon said the court’s approval of the scheme... ...Read more »

The 11 cents per litre levy on fresh milk is to be scrapped following the passing of the Dairy Adjustment Levy Termination Bill 2008 through the Senate yesterday. The levy was established by the Howard Government in 2000 to fund an adjustment package for the dairy industry as it moved through deregulation. Around $240 million a year has been collected through the levy, to provide payments to around 13,000 dairy businesses over eight years. “The move to terminate the Dairy Adjustment Levy has... ...Read more »

Australian Co-operative Foods Limited (ACF), which trades as Dairy Farmers, and National Foods today announced that ACF members had approved the acquisition proposal by National Foods. On August 25 Dairy Farmers announced that National Foods had outbid other interested parties, with their $910 million offer. The deal involved a joint venture with Warrnambool Cheese and Butter for the cheese business of Dairy Farmers. National Foods have also since come to an arrangement to allow Fonterra to acquire... ...Read more »

TNS Worldpanel, global market leader in consumer purchasing information, today announced that although China’s dairy market was hit by sales spiralling downwards, there are many winners emerging from the melamine scandal. The criminal contamination of milk products in China led to the tragic deaths of four babies as well as causing over 54,000 infants to fall ill and has seen food standards bodies worldwide test and assess the safety of dairy products from China. For international dairy brands,... ...Read more »

Short-term challenges including a recent moderation in dairy commodity prices await the global dairy industry but the medium to long-term outlook remains robust, reveals a new Rabobank report. To maximise their full participation in this new era, global dairy players should be willing to shift policy and strategy, the report advised - urging supply chain players, including farmers, dairy processors, traders and end users, to reconsider their current strategies. Bearish mood Report co-author Tim... ...Read more »

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted final authorisation for the continuation of milk pricing and milk purchasing policies between Dairy Farmers Milk Co-operative (DFMC) Limited and Australian Cooperative Food Limited (ACF) following the sale of ACF to National Foods. DFMC acquires raw milk from its farmer members and sells this milk to ACF for processing into dairy products. National Foods proposed a $910m takeover of ACF in August, which received the approval of both... ...Read more »

Australian Co-operative Foods Limited (ACF), which trades as Dairy Farmers, has announced that an independent expert has determined the National Foods proposal to acquire the Co-operative to be in the best interests of its members in the absence of a superior proposal. National Foods won the race for the Australian dairy co-operative (pending a shareholder vote) with a $910 million offer in August. ACF Chairman Ian Langdon said that the National Foods proposal - which would deliver members $5.65... ...Read more »

International media reports have cast doubt about the safety of certain fruit and vegetable products exported from China including Chinese mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce. There are concerns some may be tainted with melamine, the toxic chemical at the centre of the ongoing Chinese milk scandal. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand this afternoon released a statement outlining that no products in Australia have been found to be affected but further tests were being carried out. “Australia... ...Read more »

National Foods and Fonterra yesterday announced they had entered into an agreement which would allow Fonterra to acquire the SKI yoghurt licence and associated intellectual property if National Foods’ proposed takeover of Dairy Farmers is approved. National Foods, owned by Japanese-based Kirin Holdings, made an offer to purchase Dairy Farmers for $910 million which was unanimously recommended by the Dairy Farmers Board in late August. Shareholders in the Australian dairy co-operative have until... ...Read more »