Almost at the same time as reaching a momentous 10-year supply deal with Coles supermarket group and expanding its processing facilities, Australia’s largest dairy co-operative Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (Murray Goulburn) announced on 18 April 2013 that it had acquired an additional 1.2 million shares in dairy producer Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Holdings Limited (WCB). This takes Murray Goulburn’s shareholding to a 14.5 per cent stake in WCB. Australian Food News reported... ...Read more »

Major Australian supermarket Coles has entered long-term supply partnerships with two Australian dairy co-operatives, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (Murray Goulburn) and Norco. Coles has signed a ten-year contract with Murray Goulburn, which is Australia’s largest dairy co-operative. The contract will see Coles private label milk supplied by Murray Goulburn’s Devondale brand in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) from July 2014. Devondale processes approximately one third of Australia’s... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s dominant dairy processors, Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, has announced a drop of 32 per cent in earnings in the Australian arm of its business, although the Company saw a stronger-than-expected overall half yearly result. Fonterra is based in New Zealand but is a major player in the $5 billion dairy products industry in Australia. According to the Nielsen 2012 ‘Retail World Grocery Guide’ for Australia, Fonterra holds a 27 per cent value share and a 24.2 per cent volume... ...Read more »

Dairy company Fonterra has awarded first place in its ‘Proud to be a Chef’ mentorship program to an apprentice chef from Victoria. The winner was announced last night at the Melbourne restaurant Ezard. Well-known industry figures George Calombaris, MasterChef judge and owner of The Press Club, and Matthew Macartney, executive chef at Chateau Yering, are two of the competition’s alumni. Jacob Hoskin, from Traralgon in Victoria, was awarded first place in the program, which gives him an international... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s fastest-growing food companies, Bega Cheese, has today announced a $15.9 million half-year profit. Bega Cheese said its ongoing profit growth was attributable to the Company’s “willingness to invest in value-adding infrastructure.” The Company reported a revenue increase of 9.6 per cent to $491 million attributed to a long-term contract with Coles supermarkets and increased production in cream cheese.  Bega Cheese’s EBITDA also increased 14 per cent to $37.4 million... ...Read more »

Australia’s McDonald’s franchises are being given more liberty to innovate, with the latest offering being drive-thru 2 litre bottles of milk on the Gold Coast. All fourteen McDonald’s drive-thru stores on the Gold Coast have been selling 2-litre bottles of Norco milk for the past nine weeks “as a means of convenience” for its customers. If the idea takes off, McDonald’s is well placed for expansion by diversification and to take advantage of its existing drive-thru facilities. McDonald’s... ...Read more »

Commercial farming chemical Dicyandiamide (DCD) has been voluntarily suspended in New Zealand after traces were found in New Zealand-based dairy products. DCD is used in the farming process to prevent the fertilizer by-product nitrate entering waterways, and is also used as a means of “promoting pasture growth.” Although DCD is not considered a food safety risk, New Zealand’s largest dairy producer Fonterra has supported the voluntary suspension. “DCD has never at any point been a food safety... ...Read more »

Dairy giant Fonterra has announced the finalists for its Fonterra Proud to be a Chef 2013 mentor program, which will provide 32 Australian and New Zealand apprentice chefs with free industry master-classes. The competition is designed to publicly recognise the commitment of apprentice chefs, with one standout finalist set to receive the major prize of an international culinary scholarship to suit the direction they choose to take their career. Food industry experts such as George Calombaris –... ...Read more »

This week Dairy Australia announced the “best of the best” dairy products at the 2013 Australian Grand Dairy Awards in Melbourne. Over 153 cheeses and 246 dairy products were judged by industry experts on Monday at the Circa restaurant in Melbourne. Dairy Australia awarded twenty recipients across the cheese category and dairy category, which includes yoghurt, milk, butter, cream, desserts and other dairy products. All twenty award recipients are able to display the Australian Grand Dairy Awards... ...Read more »

Bega Cheese’s CEO Aidan Coleman told the annual general meeting of the company today that the past financial year had been “the most dynamic year” in the company’s 113 year history. Highlights from the year had included being listed as a public company on the ASX, entering into a landmark 5-year supply with Coles and fully merging with Tatura Milk Industries. Financial overview In reviewing the 2012 year, Executive Chairman Barry Irvin said it was noteworthy that while sales revenues were... ...Read more »