Flavoured milk consumption is predicted to grow at more than double the rate of white milk globally between 2012 and 2015, according to new research from food processing and packaging company Tetra Pak. Tetra Pak said that flavoured milk, which is currently the second most widely consumed Liquid Dairy Product (LDP) after white milk, is forecast to increase by a compound annual rate of 4.1 per cent between 2012 and 2013, rising from 17 billion litres to 19.2 billion litres. Developing countries will... ...Read more »

The recent first quarter trading update from Japanese-owned Australian food and beverage manufacturer Lion shows a volume increase of 14 per cent in the beer, wine and spirits category for the quarter ended 31 December 2012, despite an overall slowing of the category’s market. Lion said the alcohol sales volume increase came because of its acquisition of international premium and craft brands. But the Company reported that its dairy and drinks category faced challenges in the first quarter, and... ...Read more »

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 »

According to the ‘Australian Food Statistics 2011-12’ report released recently by the Australia Government, Australia’s dairy exports were worth $2,311 million in 2011-12. Japan has been by far Australia’s most valuable dairy export market, with total dairy exports to Japan in 2011-12 valued at $491 million. Singapore is also currently a valuable dairy export market, with $227 million worth of Australian dairy products going there in 2011-12. Indonesian opportunities In 2011-12, Australia... ...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 »

Australia’s largest dairy co-operative, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co., will invest $19.1 million in its facilities at Leongatha in Victoria, to lift the site’s Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk manufacturing output by approximately 70 million litres a year. The investment is part of a planned $200 million investment by the company in ‘leading-edge’ dairy food manufacturing facilities for UHT milk, butter and spreads, and cheese, details of which will be announced in full by mid-2013. The... ...Read more »

Supermarket giant Woolworths this week announced plans to trial buying milk directly from dairy farmers in the Manning Valley in New South Wales. Woolworths says the trial of a direct relationship between the supermarket and dairy farmers is “seeking to give dairy farmers a better deal for their milk, end-to-end transparency from shed to shelf, the certainty of a longer term contract and a closer relationship to their consumers”. Woolworths wants to stock milk sourced directly from the Manning... ...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 »

Supermarket giant Coles has surprised its rival Woolworths by secretly buying one of Woolworths’ most profitable Sydney stores. Woolworths confirmed that Coles recently bought its store in Neutral Bay, which is on Sydney’s lower North Shore. A Woolworths spokesperson said the purchase by Coles had not been anticipated. According to internal reports obtained by Fairfax Media journalists, Coles paid $40 million for the centre that the Woolworths store is part of, concealing its involvement in the... ...Read more »

The world’s biggest ever study of food allergies, which is spearheaded by the University of Manchester and supported by industry players such as Unilever and Eurofins, began on Friday 22 March 2013. The €9million project builds on an earlier €14.3 million research study and will involve the world’s leading experts in the UK, Europe, Australia and US. Together they mark the biggest study of food allergy in the world. The European Commission-sponsored research, known as the Integrated Approaches... ...Read more »