Foreign brands with local production are most important to Australian supermarket customers

Posted by Nicholas Nakos on 8th November 2017

A study has found that nine out of 10 of Australia’s highest sales supermarket food and beverage largest food and beverage brands are at least partly foreign-owned.

With dairy producer Murray Goulburn soon to be sold to Canadian dairy Saputo that number will rise to 10.

Australian consumers are faced with a choice of endless brands when they shop at their local supermarket.

The study led Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia found that despite Australian consumers being faced with endless brands when they shop at their local supermarket, a few major producers dominate.

The top 10 companies were listed by revenue and are as follows

1. Fonterra

Fonterra is a New Zealand multi-national dairy company owned by over 10,500 New Zealand dairy farmers.

The company is responsible for 30 per cent of the world’s dairy exports and has a revenue exceeding NZ$17.2 billion.

It was founded in 2001 with brands such as Mainland Cheese, Tip Top and Anchor.

2. Coca-Cola Amatil

Coca-Cola Amatil is one of the largest bottlers of non-alcoholic beverages in the Asia-Pacific region which produces carbonated soft-drinks, sports drinks and spring water with an annual revenue of A$5.12 billion.

3. Lion

Lion is a food and beverage company that produces beer, wine, cider, spirits and dairy products.

The company was previously called ‘Lion Nathan National Foods’ which changed to Lion in 2011.

4. Murray Goulburn

Murray Goulburn was originally formed by a group of dairy farmers in the 1950s and has been a processor of a significant slice of Australia’s milk supply.

It has been recently sold to Canadian dairy group Saputo.

5. George Weston Foods

George Weston Foods produces Australia’s leading bakery and cured meat brands. It is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods.

It is one of the two major commercial bread producers in Australia including the Tip Top brand.

George Weston Foods brands also include Don and KR Castlemaine smallgoods.

6. Wilmar International

The Singapore-based company are the Australian supermarket leaders in sugar and many flour and bakery products.

It owns the margarine Meadow Lea brand and many other spreads and condiments.

7. Nestle

The Swiss company is the third largest confectionery supplier in Australia.

It also produces processed milks and coffees, instant foods and pet foods.

Nestle brands include Nespresso, Maggi, Milo and Purina pet food.