Frederic Melton
Bega Cheese Limited is an Australian company with a long history in dairy. It was founded in 1899 by farmers in the Bega Valley of NSW who began to produce and sell dairy products collectively. The company has since expanded to become one of the largest in the Australian dairy sector, with manufacturing sites in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Bega Valley, New South Wales, Australia |
| Company Name | Bega Cheese Limited |
| Company Type | Public company |
| Year Founded | 1899 |
| Year Became Public | 2008/2011 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Bega Cheese Limited was founded in 1899
- The company is Australian-owned and operated
- Bega Cheese Limited was founded by farmers in the Bega Valley of NSW
- Bega Cheese Limited is one of the largest companies in the Australian dairy sector
- Bega Cheese Limited has manufacturing sites in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria
Bega Cheese Limited was founded in 1899
Bega Cheese Limited has expanded rapidly since its founding, and is now one of the largest companies in the Australian dairy sector. It has manufacturing sites in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria. The company has also expanded its product range beyond dairy, acquiring brands such as Vegemite and Zoosh.
Bega Cheese Limited's growth can be attributed to its rapid expansion in the 1980s and 1990s, which saw it double its production capacity and expand its distribution network outside of New South Wales. In 2008, the company changed from a cooperative to an unlisted public company, and in the same year, it bought a cheddar and mozzarella manufacturing site in Coburg, Victoria. This site is capable of producing over 10,000 metric tons of bulk product.
Bega Cheese Limited has continued to expand through acquisitions and now holds a significant share of the Australian retail cheese market. The company's focus on quality and integrity has made the Bega name synonymous with Australian values.
The Magic Milk Behind Blue Cheese
You may want to see also
The company is Australian-owned and operated
Bega Cheese Limited is an Australian-owned and operated company with a long history in the country. Founded in 1899, the company has humble beginnings in dairy, starting out in the Bega Valley of NSW in the 1850s when farmers began to produce and sell dairy products collectively. Over the years, Bega has expanded its operations across Australia, with manufacturing sites in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria. The company is committed to its Australian roots and values, with the Bega name standing for quality and integrity.
Bega Cheese Limited has grown significantly since its early days, becoming one of the largest companies in the Australian dairy sector. In 2008, the company changed from a cooperative to an unlisted public company, known as Bega Cheese Limited. This move allowed Bega to expand its operations and acquire new facilities, such as the cheddar and mozzarella manufacturing site in Coburg, Victoria. The company has continued to grow and diversify its product range, with acquisitions including Tatura Milk, Kraft Strathmerton, and Murray Goulburn’s Koroit factory.
Bega's commitment to Australian ownership and operation is evident in its business practices. The company sources its dairy products from local farmers and suppliers, with close to half of its shares publicly traded still held by Bega's farmer-suppliers. This ensures that the company remains connected to its agricultural roots and upholds the values of the Australian dairy industry. Bega's focus on quality and integrity has made it a trusted and well-known brand in Australia, with its products distributed domestically and internationally.
As a leading Australian food and drinks company, Bega has expanded beyond dairy products. In 2017, the company diversified its portfolio by acquiring well-known Australian food brands such as Vegemite and Peanut Butter, as well as the Peanut Company of Australia. More recently, in 2020, Bega Cheese Limited acquired Lion’s Dairy & Drinks, further solidifying its position as a major player in the Australian food industry. With a base milk supply of approximately 750 million litres per annum as of 2018, Bega continues to be a prominent and trusted name in the Australian market.
The History of Havarti Cheese: Why It Was Created
You may want to see also
Bega Cheese Limited was founded by farmers in the Bega Valley of NSW
The Bega Cheese Limited story began in the 1850s when farmers in the Bega Valley of NSW began to produce and sell dairy products collectively. The company experienced rapid growth through the 1980s and 1990s, doubling its production capacity and expanding its distribution network as more products were sold outside NSW. Bega has continued to expand throughout the 2000s, buying Tatura Milk, Kraft Strathmerton and Murray Goulburn’s Koroit factory. In 2020, the company acquired Lion’s Dairy & Drinks, making Bega Cheese Limited the second-largest milk processor in Australia at 1.7 billion litres per year. This expansion has allowed Bega to further develop its product range, manufacturing and distribution infrastructure and brand portfolio.
Bega Cheese Limited changed from a cooperative to an unlisted public company in 2008. That same year, the company bought a cheddar and mozzarella manufacturing site in Coburg, Victoria, capable of producing over 10,000 mt of bulk product. In March 2009, Bega acquired the cheese manufacturing facility of Kraft Foods at Strathmerton in Victoria. In August 2011, the company was listed on the Australia Securities Exchange (ASX). Following the listing, Bega Cheese acquired the final 30% of Tatura Milk, which then became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bega Cheese.
Bega Cheese Limited is currently one of the largest companies in the dairy sector in Australia, with a base milk supply in 2018 of approximately 750 million litres per annum. Over half of the company's revenue (as of 2019) comes from its spreads, dairy consumer packaged goods and other grocery products, with its flagship Bega brand holding 15.7% of the Australian retail cheese market.
The Magic Behind Mozzarella: From Curds to Creamy Cheese
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Bega Cheese Limited is one of the largest companies in the Australian dairy sector
Bega Cheese Limited has since expanded its operations to other Australian states, including Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria. The company has a diverse range of manufacturing sites across these states, producing a wide variety of dairy and food products.
Bega Cheese Limited has experienced significant growth over the years, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, which doubled its production capacity and expanded its distribution network beyond New South Wales. This growth continued into the 2000s, with the company acquiring Tatura Milk, Kraft Strathmerton, and Murray Goulburn's Koroit factory.
In 2020, Bega Cheese Limited's purchase of Lion's Dairy & Drinks made it the second-largest milk processor in Australia, with a processing capacity of 1.7 billion litres per year. This acquisition further expanded the company's product range, manufacturing capabilities, distribution infrastructure, and brand portfolio.
Today, Bega Cheese Limited remains committed to its Australian roots, focusing on producing and distributing high-quality dairy and food products that embody Australian values and quality. The company's flagship brand holds a significant share of the Australian retail cheese market, contributing to its reputation as one of the largest and most respected companies in the Australian dairy sector.
The Milk Behind Pecorino Cheese
You may want to see also
Bega Cheese Limited has manufacturing sites in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria
Bega Cheese Limited has a long history in the dairy industry, starting out as an agricultural cooperative founded by dairy suppliers. The company has since expanded and diversified its product range, becoming one of the largest companies in the Australian dairy sector. Bega Cheese Limited now produces, markets and distributes a wide range of high-quality products for domestic and international markets, including some of Australia's most iconic food brands.
The company has manufacturing sites across Australia, including in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria. In Victoria, Bega Cheese Limited has a cheddar and mozzarella manufacturing site in Coburg, capable of producing over 10,000 metric tons of bulk product. The company also has a manufacturing site in Port Melbourne, Victoria, which it acquired from Mondelez International in 2017.
Bega Cheese Limited has continued to expand its operations and product range through acquisitions and mergers. In 2020, the company acquired Lion's Dairy & Drinks, making it the second-largest milk processor in Australia with a processing capacity of 1.7 billion litres per year. This expansion has allowed Bega Cheese Limited to further grow its manufacturing and distribution infrastructure and brand portfolio.
The Birth of Blue-veined: When Was Bondon Cheese First Made?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Bega Cheese is made in Australia, with manufacturing sites in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.
Bega Cheese was founded in 1899, although its story began in the 1850s when farmers in the Bega Valley of NSW began to produce and sell dairy products collectively.
Bega Cheese became a public company in 2011 when it listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Bega Cheese's flagship brand is Bega, which holds 15.7% of the Australian retail cheese market.
