Lactalis in front to acquire Fonterra’s Australian dairy assets after ACCC clearance
The world's largest dairy company may be in pole position to acquire Fonterra's Australian assets.
Fonterra has sold its 9% stake in Australian cheese processor Bega Cheese for A$74 million.
The co-op purchased its shareholding in 2013, amid a takeover battle for Australian processor Warrnambool Cheese and Butter; Bega unsuccessfully bid for WCB.
Fonterra chief financial officer Lukas Paravicini says they are focused on investing in higher value add dairy products that deliver the best returns for shareholders.
Releasing capital, such as through this sale, for future growth is the best use of our shareholders' funds, he says.
The sale of Fonterra's shareholding has no implications for its long-standing relationship with Bega, which includes a license on the Bega brand and a supply contract for cheese.
"The Bega brand has an important role in our cheese portfolio where we are a market leader, and we will continue to build on our relationship with Bega which goes back more than a decade," says Paravacini.
New Zealand milk production is off to a strong start, with the first month of the 2025/26 dairy season recording a whopping 17.8% jump in milk production, compared to the previous season.
With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
Keep up with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector's key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
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