Wednesday, 18 August 2021 08:55

Top global dairy brand

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Yili owns Oceania Dairy and Westland Milk in New Zealand. Yili owns Oceania Dairy and Westland Milk in New Zealand.

Chinese company Yili, which has a sizeable presence in New Zealand, has been chosen as the world's most valuable dairy brand.

According to global branding company, Brand Finance, Yili posted an 11% increase in brand value this year to US$9.6 billion and pulling even further ahead of previous sector leader Danone (up 5% to US$8.2 billion) in second place.

Yili also claims second spot behind Nestlé in the Brand Finance Food 100 2021 ranking.

The Brand Finance Food & Drink 2021 Report says Yili has boasted strong sales growth, up 13% year-on-year, and the long-term forecast for the brand looks positive.

"The dairy giant has once again been striving towards new products and optimisation, bolstered by innovation and long-standing R&D investment.

"This paired with further expansion into new territories across Asia and overseas, has supported the brand's strong growth."

Yili owns two milk processing plants in New Zealand - the Oceania Dairy plant in South Canterbury was set up in 2013 and two years ago it bought Westland Milk in Hokitika from farmer shareholders.

Yili's product range in NZ includes butter, milk powders, ingredients and milk.

The Brand Finance Food & Drink 2021 report also includes the Dairy Portfolio ranking - which splits the brand value related to dairy brands from the wider food portfolios - as dairy brands represent a large proportion of the food portfolios' brand value and often are responsible for movement within the overall ranking.

Yili has the fourth most valuable dairy portfolio, with a total brand value of US$9.6 billion, an impressive performance given that Asian dairy brands have traditionally been outperformed by their international counterparts. Lactalis has overtaken last year's leader, Nestlé, with a combined brand value of US$11.4 billion.

More like this

Wrong, again!

OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour Agriculture Minister Damian O’Connor when Chineseowned Yili took over the troubled dairy company Westland Milk a few years back.

China comeback?

OPINION: Is the Chinese dairy slump coming to an end? Yes, according to one of the China’s biggest dairy companies, Yili Industrial Group.

Featured

Farmstrong marks 10 years of rural support

Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.

National

Machinery & Products

Farming smarter with technology

The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

110,000 visitors!

OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.

Sticky situation

OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter