Fonterra FY26 Results: $9.69 Milk Price, $3.4bn Profit
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
Fonterra Australia and Bellamy's Australia Limited are entering a five year, multi-million dollar strategic agreement to manufacture a range of new baby nutritional powders.
Fonterra managing director Oceania Judith Swales says the announcement is part of Fonterra's transformation of its Australian business.
"This is our strategy in action for Australia where we focus on the areas we can win in a highly competitive market to deliver the best returns," says Swales.
"We are actively growing our nutritionals business through strategic partnerships and agreements which will see the Darnum nutritionals plant move towards full capacity.
"Our Australian business has particular ingredients strengths in cheese, whey and nutritionals, complemented by our strong consumer and foodservice businesses; and today's announcement with Bellamy's Australia - one of the fastest growing infant formula companies - reaffirms our strength in nutritionals.
"The Darnum plant is a leading nutritionals plant in Fonterra's global network. Leveraging our Fonterra Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North, the largest dairy innovation centre in the southern hemisphere, we will bring innovation to the Darnum plant and the nutritionals market to capture growing demand.
Bellamy's is one of the fastest growing infant formula companies with strong brand recognition and expertise in the organic ingredient supply chain. Bellamy's has experienced continued growth over many years, and financial year 2014-15 has been exceptional, achieving revenue growth of 156% from the year prior.* Formula comprises 88% of Bellamy's sales.*
"The proposed multi-million dollar strategic agreement will help support the growth of Bellamy's Organic in Australia and abroad, and builds on our strong current relationship."
"We are also nearing the finalisation of the Darnum joint venture with Beingmate Baby and Child Food Company Ltd following the recent formal approval by Beingmate's Board and shareholders," says Swales.
Swales says the cooperative had a clear plan to return its Australian business to strong and sustainable profitability.
Fonterra and Bellamy's will work to finalise the proposed arrangements by the end of the year, with the agreement commencing in 2016.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.