Sub topics

• Farm Sector
• Milk Companies
  • Fonterra
  • Cadbury Schweppes
  • National Foods
  • Classic Foods
  • Betta Milk
  • Farm Cheese Operations

National Foods

National Foods in Tasmania has traditionally been the larger of the State's two liquid milk processors. However, it has expanded it's operations in recent times by buying two of the State's major cheese manufacturing companies - Lactos in Burnie and King Island Dairy Products on King Island.

National Foods is a wholly owned subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation. It is one of Australia's largest food companies. With its recent acquisitions it now uses a combined 20 per cent of total Tasmanian milk production.from around 160 farm suppliers throughout the state - from the south in the Derwent Valley through to King Island.

The Burnie (ex Lactos) factory has around 95 suppliers and produces soft cheeses, gouda, cheddar, gruyere and cream cheese.

King Island Dairies has around 25 suppliers and produces cheddar, soft cheeses, blue cheeses, yogurt and cream. These are mainly sold on the Australian domestic market. King Island Dairies anticipates that it will need to increase production by perhaps 10 per cent per annum to meet market demand over the next few years. That extra production could come from current farmers and or new dairy farm conversions.

The National Foodsliquid milk processing plant is in Hobart where it also produces yoghurt and cream. Growth in milk supply is particularly required in the south of the state.

Return to dairy companies overview