Brownes
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Founder | Edward Browne |
| Headquarters | Balcatta , Australia |
Area served | Australia, Global |
| Products | Milk, cheese, yoghurt, sour cream, feta cheese, buttermilk |
Number of employees | 300 (2010) |
| Parent | Australia Zhiran Co (as of 2017) |
Brownes Dairy is a prominent Australian dairy enterprise specializing in the manufacture of milk, cheese, and yoghurt for both local and global consumers. It holds the distinction of being the most longstanding and largest dairy processor within Western Australia.
History
Established in 1886 by Edward Browne, Brownes pioneered the production of flavoured milk in Western Australia in 1951. Transitioning from a family-run operation, it became a publicly listed company named Brownes Dairy Limited in 1955. The product range was broadened with the introduction of yoghurt in 1959, followed by sour cream and feta cheese during the 1970s.
In 1962, Brownes was acquired by Peters, an ice cream manufacturer. Later, in 2010, Fonterra divested Brownes to DairyWest, which is owned by the private equity group Archer Capital. The company further grew its offerings by acquiring Casa Dairy in 2012, incorporating European-style cheeses and buttermilk into its lineup.
The organization encountered regulatory penalties including a $100,000 fine imposed in 2014 due to environmental harm caused by a waste milk spill, and a $22,000 fine in 2021 related to non-compliant milk supply contracts.
In November 2017, ownership transferred to Australia Zhiran Co, a Chinese consortium led by Shanghai Ground Food Tech. Nevertheless, by April 2025, the company was listed for sale following its parent firm’s failure to repay a $200 million loan.
Operations
Each year, Brownes procures approximately 120 million litres of milk sourced from more than 50 farms. Its processing plants are situated in Balcatta, Brunswick, and Shanghai. As of 2010 data, Brownes is responsible for processing around 40% of Western Australia's milk output and employs close to 300 staff members.