Dare Iced Coffee
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy, Juice |
| Predecessor | National Foods |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Adelaide Steamship Company |
| Fate | Acquired by Bega Cheese in November 2020 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia |
| Products | Milk, yoghurt, cream, dairy desserts, juice, specialty cheese |
Number of employees | Approximately 3,500 (as of 2005) |
| Website | www |
Bega Dairy & Drinks (BDD), a division of the Australian multi-faceted food corporation Bega Group, was purchased from the Japanese company Kirin in November 2020. Previously operating as National Foods until 2009 and later as Lion Dairy & Drinks under Kirin's ownership, BDD stands as a prominent entity within Australia's dairy and juice industries.
A major growth milestone occurred in 2008 when BDD acquired Sydney-based Dairy Farmers. This brand continues to enjoy strong recognition in New South Wales and Queensland, particularly for its fresh and long-life milk, yoghurt, and flavoured milk products.
The product portfolio of BDD spans milk, yoghurt, cream, dairy desserts, juice, and specialty cheese, sustaining a significant market share over many years.
History
National Foods was founded in 1991 by the Adelaide Steamship Company through the amalgamation of multiple dairy and food enterprises with roots tracing back to the 19th century.
In 2004, the Philippine conglomerate San Miguel Corporation successfully outbid New Zealand’s Fonterra to acquire National Foods for $1.8 billion. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission cleared San Miguel's purchase, citing no competition concerns. Although National Foods had previously divested its juice division to Berri Ltd, it regained full control of Berri in December 2005. The two entities merged to become Australia’s largest citrus and fruit processing company, responsible for roughly half of the nation’s fruit juice beverage production. This expansion created a workforce of approximately 3,500 employees and encompassed 20 manufacturing facilities across Australia and New Zealand, including sites dedicated to milk, juice, cheese, dairy products, and soy beverages.
On 8 November 2007, San Miguel divested National Foods to Japan’s Kirin Holdings Co. for $3.1 billion, transforming it into a wholly owned subsidiary.
In 2008, National Foods expanded further by acquiring Australian dairy firm Dairy Farmers. After Kirin’s acquisition of Lion Nathan in 2009, National Foods merged with Lion Nathan to form "Lion Nathan National Foods."
By 2011, the organisation restructured into two segments: Lion and Lion Dairy & Drinks.
In 2015, Warrnambool Cheese and Butter, a subsidiary of Saputo Inc., acquired part of Lion Dairy & Drinks’ cheese division—including Cracker Barrel and COON—for AUD 137.5 million.
In November 2019, China’s Mengniu Dairy reached an agreement to purchase Lion Dairy from Kirin for around A$600 million; however, the Australian Treasurer blocked the transaction, leading to its collapse by August 2020. Subsequently, Bega Cheese completed the acquisition for A$534 million in November 2020.
In February 2023, Bega announced the shutdown of its Canberra facility that produced milk and yoghurt, consolidating those operations at its Penrith site.
As of early 2021, Bega Dairy & Drinks manages production facilities throughout Australia—in Victoria (Chelsea Heights, Morwell), New South Wales (Baulkham Hills, Penrith, Hexham), Queensland (Crestmead), South Australia (Jervois, Clarence Gardens), Western Australia (Bentley), and the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra).
The company is a leading milk producer with its flagship Pura brand and holds a dominant position within juice and fresh dairy sectors. Historically, National Foods controlled close to half of Australia's flavoured milk market through Big M; additionally, its Farmers Union Iced Coffee remains one of the few soft drinks that outsells Coca-Cola domestically. BDD’s range also includes yoghurt, fromage frais, dairy desserts, cream, and cheese marketed under brands such as Yoplait, Frûche, Divine Classic, YoGo, and Farmers Union. Its premium specialty cheeses are sold under King Island Dairy, South Cape, Tilba, Timboon, and Clover Creek labels.
Key corporate achievements
- 1991 – Achieved listing on the Australian Stock Exchange;
- 1992 – Purchased United Dairies, a dairy business based in New South Wales;
- 1994 – Acquired Masters Dairy located in Western Australia;
- 1995 – Obtained the Australian license for the French brand Yoplait; product sales commenced the following year;
- 1999 – Pura was established as Australia's inaugural nationwide milk brand;
- 2000 – Took ownership of the Big M brand;
- 2001 – Entered the specialty cheese sector through acquisition of King Island Dairy;
- 2002 – Secured first contract for national supermarket private label milk supply;
- 2005 – Became a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation; integrated with its affiliate Berri Limited;
- 2006 – Added specialty cheese producer Lactos Pty Ltd to its portfolio;
- 2007 – Acquired by Kirin Holdings Company, Limited;
- 2008 – Initiated plans to acquire Dairy Farmers under Australian Co-operative Foods Limited;
- 2009 – Kirin Holdings received authorization to fully acquire Lion, forming "Lion Nathan National Foods";
- 2011 – Lion Nathan National Foods rebranded as Lion and Lion Dairy & Drinks;
- 2021 – Bega Cheese completed acquisition of Lion Dairy & Drinks.
Product brands
Bega Dairy & Drink manages 24 principal production sites (19 across Australia, plus one in New Zealand, two in Malaysia, and two in Indonesia), manufacturing key brands such as:
| Brand | Coverage area | Product category |
|---|---|---|
| The Complete Dairy | Australia-wide | Milk |
| Pura Milk | South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory | Milk |
| Dairy Farmers | New South Wales, Queensland | Milk, Yogurt |
| Big M | Nationwide excluding Western Australia | Flavored Milk |
| Dare Iced Coffee | Nationwide | Flavored Milk |
| Farmers Union | Nationwide | Iced Coffee, Yogurt, Flavored Milk |
| Masters | Western Australia | Milk, Flavored Milk |
| King Island Dairy | Nationwide | Cheese |
| Tasmanian Heritage | Nationwide | Cheese |
| Yoplait | Nationwide | Yogurt |
| Berri Ltd. | Nationwide | Juice |
| Daily Juice | Nationwide | Juice |
| The Juice Brothers | Nationwide | Juice |
| Vitasoy | Nationwide | Soy Milk, Oat Milk, Rice Milk |
| YoGo | Nationwide except Western Australia | |
| Zooper Dooper | Nationwide |
Labor relations
In October 2009, National Foods provided testimony before an Australian Senate inquiry focused on milk pricing. This followed concerns raised by the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association regarding payments to Tasmanian farmers amounting to 29 cents per litre—approximately 10 cents less than their production expenses.