Pura Milk
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy and beverages |
| Predecessor | National Foods, Lion Dairy & Drinks |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Adelaide Steamship Company (originated) |
| Fate | Acquired by Bega Group in November 2020 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia |
| Products | Milk, yoghurt, cream, dairy desserts, juice, specialty cheese |
| Parent | Bega Group |
| Website | www |
Bega Dairy & Drinks (BDD) operates as a division of the Australian diversified food enterprise, the Bega Group, having been acquired from the Japanese corporation Kirin in November 2020. Previously identified as National Foods until 2009 and later as Lion Dairy & Drinks during Kirin's ownership, BDD holds a prominent position within Australia's dairy and juice sectors.
A notable growth milestone took place in 2008 with the purchase of the Sydney-based company Dairy Farmers, whose brand continues to maintain strong recognition in New South Wales and Queensland, particularly for milk, yoghurt, and flavored milk offerings.
BDD’s portfolio focuses on dairy products and beverages such as milk, yoghurt, cream, dairy desserts, juice, and specialty cheese. The company has maintained a significant presence in the Australian market for many years.
History
National Foods originated in 1991 when the Adelaide Steamship Company consolidated several established dairy and food enterprises.
In 2004, Philippine corporation San Miguel Corporation outbid New Zealand’s Fonterra to acquire National Foods for $1.8 billion, thereby obtaining full control of juice processor Berri Ltd. This acquisition positioned National Foods as Australia’s largest processor of citrus and fruit products, commanding roughly 50% of the fruit juice beverage market and operating 20 manufacturing facilities across Australia and New Zealand.
San Miguel divested National Foods to Japan’s Kirin Holdings in November 2007 for $3.1 billion, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of Kirin.
In 2008, National Foods expanded by acquiring Dairy Farmers. The following year, Kirin combined National Foods with Lion Nathan to establish "Lion Nathan National Foods." This entity was reorganized in 2011 into two separate divisions: Lion and Lion Dairy & Drinks.
In 2015, Warrnambool Cheese and Butter—owned by Saputo Inc.—purchased part of Lion Dairy & Drinks’ cheese segment, including the Cracker Barrel and COON brands, for AUD 137.5 million.
China’s Mengniu Dairy agreed to acquire Lion Dairy from Kirin in November 2019 for approximately A$600 million; however, the transaction was blocked by the Australian Treasurer on national interest grounds and eventually fell through in August 2020. Following this, Bega Cheese completed the acquisition for A$534 million in November 2020.
In February 2023, Bega announced it would cease operations at its Canberra milk and yoghurt manufacturing plant, consolidating production activities at its Penrith site.
As of January 2021, BDD’s processing facilities are situated across 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 ranks among Australia’s leading milk producers with its flagship Pura brand; it is also a top juice manufacturer and a dominant supplier of fresh dairy products. By 2007, National Foods controlled nearly half of the national flavoured milk sector with Big M; Farmers Union Iced Coffee remains one of only three soft drinks outselling Coca-Cola within its regional market. BDD additionally produces yoghurt, fromage frais, dairy desserts, cream, and cheese under labels including Yoplait, Frûche, Divine Classic, YoGo, and Farmers Union. Its range of premium specialty cheeses features brands such as King Island Dairy, South Cape, Tilba, Timboon, and Clover Creek.
Key Company Achievements
- 1991 – Officially listed on the Australian Stock Exchange;
- 1992 – Purchased United Dairies, a dairy firm based in New South Wales;
- 1994 – Acquired Masters Dairy located in Western Australia;
- 1995 – Obtained Australian licensing rights for the French brand Yoplait; sales commenced the following year;
- 1999 – Launched Pura as Australia's inaugural national milk brand;
- 2000 – Took ownership of the Big M brand;
- 2001 – Entered the specialty cheese market through acquisition of King Island Dairy;
- 2002 – Secured its first national contract to supply supermarket house brand milk;
- 2005 – Became part of San Miguel Corporation; merged operations with San Miguel's subsidiary 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, creating "Lion Nathan National Foods";
- 2011 – Rebranded Lion Nathan National Foods as Lion and Lion Dairy & Drinks;
- 2021 – Lion Dairy & Drinks was purchased by Bega Cheese.
Product Brands
Bega Dairy & Drink manages 24 primary production sites (19 in Australia, 1 in New Zealand, 2 in Malaysia, and 2 in Indonesia), manufacturing key brands such as:
| Brand | Coverage Area | Product Type |
|---|---|---|
| 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 except 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 excluding Western Australia | |
| Zooper Dooper | Nationwide |
Labor Relations
In October 2009, National Foods provided evidence at an Australian Senate inquiry regarding milk pricing following concerns raised by the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association that Tasmanian farmers were receiving only 29 cents per litre—approximately 10 cents less than their production costs.