Fonterra, the global dairy conglomerate, has announced a strategic overhaul that includes selling its well-known Australian cheese brands, Bega, Perfect Italiano, and Western Star butter.
Bega Cheese
Source: Bega Cheese
Fonterra, the global dairy conglomerate, has announced a strategic overhaul that includes selling its well-known Australian cheese brands, Bega, Perfect Italiano, and Western Star butter. This move marks a return to the company’s foundational activities of milk collection, processing, and sales, moving away from consumer business ventures.
Bega Group and Perich Group are being considered as candidates to purchase Fonterra's B2C dairy business

According to Fonterra, selling these consumer brands aligns better with the company’s core mission to serve its farmer shareholders and unitholders by concentrating on milk production, milk and protein powders, and direct business-to-business dairy products. “Fonterra is not the highest-value owner of the consumer and associated businesses in the longer term. A divestment would allow a new owner with the appropriate expertise and resources to fully unlock their potential,” said Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell. The company has also noted receiving unsolicited interest in these divisions, suggesting it is an opportune moment to reevaluate their ownership.

Among potential suitors, the ASX-listed Bega Group, which sold naming rights to Fonterra in 2001 in a deal set to expire in less than two years, is seen as a likely candidate. Fonterra had previously held a stake in Bega Group. The Perich Group is another mentioned potential bidder, though currently focused on reviving Noumi, formerly known as Freedom Foods.

With substantial capital in the market—Macquarie Group reported a global reserve of approximately $US2.59 trillion at the end of last year—private equity firms are expected to closely scrutinize Fonterra’s offer. The businesses for sale, although challenging to value due to commodity-level margins typical of cheese products, contributed significantly to Fonterra’s earnings, with the consumer business generating $781 million in gross profit from $3.3 billion in revenue last year.

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Fonterra is proceeding with the disposal of its consumer-facing dairy business, with an IPO or sale to a trade buyer put forward as possible options.

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