Danone-Murray Goulburn Co-operative
European dairy company Danone and Victorian dairy company Murray Goulburn Co-operative have established a joint venture business in Victoria’s Kiewa Valley to manufacture products for the Australian fresh dairy sector.
The project is expected to create up to 80 jobs over five years and involve an investment of more than $20 million.
The joint venture will provide a platform to market Danone’s world-leading fresh dairy brands into the Australian fresh dairy market.
Murray Goulburn Co-operative said the company was delighted to have entered a partnership with Danone.
“MG’s partnership with Danone leverages our complementary strengths and will enable both companies to enter the Australian yoghurt market with confidence,” the company said.
“The joint venture involves significant investment in regional Victoria and the partners recognise the ongoing support provided by the Victorian Government to assist the growth of the dairy industry in regional Victoria.
Processing is located at Murray Goulburn’s Kiewa site in north-east Victoria and the joint venture started offering Danone’s products to Australian consumers in early 2011.
Established in 1950, Murray Goulburn Co-operative is Australia’s fully farmer-owned dairy company.
Processing 34.5 per cent or about 3.1 billion litres of the nation’s milk in 2008/09, the company is the largest dairy processor and Australia’s largest exporter of dairy foods.
Murray Goulburn Co-operative has processing sites across Victoria and Tasmania, employing more than 2200 people mainly in regional areas.
Danone is one of the most successful healthy food companies in the world, with a mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible.
Fulfilling this mission is a major contributor to Danone’s continuous strong growth. The company has 160 plants, around 80,000 employees and a presence in all five continents and more than 120 countries. In 2009, Danone recorded A$20.9 billion in sales.
