Brownes
 | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food manufacturing |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Founder | Edward Browne |
| Headquarters | , Australia |
| Owner | Australia Zhiran Co |
Number of employees | ~300 (2025) |
| Website | brownesdairy |
Brownes Dairy is an Australian dairy company. It produces dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt for the domestic and international market.[1] The company is the oldest and largest dairy processor in Western Australia.[2][3]
History
Brownes was established in 1886.[1] It became the first Western Australian company to produce flavoured milk in 1951.[4]
In 1955 the family company became a public company,[5] changing its name from Brownes Limited to Brownes Dairy limited.[6]
The company began making yoghurt in 1959.[7] Ice cream company Peters acquired Brownes in 1962.[8] In the 1970s, Brownes started making sour cream and feta cheese.[9]
In 2010, Fonterra sold Brownes to DairyWest, a subsidiary of private investment firm Archer Capital.[10] In July 2012, Brownes acquired Casa Dairy, a maker of niche products like European-style cheeses and buttermilk located in Canning Vale.[11]
Brownes was fined $100,000 in July 2014 after waste milk from its Brunswick facility spilled into a nearby creek causing fish to die and a foul odour. The company also spent about four weeks and about $387,000 to clean up the spill.[12]
In November 2017, Brownes was purchased by Australia Zhiran Co, a Chinese consortium led by Shanghai Ground Food Tech.[13]
In July 2021, Brownes was fined $22,000 by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission after it published two milk supply agreements on its website in June 2020 which did not comply with the Dairy Code.[14]
In 2024, Brownes launched its Hunt & Brew coffee brand in the United Kingdom.[15] In October 2025, the company acquired its UK co-packer.[16]
The Brownes business was put on the market in April 2025 after its parent company defaulted on a $200 million loan.[17][18]
Operations
Annually, Brownes collects about 120 million litres of milk from over 50 farms.[1] Brownes has processing facilities located in Balcatta, Brunswick and Shanghai.[10][19] It also has a manufacturing facility in Hungerford, UK.[16] As of 2010, the company processes 40 per cent of WA's milk production.[10] The company employs around 300 people.[17]
References
- 1 2 3 Lowe, Adrian (16 January 2024). "How the Brownes Dairy boss plans to stay number one in WA". The West Australian. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Harvey, Ben (14 November 2017). "WA's biggest milk producer sold to China". PerthNow. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Lowe, Adrian (11 January 2024). "Masters says rivals are milking consumers on ownership". The West Australian. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Gloria, Lorna (20 April 2023). "Brownes Dairy releases new flavoured milk range with less sugar". Retail World Magazine. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ "Big Dairy firm to be public company". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 2930. Western Australia. 30 January 1955. p. 6. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Brownes Ltd. To be a Public Company". South Western Advertiser. Vol. 47, no. 1462. WesternaAustralia. 18 December 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Berry, Kim (25 September 2019). "Brownes Dairy goes national with Wiggles". Food & Drink Business. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Treadgold, Tim (1 August 1994). "Peters After Cash to Push Asia Sales". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Brammer, Jenne (6 September 2018). "Brownes turns yoghurt on its head with top-down pot". The West Australian. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- 1 2 3 Lawson, Rebecca (21 October 2010). "Fonterra sells Brownes to equity firm". PerthNow. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Varischetti, Belinda (29 July 2012). "Dairy processor Brownes buys Casa Dairy". ABC News. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Azad, Usman (28 July 2014). "Brownes fined over spilt milk". The West Australian. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Thompson, Sarah; Macdonald, Anthony; Moullakis, Joyce (14 November 2017). "Archer sells Brownes to Chinese consortium". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ Bodhi, Varun (7 July 2021). "Brownes Dairy fined for dairy code breaches". Food & Drink Business. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ↑ "Revolutionising the UK coffee scene: Hunt And Brew, Australia's No.1 RTD specialty coffee launches in Tesco". Grocery Trader. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- 1 2 Mishra, Shivam (23 October 2025). "Brownes Dairy buys UK co-packer for RTD coffee push". Just Drinks. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- 1 2 Evans, Simon (22 April 2025). "Brownes Dairy to be sold after Chinese backers call in $200m loan". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ↑ "Brownes Dairy up for sale as Chinese owner defaults on loan". The West Australian. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ↑ Evans, Simon (10 December 2023). "Brownes Dairy aims to dislodge Babybel's iron grip in cheese snacks". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 29 February 2024.