• Browse by: category | company | brand | product type  
  • HOME
  • THE GUIDE
  • ISSUES
  • GET INFORMED
  • GET INVOLVED
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT US
  • All  |
  • Baby  |
  • Clothing  |
  • Food & Drink  |
  • Household  |
  • Office Supplies  |
  • Personal Care  |
  • Pet  |
  • Retail  |
  • Technology  |
  • Toys
  • |  Print Guide  |
  • App
  • Clothing  |
  • Electronics  |
  • Food & Drink  |
  • Household & Personal Care
  • Issues  |
  • New! Clothing  |
  • Why Shop Ethically?  |
  • 5 Principles  |
  • Companies to avoid  |
  • News  |
  • Sign Up for Updates
  • Go ethical at school, work, home  |
  • Campaign  |
  • Spread the Word  |
  • Volunteer  |
  • Workshops  |
  • Movie Nights  |
  • Fundraising
  • All Products  |
  • Shop Ethical! app  |
  • Shop Ethical! book  |
  • Stockists  |
  • Other books  |
  • Fregie sacks  |
  • FREE STUFF!  |
  • DONATE
  • Introduction  |
  • About Us  |
  • Ratings & Assessment  |
  • Media Mentions  |
  • Testimonials  |
  • FAQ

Saputo Dairy Australia

OVERALL

Owned
CAN
Rating
Criticism, some praise

Dairy product manufacturing

Saputo Dairy Australia was formed in 2018 when Canadian dairy giant Saputo bought Murray Goulburn Co-operative for $1.3 billion. Murray Goulburn Co-operative was previously owned by Australian dairy farmers and formed by farmers in the state of Victoria, Australia in 1950. Saputo also bought Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company in 2014 and has begun to integrate the two companies under Saputo Dairy Australia.

Company Ownership

Saputo Dairy Australia Pty Ltd   AUS     website   email   facebook   twitter
  Saputo Inc   
   owns 100% of Saputo Dairy Australia Pty Ltd  
CAN     website   email      

Dairy processor

Largest dairy processor in Canada, and the twelfth largest in the world. Majority owned by the founding Saputo family. Founded in Canada in 1954, the company has expanded by mergers and acquisitions, particularly the USA, UK, Germany and Argentina. Acquired Australian dairy companies Warrnambool Cheese & Butter in 2014 and Murray Goulburn in 2018, and has begun to integrate the two companies under the name Saputo Dairy Australia.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Saputo Dairy Australia Pty Ltd
Environment 4/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2022 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2022)
Environment Renewable energy use
Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project; but they have not committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030; and they have not invested in on-site solar.
Source: Greenpeace (2021)
Social Breaching advertising codes
This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2013/14 the Advertising Standards Bureau upheld complaints about five ads by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The ads were subsequently discontinued or modified.
Source: Advertising Standards Bureau (2014)
Business Ethics Cuts to farm-gate price
In April 2016 Murray Goulburn reduced its farm-gate price for raw milk from an average of $5.60 to $4.75-$5. This was criticised as below the cost of production.
Source: news article (2016)
Business Ethics Excessive executive pay
Former Murray Goulburn boss Gary Helou pocketed $10 million as farmers struggle to break even after reduced farm-gate prices for milk. Now Mr Helou, who owns a $3.2 million luxury NSW home, has been named in a shareholder class action lodged in the Supreme Court which claims Murray Goulburn knowingly made misleading statements about forecast profits and production.
Source: news article (2016)
Business Ethics Pending class action
This company and its eleven directors has been named in a shareholder class action lodged in the Supreme Court in May 2016 which claims Murray Goulburn knowingly made misleading statements about forecast profits and production as it embarked on its $500 million pre float raising.
Source: news article (2016)
Business Ethics Murray Goulburn fined for disclosure breach
In 2017 the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) fined Murray Goulburn $650,000 over an alleged breach of its disclosure obligations in the lead-up to a dramatic price cut paid to its farm suppliers in April 2016. Company ownership has since changed.
Source: news article (2017)
Environment Organic products
Some of this company's products are certified organic by NASAA.
Source: NASAA (2022)
Social MAIF signatory
This company is a signatory to the Manufacturers and Importers Agreement 1992 (MAIF), a voluntary self-regulatory code of conduct between the manufacturers and importers of infant formula in Australia. The MAIF Agreement aims to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breast milk substitutes, when they are necessary, on the basis of adequate information through appropriate marketing and distribution.
Source: Australian Govt Dept of Health (2019)
Business Ethics Corporate citizenship claims
This company has corporate citizenship claims on its website, under the headings responsible sourcing, environment, community, food safety and business ethics.
Source: company website (2020)
Saputo Inc
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of B
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of B.
Source: CDP (2022)
Social CDP Water Security Score of B
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of B.
Source: CDP (2022)
Environment Unsustainable palm oil use
This company scores Ethical Consumer's worst rating for their use of palm oil, signifying they are using no or minimal certified palm products, and with no or minimal positive commitments.
Source: Ethical Consumer (2022)
Environment 8% in methane scorecard
The livestock sector is the single largest contributor to man-made methane emissions. Even though rapid reductions of methane emissions are needed to slow the rate of global warming, the largest meat and dairy corporations are oblivious to the problem. Changing Markets' 2021 report 'Blindspot' investigated the policies and actions of 20 meat and dairy giants to reduce their methane emissions. This company scored 8/100 for their methane policy and actions.
Source: Changing Markets (2021)
Business Ethics 27/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 27/100 in the Food Products category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 18 Nov 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2022)
Business Ethics 18.2% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #172/350, with a total score of 18.2/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)
Social Fined for worker death in Canada
This company was fined C$187,500 after a worker was killed by a cheese cutting machine. The Ontario Court of Justice levied the fine on May 1, 2018 after the company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure a pinch point was guarded resulting in the worker's death in December 2016.
Source: Bloomberg (2018)
Business Ethics Possible GE in Canada brands
This company has products rated RED in Greenpeace Canada's "How to Avoid Genetically Engineered Foods" Shoppers Guide. Products on the RED list are likely to contain GE or GE-derived ingredients from the most widely grown GE crops, usually corn, soy, canola or cotton. Companies on this list have confirmed that their products may or are likely to be made with GE ingredients, or have not denied using GE foods when given the opportunity to do so.
Source: Greenpeace Canada (2013)
Business Ethics Corporate citizenship claims
This company has corporate citizenship claims on its website, under the headings responsible sourcing, environment, community, food safety and business ethics.
Source: company website (2020)
Environment CDP Forests Score of C
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of C.
Source: CDP (2022)
Animals Tier 4 in farm animal welfare rankings
The 2021 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 4, "Making progress on implementation", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Source: BBFAW (2021)
Animals Response to cow abuse video
A 2015 Mercy For Animals Canada investigation revealed animal abuse at Chilliwack Cattle Company - a major Saputo dairy supplier. Saputo responded by releasing a new animal welfare policy and saying it will refuse to buy milk from farmers that don't treat their animals humanely. The policy also commits to eliminating the practice of cutting or docking the cow's tail, administering pain control when dehorning cattle and reducing stress on cows through low-energy animal handling methods.
Source: news article (2015)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue 2.5 billion AUD (2017)
Employees 2,100 (2017)
Aus Manufacturing Yes
Subsidiaries Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Company Holdings Ltd 

Dairy producer

One of Australia's biggest dairy companies. Established in 1888. Canadian dairy giant Saputo acquired an 88% stake in Jan 2014, and the remaining shares in Mar 2017. Saputo also bought Murray Goulburn in 2018 and has begun to integrate the two companies under the name Saputo Dairy Australia.


Danone Murray Goulburn (50% owned) 

Dairy joint venture

Murray Goulburn Co-operative and Danone announced their Australian yoghurt joint-venture in March 2010. Manufacturing is at Kiewa (VIC).

Contact Details

Address Freshwater Place, Level 15, 2 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, VIC, 3006, Australia
Phone 03 9389 6400
Email info@devondale.com.au
Website www.mgc.com.au

Products / Brands

Saputo Dairy Australia
Australian Gold Cheese
Caboolture Cheese
Cheer Cheese
Cobram Cheese
Coon Cheese
Cracker Barrel Cheese
Devondale Butter & Margarine
Devondale Cheese
Devondale Milk
Devondale Flavoured Milk
Devondale Milk Powder
Fred Walker Cheese
Great Ocean Road Cheese
Great Ocean Road Milk
Great Ocean Road Flavoured Milk
Great Ocean Road Butter & Margarine
Heidi Farm Cheese
Il Migliore Cheese
King Island Dairy Cheese
Liddells Milk
Liddells Cream
Liddells Yoghurt
Liddells Flavoured Milk
Liddells Pudding & Custard
Liddells Cheese
Mersey Valley Cheese
Mil Lel Cheese
Moo Flavoured Milk
South Cape Cheese
Sungold Milk
Sungold Flavoured Milk
Tasmanian Heritage Cheese
Warrnambool Cheese

Danone Murray Goulburn (50% owned)
Activia Yoghurt
Danone Yoghurt
Two Good Yoghurt
YoPRO Yoghurt


  • About Us

    • Introduction
    • About Shop Ethical!
    • About ECG
    • About the Ratings
    • Assessment sources
    • Shop Ethical! database
    • Shop Ethical! book
    • Shop Ethical! app
    • Contact us
    • FAQ

    • Copyright
    • Privacy
    • Disclaimer
  • Get Informed

    • ISSUES
    • GET INFORMED
    • Electronics Guide
    • Clothing Guide
    • Values Screen
    • Why Shop Ethically?
    • 5 Principles
    • Be Inspired
    • Calendar
    • Local Harvest
  • Get Involved

    • GET INVOLVED
    • Go Ethical at school,
      work, home, church
    • Run a workshop or tour
    • Host a movie night
    • Spread the word
    • Resources
    • Volunteer
    • Support us
  • Connect

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Suggest brand/company
    • Report an error
    • Give feedback
    • Sign up for updates
    • Past newsletters
    • >>DONATE<<

    • GET the GUIDE
        • App Store
        • Google Play
        • buy our book