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So Natural Foods

OVERALL

Owned
AUS
Rating
Some praise, no criticism

Canned fish and soy product producers

At an extraordinary general meeting held on 1 February 2007, shareholders approved the change of name from So Natural Foods Australia Ltd to Freedom Nutritional Products Ltd. In December 2004, So Natural entered into a joint venture with a subsidiary of privately owned investment company Arrovest Pty Ltd to relocate its beverage contract manufacturing to a farm in Sydney's outer west.In June, So Natural was the target of a $20 million takeover bid by Arrovest, which now has 78 per cent of the company.

Company Ownership

So Natural Foods Australia Ltd   AUS     website   email      
  Noumi Ltd   
   owns 100% of So Natural Foods Australia Ltd  
AUS     website   email   facebook   twitter

Dietetic and health food products

Previously Freedom Foods. Arrovest / The Perich Group (NSW's biggest dairy producer) is the majority shareholder. Major exporter to China. Sold its cereals and snacks division to private equity-owned Arnott's Group, and its seafood business to Tempo Foods, in 2021.

      Arrovest Pty Ltd   
       owns 52% of Noumi Ltd  
AUS     website         

Investment company

Arrovest is a privately-owned family investment company, whose board consists solely of the Perich family. BRW estimates (Tony) Perich's wealth at $637 million. As well as owning most of Freedom Foods Group, the Perich family also have interests in the dairy and motorsports industries.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
So Natural Foods Australia Ltd
No assessment data currently available for So Natural Foods Australia Ltd
Noumi 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)
Business Ethics Underpaying workers
In 2019 Freedom Foods was accused of underpaying, exploiting migrant workers in Shepparton dairy. The National Union of Workers (NUW) claims that migrant workers employed by Freedom Foods are performing tasks not covered under the skilled worker visa scheme, and are being severely underpaid.
Source: ABC News (2019)
Business Ethics Blue Diamond court case
In November 2021 Freedom Foods agreed to pay $48 million to settle a court case brought by a key supplier, California-based Blue Diamond Almond Growers, over breaches of their licence agreement.
Source: AFR (2021)
Environment Organic products
This company manufactures or distributes products that are certified organic under the Australian Certified Organic label.
Source: ACO (2022)
Environment Palm oil free products
Some, but not necessarily all, of this company's products are palm oil free, or contain segregated certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). For more details, follow the link to see Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia's list of products which manufacturers have told them are palm oil free or contain segregated certified sustainable palm oil.
Source: BOS Australia (2020)
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)
Animals Monkey-free coconuts
Monkeys in Thailand are kept chained, trained using abusive methods, and forced to climb trees to pick coconuts used for coconut milk, oil, and other products. This company has policies of sourcing from farms where no monkey labour is used.
Source: PETA Asia (2020)
Business Ethics Non-GMO products in USA
This company has products that have been verified as compliant with the Non-GMO Project Standard, North America's only independent verification for products made according to best practices for GMO avoidance.
Source: Non-GMO Project (2021)
Business Ethics No tax paid in 2019-20
According to data released by the Australian Tax Office in Jan 2022, this company was one of many local and foreign-based companies that paid no tax in Australia in 2019-20. Please note however that companies pay income tax on profits, not revenue (total income). While some companies use tax havens and loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of tax in Australia, other companies that paid no tax have perfectly legitimate reasons.
Source: ATO (2022)
Business Ethics Chinese investment
China's biggest private ­agricultural company, New Hope, will invest up to $500 million in Australian dairy farms and processing plants as part of a deal with Freedom Foods in what could be the first of many deals fuelled by the China-Australia free-trade agreement.
Source: news article (2014)
Arrovest Pty Ltd
Business Ethics Political donations
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $62,700 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Listed Public Company
Revenue 25 million AUD (2003)
Aus Manufacturing Yes

Contact Details

Address 80 Box Road, Tarren Point, NSW, 2229, Australia
Phone 02 9526 2555
Email info@sonatural.com.au
Website www.sonatural.com.au

Products / Brands


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