• 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

Bega Cheese

OVERALL

Owned
AUS
Rating
Praises, some criticism

Dairy product manufacturer

Founded in 1899 in the Bega Valley, NSW. Major cheese producer supplied by 500 dairy farms from NSW and VIC. Acquired 70% of Tatura Milk Industries in 2007, and the remaining 30% in 2011. Changed corporate structure from a co-operative to an unlisted public company in 2008, and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in 2011. All Bega branded cheese products are marketed in Australia by Fonterra. Acquired the Vegemite brand and Kraft license from Mondelez Australia in Jan 2017, and the Lion Dairy & Drinks business from Kirin in 2021.

Bega Cheese Ltd   AUS     website   email      

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Bega Cheese Ltd
Environment 3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) 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)
Social Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 300 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX300). This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a grade of A.
Source: Monash University (2021)
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: not committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030; not signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project; not invested in on-site solar.
Source: Greenpeace (2021)
Business Ethics 29/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 29/100 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)
Environment Fined for excessive smoke
In Dec 2015 the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued a $15,000 penalty notice to this company for using wet sawdust fuel in its wood-fired boiler at the Lagoon Street premises, leading to a discharge of excessive smoke.
Source: EPA (2016)
Environment Palm oil free products
Some, but not necessarily all, of this company's spreads are palm oil free. 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)
Business Ethics Sustainability claims
This company has extensive sustainability claims on its website in two core areas: Farm Sustainability and Factory Sustainability.
Source: company website (2021)
Social Former CEO guilty of child sexual abuse
In 2014 a former CEO of Bega Cheese pleaded guilty to multiple charges of child sexual abuse on the NSW far south coast. Maurice Van Ryn sexually abused and indecently assaulted six boys at his Tathra home over the past eight years. Van Ryn was CEO of Bega Cheese from 1990 to 2005.
Source: news article (2014)
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)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Founded 1899
Revenue 1.4 billion AUD (2019)
Employees 2,000 (2019)
Aus Manufacturing Yes
Subsidiaries Tatura Milk Industries Ltd 

Dairy product manufacturing

Bega Cheese acquired 70% of this company in 2007, and the remaining 30% in 2011. 60% of production is exported.


Capitol Chilled Foods (Australia) Pty Ltd 

Dairy

Previously a joint venture between Lion Dairy & Drinks and Bega Cheese, but now wholly owned by Bega Cheese. It is the only dairy manufacturer in the ACT.


Bega Dairy and Drinks Pty Ltd 

Dairy & drinks manufacturer

One of Australia's largest dairy companies (formerly known as National Foods). Acquired Australian dairy companies Dairy Farmers in 2008, Lactos in 2006, and King Island Dairy in 2002, plus juice company Berri in 2005. Owned by Lion/Kirin from 2007 until 2021, when Bega Cheese took over ownership.


  - Vitasoy Australia Products Pty Ltd (49% owned) 

Soymilk producers

Vitasoy started in Hong Kong in 1940 and first came to Australia in 1996 when Vitasoy started a joint venture with National Foods, which later became part of Lion Dairy & Drinks. Bega Cheese took over as joint venture partner when they acquired Lion Dairy & Drinks in 2021. In 2022 Vitasoy International announced its intention to exercise its option to take over full ownership. Operates one production facility in Wodonga, VIC.

Contact Details

Address 23-45 Ridge St, North Bega, NSW, 2550, Australia
Phone 02 6491 7777
Email bega.admin@begacheese.com.au
Website www.begacheese.com.au

Products / Brands

Bega Cheese
B Honey Honey
Bega Cheese
Bega Peanut/Nut Butter
Bega Cheese Spread
Bonox Stock
Dairylea Cheese
Farmer's Table Butter & Margarine
Happi Baby Formula
Simply Nuts Peanut/Nut Butter
Vegemite Yeast Spread
Zoosh Dips
Zoosh Salad Dressing/Mayonnaise

Capitol Chilled Foods
Canberra Milk (ACT) Milk

Bega Dairy & Drinks
Australian Grown Juice & Fruit Drinks
Berri Cordial
Berri Juice & Fruit Drinks
Big M Flavoured Milk
Bornhoffen Yoghurt
Classic Flavoured Milk
Daily Juice Juice & Fruit Drinks
Daily Juice Iced Tea
Dairy Farmers Cheese
Dairy Farmers Flavoured Milk
Dairy Farmers Milk
Dairy Farmers Custard & Desserts
Dairy Farmers Cream
Dairy Farmers Yoghurt
Dare Flavoured Milk
Divine Classic Custard & Desserts
Farmers Union Milk
Farmers Union Yoghurt
Farmers Union Flavoured Milk
Fruche Custard & Desserts
Good Sport Flavoured Milk
Heart Active Milk
Just Juice Juice & Fruit Drinks
Kyneton Soft Drinks
Liberte Yoghurt
Masters Flavoured Milk
Masters (WA) Milk
Mildura Juice & Fruit Drinks
Moove Flavoured Milk
Nourish Juice & Fruit Drinks
Prima Juice & Fruit Drinks
Pura Cream
Pura Flavoured Milk
Pura Milk
Quelch Ice Blocks
Summit Bottled Water
The Complete Dairy Milk
The Culture Co Probiotic Milk/Kefir
The Juice Brothers Juice & Fruit Drinks
Yogo Custard & Desserts
Yogo Yoghurt
Yoplait Yoghurt
Yopliat Custard & Desserts
Yoplus Yoghurt
Zooper Dooper Ice Blocks

Vitasoy Australia (49% owned)
Vitasoy some products certified organic some products certified organic  Soy/Plant Milk
Vitasoy Flavoured Milk
Vitasoy 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