Australian Consortium Saves Margaret River Dairy Company from Closure
Source: The DairyNews
In a remarkable turn of events, the beloved Australian cheese and yoghurt brand, Margaret River Dairy Company, has been rescued from closure and is now back in local hands following the shutdown initiated by its Chinese owner.
The Cheeky Cow, a local dairy consortium, has successfully acquired the Metricup-based Margaret River Dairy Company, situated an hour south of Perth. The consortium is swiftly re-establishing production and anticipates unveiling its first products in the coming weeks.
Last year, supermarket shelves mourned the absence of the much-loved Margaret River Dairy products, as the Sydney-based owner, Manassen Foods, a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate Bright Foods, closed down the business. Despite efforts by the Shanghai-based conglomerate to sell the company since 2021, Manassen Foods declared the closure in September 2023 when a buyer could not be secured.
The closure of the flagship store in Metricup, a popular tourist destination, on October 1, 2023, dealt a significant blow, leaving the local community incensed.
Julie Kirby, Business Development Director at The Cheeky Cow, shared optimism about the future, stating, 'We hope to re-open the popular tourist shopfront at the gateway of Margaret River in time for Easter.'
With a history spanning over half a century, the Margaret River Dairy Company traces its origins back to a group of Italian artisan cheesemakers who embarked on producing farmhouse and ricotta cheeses in suburban Perth in 1966. The operation, initially known as Fonti Farm Cheeses, later merged with the Margaret River Cheese Company in 1994, situated in the countryside outside the city.
Manassen Foods, which acquired the business in 2000, rebranded it as the Margaret River Dairy Company. In 2011, Bright Foods acquired Manassen, solidifying the connection between Margaret River Dairy Company and the Chinese conglomerate for over a decade. Now, the return to local ownership marks a new chapter for this iconic Australian dairy brand.
Last year, supermarket shelves mourned the absence of the much-loved Margaret River Dairy products, as the Sydney-based owner, Manassen Foods, a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate Bright Foods, closed down the business. Despite efforts by the Shanghai-based conglomerate to sell the company since 2021, Manassen Foods declared the closure in September 2023 when a buyer could not be secured.
The closure of the flagship store in Metricup, a popular tourist destination, on October 1, 2023, dealt a significant blow, leaving the local community incensed.
Julie Kirby, Business Development Director at The Cheeky Cow, shared optimism about the future, stating, 'We hope to re-open the popular tourist shopfront at the gateway of Margaret River in time for Easter.'
With a history spanning over half a century, the Margaret River Dairy Company traces its origins back to a group of Italian artisan cheesemakers who embarked on producing farmhouse and ricotta cheeses in suburban Perth in 1966. The operation, initially known as Fonti Farm Cheeses, later merged with the Margaret River Cheese Company in 1994, situated in the countryside outside the city.
Manassen Foods, which acquired the business in 2000, rebranded it as the Margaret River Dairy Company. In 2011, Bright Foods acquired Manassen, solidifying the connection between Margaret River Dairy Company and the Chinese conglomerate for over a decade. Now, the return to local ownership marks a new chapter for this iconic Australian dairy brand.
