Our History

A proud legacy

Bega Group was founded as a dairy co-operative in 1899, located in the beautiful Bega Valley on the south coast of New South Wales. It is an area surrounded by dairy farms that supplied the milk that has made us famous. Many of the current shareholders of the Bega Group are the dairy farmers who continue to supply us today. We source milk from around 600 farms around Australia, producing a diverse range of dairy products that contribute approximately $3 billion in revenue annually. Our rich history continues to shape who we are as we evolve and expand.

Key Milestones

Our history can be grouped into four phases

Building the foundations 1899 – 2000

  • 1899: The journey begins with the establishment of The Bega Co-operative Creamery Company and our butter factory, laying the foundation for what would become Bega Cheese Limited
  • 1944: The co-operative is renamed The Bega Co-operative Society Limited., marking a new chapter in our history
  • 1956: We expanded our operations by commencing milk powder production, doubling the capacity of the Bega Cheese factory and upgrading milk packaging

Dairy processing expansion 2001 – 2006

  • 2001: Dairy industry deregulates, creating new opportunities for growth
  • 2007: We acquire a 70% stake in Tatura Milk Industries, entering and diversifying into nutraceuticals, cream cheese and upgraded milk powder capacity
  • 2008: The Bega Co-operative Society Limited transitions from a co-operative structure to become an unlisted public company, known as Bega Cheese Limited
  • 2009: Acquisition of the Strathmerton facility, increasing scale in cheese cut, pack and processing
  • 2011: Bega Cheese Limited transitions from an unlisted public company to an ASX listed company
  • 2011: We acquired the remaining 30% of Tatura Milk Industries

Portfolio balance 2017 – 2020

  • 2017: Acquisition of branded food portfolio, including non-dairy brands such as Vegemite and Peanut Butter
  • 2018: Acquisition of Koroit facility to expand dairy supply chain and diversify milk sourcing

Strengthen for growth 2021 – Future

  • 2021: Transformational acquisition of Bega Dairy and Drinks business
    • Increased brand portfolio with iconic dairy brands, expansion into dairy beverages, yoghurts and more
    • Extensive cold chain distribution network with expanded customer base
    • Accelerated investments in innovation and branded growth

Our commitment to quality

The Bega Group is now a leading producer of packaged foods, beverages, and ingredients that millions of people use every day. Our ongoing commitment to quality ensures that we remain an integral part of Australian life.

Our commitment to safety

Our people are our greatest asset and ensuring their safety is our top priority. We believe that all incidents can be prevented and our ‘Always Safe Together’ way of working ensures a culture of safety across our workplaces. We work daily to keep our team members, contractors and visitors safe and healthy.