Ethical Consumer Group News

Asahi Breweries to buy P&N Beverages

2010-08-26T22:51:42+10:00

Japanese brewing giant Asahi Breweries says it will buy Australian fruit juice maker P&N Beverages for $364 million. Asahi plans to combine P&N with Schweppes Australia, which it bought from Cadbury in 2009. P&N is currently 87% owned by founder Robert Peter Brooks, previously an executive with the Coca-Cola Company.

August public workshop & supermarket tour

2010-08-26T18:00:00+10:00

Thursday 26th August, 6pm 8.30pm Presentation of issues & principles, trip to the local supermarket, shared meal following with best buys. Meet at Footscray Baptist church, 60 Paisley

Jeyes and Bloo

2010-08-26T00:54:47+10:00

Jeyes and Bloo toilet cleaners are owned by Jeyes Group Ltd (UK)

Issues section upgraded

2010-08-12T14:11:34+10:00

We have overhauled the Issues section on our website. Several of the blurbs have been updated, plus there's 7 new ones including Overfishing, BPA and the High Cost of Animal Products.

Fonterra

2010-08-09T10:37:40+10:00

Fonterra now receive a cross for criticisms by Greenpeace NZ including the use and importation of palm Kernel (PKE) animal feed and its impact on Indonesian rainforest, intensification and fertiliser use, burning coal and domestic deforestation.

The Ethical Consumer Guide joins facebook

2010-08-08T13:07:09+10:00

Come and join the conversation at our new facebook page.

SABMiller beers now brewed locally

2010-08-08T12:37:17+10:00

Pacific beverages, a joint venture between Coca Cola Amatil and SABMiller, opened a new brewery in Newcastle, NSW, in July 2010, where it will produce Bluetongue beer and the majority of brands in the SABMiller global portfolio. We have moved imported beers Castle, Grolsch, Miller Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell to the beer product table.

Fosters demerger

2010-08-03T11:38:42+10:00

Fosters demerger of its beer and its struggling wine division will be finalised in the first half of 2011. Its struggling wine division will be listed as a new entity called "Treasury Wine Estates". Japan's Asahi Breweries, Belgium's AB InBev, USA's SABMiller and Coca-Cola Amatil are all rumoured to be interested in buying Fosters beer division after the demerger.

Shop Ethical! iPhone app v1.2 released

2010-08-02T16:20:08+10:00

The first major update of our popular Shop Ethical! iPhone app has just been released. Whats new in version 1.2? Updated data; more intuitive navigation; Share through Facebook, Twitter or email; ownership tree display improved; blurbs on Important Issues under Get Informed; improved sort order in tables; various bug fixes; compatible with iOS 4.0; and more. This is a free update for all Shop Ethical! owners.

Greenseas Tuna

2010-07-17T12:28:11+10:00

Greenseas canned tuna (owned by Heinz) had an outstanding product star from April to July 2010, for topping the list on Greenpeace's Canned Tuna Guide. In the revised Tuna Guide they dropped to fourth place. We have removed the outstanding product star.

CSR Sugar

2010-07-16T22:31:48+10:00

CSR's sugar division, Sucrogen, is now owned by Wilmar (foreign owned with a cross)

Greenpeace update their Canned Tuna Guide

2010-07-16T16:32:08+10:00

Greenpeace's updated Canned Tuna Guide reveals which brands to buy, and which brands still source overfished species or use destructive fishing techniques. Since Greenpeace launched their first tuna ranking, Australian tuna brands have started to clean up their act. For the first time, Australians can buy a sustainable canned tuna brand Fish4Ever. Aldi and IGA have introduced sustainable seafood policies. Tuna brands play a key role in the overfishing crisis by selling us unsustainable tuna.

Wilmar buys CSR Sugar

2010-07-06T22:31:48+10:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) Diversified conglomerate CSR Ltd has agreed to sell its sugar division, Sucrogen, to Singapore-based agribusiness Wilmar International Ltd for $1.75 billion. Wilmar is the world's largest palm oil trader.

Unilever commits to sustainable sourcing of paper packaging

2010-07-05T22:31:48+10:00

Unilever has committed to sourcing 75 per cent of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or from recycled material by 2015, rising to 100 per cent by 2020. Unilever is the first global FMCG company to commit to sourcing all of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or recycled material within a clearly defined timeframe.

Metcash to buy Franklins supermarkets

2010-07-01T22:31:48+10:00

(FOREIGN >> AUST) South African owned supermarket chain Franklins has been acquired by its wholesale supplier, Metcash Trading Ltd for $215 million. The sale is still pending approval from the ACCC. Metcash will acquire 85 supermarkets (77 corporate outlets and supply to 8 franchises) with a view to selling them to independent IGA retailers. In the meantime, Metcash will operate the Franklins stores.

Objections raised over free-range eggs plan

2010-06-28T22:31:48+10:00

Changing the definition of free-range eggs and lifting the maximum number of hens in an area would put Australia behind the rest of the world, critics say. Discussions between the Australian Egg Corporation and farmers could see the maximum number of hens per hectare increase from 1500 to up to 20,000.

New navigation bar on www.ethical.org.au

2010-06-28T12:28:11+10:00

We have made some changes our navigation bar. Check out our new Spread the Word and Household Action Challenge pages under GET INVOLVED, as well as our new improved News area, now with RSS.

PETA Cruelty Free Shopping Guide

2010-06-10T12:28:11+10:00

We have added praises to several companies for being included on PETA's Cruelty Free Shopping Guide. This changed the rating of some companies from a ~ to a full tick. Namely Bonne Bell, King of Shaves, Method, Naturopathica and Lifesource (Nads).

7-Eleven acquires Mobil service stations

2010-06-01T09:00:39+10:00

7-Eleven Australia has agreed to acquire the retail fuels business of Mobil Oil Australia, comprising 295 company owned or leased service stations, bringing the total number of outlets to more than 650. Most of the Mobil sites will be converted into 7-Eleven stores by the end of 2011

Seventh Generation

2010-05-27T12:28:11+10:00

Seventh Generation's rating has changed from a ~ to a tick due to its outstanding palm oil policy.

Nestle's palm oil pledge

2010-05-17T09:00:39+10:00

Following a two month campaign by Greenpeace, Nestle, the biggest food and drink company in the world, announced it was committing to stop using products that come from rainforest destruction. The new policy commits Nestlé to identify and exclude companies from its supply chain that own or manage 'high risk plantations or farms linked to deforestation'. This would apply to notorious Sinar Mas, a palm oil and paper supplier that Greenpeace has repeatedly caught destroying the rainforest - if it fails to meet Nestlé's new criteria - and also have implications for Cargill, one of Nestlé's palm oil suppliers which purchases from Sinar Mas.

National Packaging Covenant Signatories

2010-05-12T12:28:11+10:00

The National Packaging Covenant has released a list of non-compliant signatories. This has changed the rating of some companies from a light tick to a ~. Namely Bevco, ET Browne, Fletchers Foods, Freedom Nutritional Products, McPherson's Consumer Products, Scott's, Snow Confectionery, Suntory Australia, Unibic, and Yakult.

The ratings for Podravka and Sunny Queen have changed from a ~ to a light tick for being NPC signatories.

Labelling survey - Take action

2010-05-11T09:00:39+10:00

As part of the Ethical Consumer Group's submission for the Food Labelling Review, due on Friday 14th May, we have put together this quick survey to assess what are the important issues for you in making an informed choice about your food purchases. We hope to ascertain: 1) consumer concerns in relation to adequate labelling of food products, and 2) the usefulness of present labelling. Please take a minute to fill in our survey.

Food Labelling Review

2010-05-04T00:00:00+10:00

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council have agreed to undertake a comprehensive review of food labelling law and policy. This Review will play an important role both for consumers who are looking for clarity in labelling and industry who are looking for certainty about their roles and responsibilities. All Stakeholders are encouraged to take this opportunity to make a written submission.

Green packaging an agenda for consumers, study says

2010-05-04T00:00:00+10:00

According to Datamonitor, it revealed 57 per cent of consumers thought that it was important to buy ethical or socially responsible products and that packaging was a key consideration in their purchase decisions.

Dagoba chocolate

2010-05-01T12:28:11+10:00

Dagoba chocolate (made by Artisan Confections) is owned by Hershey, who have a boycott call.

Fairtrade Dairy Milk chocolate hits Australian shelves

2010-04-08T00:00:00+10:00

In a huge milestone for the Fairtrade movement, Cadbury Dairy Milk milk chocolate is now Fairtrade Certified and starting to hit shelves across both Australia and New Zealand. However the new Fairtrade Dairy Milk will not contain only Fairtrade ingredients. Instead, Cadbury (owned by Kraft) purchases "an amount of Fairtrade Certified cocoa and sugar equivalent to that required to make the Cadbury Dairy Milk milk chocolate products carrying the Fairtrade Label". The end result for cocoa farmers in Ghana is the same either way.

Greenpeace targets Nestle in palm oil campaign

2010-03-17T00:00:00+11:00

Greenpeace launched a campaign in March 2010 asking Nestle to stop buying palm oil from Sinar Mas, who is trashing Indonesian rainforests, threatening the livelihoods of local people and pushing orang-utans towards extinction.

Revlon

2010-03-05T12:28:11+11:00

Revlon's rating has changed from a light tick to a cross due to its use of nanoparticles in cosmetics.

Greenpeace release Canned Tuna Guide

2010-03-05T00:00:00+11:00

The biggest selling seafood item in Australia is canned tuna. As supermarkets sell more and more of this profitable product, tuna stocks are in a critical condition. Supermarkets play a key role in the overfishing crisis by selling us overfished tuna. It's time they take responsibility. Greenpeace's Canned Tuna Guide exposes the supermarkets selling us overfished species or using destructive fishing techniques.

Australia's last tuna cannery closes

2010-02-23T12:29:32+11:00

Austraia's last tuna cannery, at Port Lincoln, will halt production because of cuts to the southern bluefin tuna quota and the high Australian dollar. At the end of May, Port Lincoln Tuna Processors will stop producing John West canned tuna products, which will instead be made in Thailand. This will end Australia's long history of canning tuna with Simplot sourcing the complete product from Thailand, along with every other major brand, including Greenseas, Safcol and Sirena.

New online database now includes Alcohol and Office Supplies

2010-02-16T00:00:00+11:00

We've also completed a major upgrade of our assessment data, and introduced a more detailed ratings system.

The Shop Ethical! iPhone app is now available

2010-02-12T00:00:00+11:00

For those of you with an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can now get the Guide as an app! You'll never forget to bring the Guide to the supermarket again.

The 2010 Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping is now available

2010-02-10T00:00:00+11:00

To help you navigate through the issues connected to your everyday purchases, weve not only updated company information, but also added a more detailed rating system, new blurbs, and two new categories Alcohol and Office Supplies.

Kao Corporation

2010-02-05T12:28:11+11:00

Kao Corporation's rating has changed from a light tick to a cross due to its animal testing policy.

Kraft buys Cadbury

2010-02-03T00:00:00+11:00

Kraft Foods (USA), the world's second largest food company, clinched a takeover deal for UK confectioner Cadbury, after winning support from shareholders representing 72 per cent of the chocolate company. In Jan 2010 the Cadbury board unanimously recommended that it's shareholders sell to Kraft after Kraft revised their offer.

Australia warns bag firms about using environmental claims

2010-01-28T19:28:03+11:00

Australias national business watchdog has published an online guide explaining potential legal pitfalls in making unsubstantiated claims about the environmental performance of plastic single-use shopping bags.

Industry applauds GM decision

2010-01-28T00:00:00+11:00

WA decision to lift ban on genetically modified canola brings WA in line with New South Wales and Victoria where farmers have grown GM canola commercially since 2008.

SA must hold the line on GM crops

2010-01-28T00:00:00+11:00

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has urged the Rann Government to maintain the moratorium on GM crops in South Australia, in the wake of the decision to allow GM crops to be grown in WA.

Green & Black's to go Fairtrade in 2010

2010-01-28T00:00:00+11:00

Green & Black's has announced plans to go Fairtrade Certified across most of its block chocolate and beverages range this year [more]. Soon after this announcement, Cadbury (who own Green & Black's) was bought by Kraft. It is unknown whether Kraft will continue with Cadbury's push to increase it's range of Fairtrade chocolate.

Push for GM canola, SA farmers urged

2010-01-27T00:00:00+11:00

Biotechnology company Monsanto is urging South Australian grain growers to think about whether they want to be one of only two states to ban genetically modified (GM) canola.

Kraft to buy Cadbury. Will they keep fair trade agreements?

2010-01-20T00:00:00+11:00

The Cadbury board has unanimously recommended that it's shareholders sell to Kraft after Kraft revised their offer. Shareholders have until February 2 to accept the proposal. This has possible implications for Cadbury's plans to use Fairtrade cocoa in their Dairy Milk chocolate bars.

Unilever palm oil victory

2009-12-11T00:00:00+11:00

Unilever has altered it's palm oil supply chain after Greenpeace presented them with a new report on Sinar Mas, an Indonesian conglomerate with extensive interests in both the palm oil and pulp and paper sectors. . A Unilever spokesman said that the claims were ?too serious for us to ignore? and they have stopped buying palm oil from Sinar Mas.

WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2009

2009-10-28T00:00:00+11:00

From lipstick to ice cream, and even some breads and biscuits, palm oil is used in a variety of products we purchase every day. But the true cost of palm oil is being paid in high-biodiversity tropical rainforests, which continue to be cleared for ever expanding oil palm plantations. WWF's Scorecard is an assessment of the palm oil purchasing practices of major European companies that produce and sell everyday consumer products.

2010 Truefood Guide

2009-10-28T00:00:00+11:00

Greenpeace Australia have released the new 2010 Truefood Guide. It includes even more food and beverage brands, as well as incorporating the alcoholic beverages edition we launched earlier this year. It also sees leading brands Nestl?, Foster's, Schweppes and Lindt shift to GE-free.

Lion Nathan National Foods

2009-10-28T00:00:00+11:00

Lion Nathan and National Foods were officially merged into one entity on 21 October 2009. The merged entity, Lion Nathan National Foods, is wholly owned by Japanese drinks giant Kirin Holdings. Meanwhile the outcry continues from Tasmanian farmers, who are being paid less than 21c for every litre of milk by National Foods, well below the cost of production of about 39c a litre. A Senate inquiry has been called.

Pfizer buys Wyeth

2009-10-15T00:00:00+11:00

Pfizer Inc. acquired Wyeth in a US$68 billion deal. Wyeth is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company. Both companies are based in USA.

Nestle boycott over Mugabe averted

2009-10-04T00:00:00+10:00

The South African civil rights initiative, AfriForum, launched an international campaign calling on people to boycott all Nestl? products, unless Nestl? decided by 7 October 2009 to stop buying milk from Grace Mugabe ? wife of the Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe. From 4 October 2009, Nestl? stopped buying any milk from Grace Mugabe.

Kirin buys Lion Nathan

2009-09-18T00:00:00+10:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) Japanese brewing giant Kirin bought the 54 per cent of Lion Nathan it didn't already own in a $3.4 billion deal. Lion Nathan is Australia's #2 brewer, after Fosters. Kirin recently bought National Foods and Dairy Farmers, and will combine them with Lion to create Lion Nathan National Foods Pty Ltd, which will be the largest supplier to Australian supermarkets.

Cadbury Dairy Milk to go Fairtrade in 2010

2009-08-26T00:00:00+10:00

Cadbury?s plans to achieve Fairtrade certification on their Dairy Milk chocolate by Easter 2010. The UK confectioner, which launched Fairtrade Dairy Milk in Britain and Ireland earlier this year, advised that they would extend their commitment to Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada.

Cadbury takes palm oil out

2009-08-17T00:00:00+10:00

Consumers secured an important victory with Cadbury reversing its previous decision to put palm oil in its dairy milk chocolate. This will include all dairy milk chocolate made in Australia and New Zealand.

Palm oil labelling campaign

2009-08-16T00:00:00+10:00

Zoos Victoria has launched it's Don't Palm Us Off campaign, which is pushing for Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to change legislation to have palm oil labelled on all food products. Sign the petition here to tell FSANZ that you want the choice!

Greenpeace Ends Its "Kleercut" Campaign - Kimberley-Clark Boycott is over!

2009-08-05T00:00:00+10:00

Kimberly-Clark, the largest tissue company in the world and maker of Kleenex and Huggies, has committed to sourcing 100% of the wood fiber for its products from environmentally responsible sources. By the end of 2011 Kimberly-Clark will no longer use any pulp cut from endangered forests; instead they will increase the company?s use of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified pulp and recycled fiber globally.

Bottled Water Alliance victories

2009-07-09T00:00:00+10:00

The Bottled Water Alliance is an Australian campaign run by "Do Something", aimed at reducing bottled water use in Australia. Recent victories include:* NSW Government is to place a ban on all agencies and departments buying bottled water.* The NSW rural town, Bundanoon, has become Australia's first bottled water free town.

Baiada to buy Bartter/Steggles

2009-07-01T00:00:00+10:00

The ACCC rejected the deal in Feb 09, but now the proposed takeover of chicken processor Bartter has been approved after Baiada announced they would be prepared to divest all assets currently owned by Bartter in Victoria to La Ionica Poultry. Bartter Enterprises (Steggles) is the second largest producer and marketer of chicken and turkey products in Australia. Inghams is the largest, with Baiada the third largest. Together, the three companies hold around 65 per cent of the Australian market.

Woolworths buys Macro Wholefoods

2009-05-13T00:00:00+10:00

Supermarket giant Woolworths will expand its Thomas Dux premium grocery chain by acquiring Melbourne organic grocery chain Macro Wholefoods. All 8 Macro stores in Victoria and NSW will be rebranded Thomas Dux.

Schweppes Australia sold to Asahi Breweries (Japan) for $1.2 billion

2009-03-13T00:00:00+11:00

Drinks giant Asahi Breweries has bought Schweppes Australia for $1.2 billion, in the latest Japanese raid on an Australian food and drinks company. This is the fourth buy-out of an Australian company by a Japanese brewer in just over a year, following Kirin's acquisition of Dairy Farmers and National Foods, and Suntory's successful bid for Frucor. Australia was the last country where Cadbury maintained a drinks operation. US-based Coca-Cola Company relinquished its negotiation right regarding the takeover. Asahi Breweries will complete the deal by the end of April 2009

Nippon Paper Group buys Australian Paper (makers of Reflex Paper)

2009-02-17T00:00:00+11:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) Australian paper company PaperlinX has sold it's subsidiary Australian Paper (including the Maryvale pulp mill in Gippsland), to Japan's Nippon Paper Group, Inc. for $700 million.

Lion Nathan offer for Coca-Cola Amatil rejected

2009-02-09T00:00:00+11:00

Lion Nathan's $7.3 billion takeover proposal for Coca-Cola Amatil, made in Nov 2008, has been rejected. Lion Nathan is 46% owned by Japanese beer giant Kirin Holdings, while Coca-Cola Amatil is 30% owned by The Coca-Cola Company (USA). TCCC wrote to Kirin Holdings rejecting the offer.

Heinz buys Golden Circle

2008-12-02T00:00:00+11:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) Golden Circle, a 61 year-old Australian company renowned for their canned fruit and vegetables, fruit juice and jam, was bought by US food giant Heinz in Dec 2008, for $288 million.

National Foods acquires Dairy Farmers for A$910 million

2008-11-28T00:00:00+11:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) National Foods (owned by Japanese alcohol and pharmaceuticals giant Kirin) bought Australian Co-operative Foods, which trades as Dairy Farmers, for A$910 million in Nov 2008. Kirin bought National Foods last year, and already owns 46% of brewer Lion Nathan. National Foods owns the Pura Milk and Berri juice brands, while Dairy Farmers makes its own branded milk, Coon cheese and Ski yoghurt.

InBev buys Anheuser-Busch

2008-11-18T00:00:00+11:00

In Nov 2008, Belgium based brewing giant InBev bought USA brewing giant Anheuser-Busch for US$52 billion, creating the world's largest brewer with nearly 25% global market share and one of the world's top five consumer products companies. Brands include Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck's.

Primo buys Hans Smallgoods

2008-11-02T00:00:00+11:00

(FOREIGN >> AUST) Hans Smallgoods has been sold to Australian smallgoods company P&M Smallgoods, owners of the Primo brand. Hans was placed into receivership by it's previous owners Japan Tobacco.

Kellogg buys Specialty Cereals

2008-09-18T00:00:00+10:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) In September 2008, Kellogg Australia bought Specialty Cereals, a privately-owned cereals manufacturer based in Sydney. Brands include Vogels, Wild Oats, and Cerevite. Kellogg Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kellogg Company, USA's #1 cereal producer.

Cadbury Schweppes plc demerger

2008-05-07T00:00:00+10:00

On May 7, Cadbury Scweppes plc split into 2 companies, UK based confectionery makers Cadbury plc, and American soft drink company Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

Mars Inc. buys Wrigley's

2008-04-29T00:00:00+10:00

Mars, backed by billionaire Warren Buffett, has agreed to buy Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. for $US23 billion to create the world's biggest candy maker.

The Real McCoy Snackfood Co buys Arnotts snack foods

2008-04-28T00:00:00+10:00

(FOREIGN >> AUST) A consortium of investors lead by The Real McCoy Snackfood Co purchased the snack foods business of Campbells/Arnotts in May 2008. The combined businesses was renamed ?Snack Brands Australia?. The deal brings several brands back to Australian ownership, including Kettle Chips, Thins, Cheezels, CCs, French Fries & Samboy.

Goodman Fielder buys Paradise Food

2008-03-07T00:00:00+11:00

The largest Australian-owned biscuit manufacturer, Paradise Food Industries also make the entire Dick Smith range of biscuits. Paradise was bought by Australia's largest food company, Goodman Fielder, for about $80 million in Mar 2008.

Suntory buys Frucor

2008-02-13T00:00:00+11:00

Japan's leading producer and distributor of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, Suntory, bought Frucor (makers of V energy drinks) from French food and drinks giant, Danone, in Oct 2008 for NZ$1.3 billion.

George Weston Foods buys KR Castlemaine

2008-02-04T00:00:00+11:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) British owned George Weston Foods Ltd bought 100 year old Castlemaine smallgoods company KR Castlemaine

Kirin buys National Foods/Berri from San Miguel

2007-11-08T00:00:00+11:00

Australia's largest dairy company, National Foods, operates in the milk, dairy foods and juice production industries. It was taken over by San Miguel, Phillipino beer giant in 2005, and sold to the Japanese food and drinks giant Kirin Holdings for $2.8 billion in 2007. Kirin owns 46% of Australia's 2nd largest brewer, Lion Nathan.

Wesfarmers buys Coles Group

2007-11-01T00:00:00+11:00

Wesfarmers acquired Coles Group Ltd for $22 billion in November 2007.Wesfarmers now owns Coles, Bi-Lo, Bunnings, Officeworks, Target, Kmart, liquor retailers (1st Choice Liquor Superstore, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars), fuel & convenience outlets (Coles Express), online stores (Coles Online, Pharmacy Direct). Plus other divisions in the areas of coal mining, energy, insurance, chemicals &fertilisers, and industrial & safety products.

Kraft Foods no longer owned by Altria (Philip Morris)

2007-03-30T00:00:00+10:00

Kraft Foods was spun off from parent company Altria in March 2007, and is now an independent publicly held company. The Altria Group and subsidiaries had been subject to an international Boycott from 1993 due to another of their subsidiaries being Philip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world.

Danone buys Royal Numico

2007-01-01T00:00:00+11:00

Groupe Danone (France) bought baby formula makers, Royal Numico (the Netherlands) for US$16.8bn in 2007

Freedom Nutritional Products buys Norganic

2007-01-01T00:00:00+11:00

In February 2007, shareholders approved the change of name from So Natural Foods Australia Ltd to Freedom Nutritional Products Ltd. The Perich Group (NSW's biggest dairy farmer) own 78% of the company. They acquired Norganic Foods in Oct 2007, Brunswick Seafoods in 2005, and Paramount Seafoods and Freedom Foods in 2003.

Goodman Fielder buys three bread brands

2006-07-13T00:00:00+10:00

Goodman Fielder bought Hawlee Nominees, makers of bread brands Country Life Bakery, Flinders and Early Harvest

Johnson & Johnson buys Pfizer healthcare division

2006-06-26T00:00:00+10:00

Pfizer divested its Consumer Health Division to Johnson & Johnson for $22 billion in late 2006. Brands include Listerine, Sudafed, and Benadryl.

Nestle Australia buys Uncle Tobys

2006-05-26T00:00:00+10:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) Food group Burns Philp and Company Ltd sold snack food business Uncle Tobys to Nestle Australia Ltd for $890 million.

Manassen Foods

2006-04-12T00:00:00+10:00

In April 2006, CHAMP together with existing Manassen Foods Australia shareholders created a new company, Food Holdings Pty Ltd which acquired Manassen Foods Australia, Great Southern Foods, King Oscar and Hutchinsons New Zealand. The combined entities which will continue to trade as Manassen Foods were merged to form Australia?s leading specialty branded food supplier with over 350 employees and revenues in excess of A$250 million. Private equity company CHAMP owns 51%.

L'Oreal buys The Body Shop

2006-03-17T00:00:00+11:00

In a controversial move, Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, sold the business to french cosmetics giant, L'Oreal, in March 2006. A boycott has since been called on The Body Shop.

Unilever sells Miracle to Peerless

2005-11-17T00:00:00+11:00

(FOREIGN >> AUST) Unilever sold retail brands of Miracle, Copha, Fairy and Kremelta to Australian owned company Peerless Holdings. In addition, Unilever brands such as Flora, Flora Proactiv, Olivio, Bertolli, and Becel are now manufactured by Peerless for Unilever under a long-term supply contract.

Unilever sells John West Foods to Simplot

2005-10-01T00:00:00+10:00

Ally, John West & Seakist brands of canned fish are now owned by Simplot Australia

Smith's Snackfood buys Sakata Rice Snacks Australia

2005-08-09T00:00:00+10:00

The Smith's Snackfood Company (owned by Pepsico) bought Sakata Rice Snacks Australia. Under the deal, Smith's has also acquired rights to manufacture, distribute and market Sakata products worldwide, apart from Japan.

Coca-Cola Amatil buys SPC Ardmona

2005-02-25T00:00:00+11:00

In February 2005, Coca-Cola Amatil's acquisition of SPC Ardmona Pty Ltd was formallly completed. SPC Ardmona is Australia?s largest producer of packaged fruit and operates 6 principal brands across the processed fruit, vegetables, jams and sauces markets. These brands are SPC, Ardmona, Goulburn Valley, IXL, Southern Cross and Taylor?s.

Procter & Gamble buys Gillette for US$57 billion

2005-01-01T00:00:00+11:00

Deal creates world?s largest consumer-products company

Reckitt Benckiser plc acquired Boots Healthcare International

2005-01-01T00:00:00+11:00

Upon completion of the sale Boots Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd changed its name to Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd.

Fonterra buys all of Bonlac, and consolidates Australian businesses

2005-01-01T00:00:00+11:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) Bonlac Foods becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Fonterra (previously Fonterra owned 50%). Fonterra's three separate brands businesses - formerly known as Bonland, PB Foods and Murrumbidgee Dairy Products (MDP) - were brought under the same name, Fonterra Brands Australia, in 2005.

Unilever sells Aim, Close-Up and Huggie to Pental Products

2004-08-11T00:00:00+10:00

(FOREIGN >> AUST) Symex announced that Pental Products, which it wholly owns, had acquired the rights to toothpaste brands Aim and Close-Up, as well as fabric softener Huggie, from Unilever for an undisclosed amount.

Roche sells consumer health business to Bayer

2004-07-19T00:00:00+10:00

Roche Consumer Health sold to Bayer for a price of 3.6 billion Swiss francs

Cambell Brothers sells brands to Colgate Palmolive

2004-06-04T00:00:00+10:00

(AUST >> FOREIGN) In 2004 Campbell sold it's major laundry and detergent brands Hurricane, Love N Care, Fluffy, Moresoft and Castle to Colgate Palmolive Pty Ltd.

SCA buys Carter Holt Harvey out of Sancella joint venture

2004-03-25T00:00:00+11:00

In May 2004, SCA acquired Carter Holt Harvey's (CHH) tissue business and the remaining 50% of the SCA/CCH joint venture, Sancella. These companies now operate as SCA Hygiene Australasia. Brands include, Sorbent, Tork, Hygenex, Purex, Handee, Deeko, Treasures, Libra and Tena.

Unilever sells Brut and Norsca to Pharmacare

2003-09-01T00:00:00+10:00

(FOREIGN >> AUST) Previously owned by Unilever, the two brands were sold to a smaller company, Pharmacare (Australian Owned), in 2003 as part of Unilever's strategy to pare down its product portfolio and focus only on a core range of global brands.

Unilever sells Rosella to Stuart Alexander

2002-08-22T00:00:00+10:00

(FOREIGN >> AUST) Unilever Australia has sold the Rosella brand to Stuart Alexander, as a part of a decision to concentrate on its core brands.