Aussie food groups consider merger

19 January 2000



Aussie food groups consider merger

TWO of Australias largest farming co-operatives are making plans for a possible merger to create one of the countrys biggest food groups.

Australian Co-operative Foods (Dairy Farmers) and Bonlac Foods are in discussions about the move.

Dairy Farmers said the talks would not affect an earlier approach from Parmalat.

The Italian dairy group is seeking to merge Dairy Farmers, based in New South Wales, with Pauls, the Queensland-based dairy group it bought in 1998.

Bonlac is owned by approximately 3000 farmers in Victoria and Tasmania and is a leading dairy exporter.

• Financial Times 19/01/2000 page 32