IBISWorld has released its annual list of the top 100 food and beverage companies in Australia in the December edition of Food & Drink Business. The list offers detailed insight into the largest companies in two of the nation’s most diverse subdivisions.
The largest 100 food and beverage companies in Australia generate in excess of $100 billion in revenue (up from over $96 billion in 2014/15) and employ more than 130,000 people.
IBISWorld has identified key industry trends underpinning major company movements in 2015/16. These include:
- Strong growth in food processing industries – particularly meat processing – driven by free-trade agreements and increasing global demand for Australian produce.
- Milk production in Australia has benefited from joint ventures and expansion of airfreighted fresh milk exports to growing Asian markets, particularly China.
- The beer manufacturing industry has struggled as consumer tastes have shifted towards craft beer, and industry revenue is set to decline as alcohol consumption, particularly of traditional beer brands, continues to fall.
- The wine production industry is moving towards recovery, following a wine glut that negatively affected the industry for the better part of the past decade.
List highlights:
- Fonterra: remained number one on the list of top food and beverage companies by revenue generated.
- Lion Nathan: remained number two on the list.
- Coca-Cola Amatil: remained number three on the list.
- Parmalat: jumped from number 27 last year to reach number 19 this year.
- Green’s Foods: made it into the top 100 list for the first time, at number 87.
- a2 Milk: made it into the top 100 list for the first time, at number 100.
- Goodman Fielder: slipped three places to settle at number 11.
- Mars: slipped three places to lodge at number 22.
- Bindaree Beef: moved from number 51 last year to reach 35 this year.
“The two newcomers to the list are Green’s Foods and a2 Milk,” IBISWorld Senior Industry Analyst Spencer Little said.
“Green’s Foods has entered the list at 87, while a2 has entered at 100. Green’s Foods posted a surge in revenue of 72.6 per cent over the year through December 2014. This was the result of the company’s acquisitions of Goodman Fielder’s and Waterwheel’s biscuit businesses in 2013. a2 Milk posted revenue growth of 40.2 per cent over the year through June 2015, on the back of fresh milk exports to China and substantial sales growth in a2 Platinum Infant Formula across Australia and New Zealand.
“After purchasing the remaining 50 per cent interest in the a2 Milk Company Ltd joint venture and converting it to a fully owned subsidiary, a2 Milk began exporting fresh milk to China in August 2014. Sales of the company’s infant formula skyrocketed in 2014/15.”