Chinese dairy giant China Mengniu Dairy, which already owned Bellamy's Organic, acquired many iconic Australian milk brands from Kirin's Lion Dairy & Drinks portfolio, including Dairy Farmers, Pura, Farmers Union, Big M, Dare, Yoplait (licence), and Berri, though its deal for the whole Lion business faced hurdles. Another Chinese-linked entity, Shanghai Ground Food Tech, also previously owned Western Australia's Brownes Dairy, though Brownes went up for sale again in 2025.
Bega Dairy & Drinks (also known as BDD or BDD Pty Ltd) is a subsidiary of Australian diversified food company the Bega Group, having been purchased from the Japanese company Kirin (who owns Lion in Australia) in November 2020.
Several milk brands are 100% Australian owned, including Norco, an Australian farmer-owned co-operative; Riverina Fresh, a long-standing Australian dairy company; and Procal, a family-owned dairy in Victoria, plus brands like aPLUS milk, Little Big Dairy Co, and Great Ocean Road Dairy, all emphasizing local ownership and production to support Australian farmers and communities.
A number of Australian energy companies, for example, are owned by Chinese firms. EnergyAustralia, despite its name, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-based China Light and Power Co Ltd, while Alinta Energy is owned by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises.
Bulla Dairy Products is an Australian made and owned company; in fact, Bulla has been owned by the same three Australian families since 1910, making it one of the oldest family-owned dairy companies in Australia. Now that's dairy knowledge and experience that you can't fake! Can I purchase products directly from Bulla?
We are the Bega Group and we're proudly Australian-owned. For over a century, we've been passionate makers and innovators of food and today, we produce foods, beverages, and ingredients that millions of people use daily.
McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd and McCain Foods (NZ) Limited are both wholly owned subsidiaries of McCain Foods Limited in Canada and are part of the global McCain group of companies. McCain Foods Australia & New Zealand has over 1,500 employees, 5 production sites, and sales presence in all major cities.
Buying assets in Australia
Australia has about 400 million hectares of agricultural land and about 14 per cent is foreign-owned. China is fourth on the list of countries with property in Australia with just 2.2 per cent, much less than the Netherlands, the US, and the UK.
While many famous brands are Australian-made, truly 100% Australian-owned brands include Norco, SPC, Mayvers, Sunshine Sugar, Sanitarium, Better World Arts, Redback Boots, and Merino Country, with many smaller niche brands also available, but always check the Australian Made Campaign and Genuine Australian Store for verified options, as even some large brands like Vegemite and Arnott's have foreign ownership now.
Gina Rinehart is often cited as Australia's largest private landowner, controlling millions of hectares through her Hancock Prospecting and other interests, primarily for mining and cattle, but ownership is complex with vast areas held under lease and significant land also owned by large corporations like the Australian Agricultural Company and First Nations groups, notes The Guardian and A-Z Animals.
Woolworths' own milk, as well as Pauls and Farmhouse Gold, is supplied by Italian company Parmalat, which is owned by France's Lactalis. Dairy Farmers and Dairy Choice are both supplied by Lion, which is owned by Japanese company Kirin.
At the 2021 census, 1,390,637 Australian residents identified themselves as having Chinese ancestry, accounting for 5.5% of the total population.
The "best" milk in Australia depends on your priorities (taste, ethics, health), but top contenders often cited for flavor include Gippsland Jersey, Barambah Organics, and local options like Fleurieu or Maleny Dairies, with Jersey milk generally favored for richness; for supporting farmers, look for Norco (100% farmer-owned) or brands avoiding permeate, while nutritionist picks vary by need (soy/oat for plants, skim/low-fat for weight).
No, The a2 Milk Company is a New Zealand-founded, Australian/NZ-listed company (ASX/NZX) that is very popular in China, not owned by China, though it has strong partnerships with Chinese entities, like China State Farm Agribusiness Holding Shanghai Co. (CSFA), and benefits from Chinese market access, with its key supplier Synlait even receiving financial support from a large Chinese shareholder.
We've always been Aussie made but now we're owned by Bega Cheese Limited – making us Aussie owned too!
Foreign investment hit $4,970.6 billion, up from $326.9b in 2023. Of that, the top investment preferences were in debt ($1,631b), followed by direct investment ($1,280b) and equity ($885b). Over the past five years, the United States has remained the biggest investor in Australia, contributing $1,355b.
Yes, Coles is an Australian-owned company, listed on the ASX as Coles Group (COL), though it was formerly part of the Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers, and its shares are held by various investors, including large global funds. Founded in Victoria in 1914, Coles remains an iconic Australian retailer with its headquarters in Melbourne.
Uncle Tobys is an Australian food manufacturing company which specialises in breakfast oat products. Since its foundation in 1861, the company has expanded its product range across the cereal and ready-to-eat snack market.
Circle Limited (Golden Circle). The ultimate parent company of Heinz Australia is H. J. Heinz Company, an entity incorporated in the United States of America.
Yes, approximately 90% of people in China own their homes, making it one of the highest homeownership rates globally, a result of significant housing reforms starting in 1998 that privatized public housing, alongside strong cultural emphasis on owning property as a marker of stability and a prerequisite for marriage, though it's important to note ownership is of the building, not the land, which remains state-owned. Urban rates hover around 87%, while rural rates are over 95%, with many families owning multiple properties.
In Western Australia's Pilbara region, a slumbering giant is slowly coming to life. The $2 billion high-tech iron ore mining project, jointly owned by Rio Tinto (54%) and China's Baowu Steel Group (46%), is set to start its full annual production of 25 million tons of iron ore this year.
Australia is one of the most popular destinations for overseas higher education and tourism among Chinese people. Australia's Chinese community is also one of the largest in the world, and per capita it is the largest outside Asia, and Mandarin Chinese is the second-most spoken language in Australia.
The new owners of dessert manufacturer Sara Lee say they intend to stick around for the "long run". Australians Klark and Brooke Quinn received the keys to the Lisarow factory on the New South Wales Central Coast on Monday. Sara Lee went into voluntary administration in October last year, owing creditors $55 million.
Every step of the process is built on quality, care, and a commitment to feed families. McCain, a cherished Canadian supplier, plays a vital role in our system by collaborating closely with On our world famous fries and hash browns.
All FoodWorks supermarkets are 100% Australian-owned and operated, we can be found throughout all States and Territories, in urban cities and small remote communities.