Two WA dairy brands collapse

Mundella Foods and Margaret River Dairy Company went into liquidation in August, leaving creditors owed millions of dollars. The brands had been sold to The Cheeky Cow, which has since collapsed.

Artisanal Market buys the brands

Local processor Artisanal Market has bought the brands and assets, including processing facilities in Perth and Margaret River, for an undisclosed sum. Managing director Kevin Sorgiovanni founded Harvey Fresh.

Production to start near Margaret River

Yoghurt production is expected to start at the export-approved Metricup processing facility near Margaret River before the Christmas period. Mundella's original facility at Mundijong will be mothballed due to poor condition.

Expansion plans and local priority

Artisanal Market plans to target the Asian market for broader sales.Production will start at two million litres a year but the facility has capacity for ten million litres.

“But, firstly, what's really important is to get Mundella back onto the WA shelves here locally.”

Farmers hope for better milk prices

WA Farmers Dairy Council president Ian Noakes welcomed the sale but said most WA milk is contracted.He hoped additional competition would improve price points for local dairy farmers, though securing milk supply remains a challenge.

“Most of the milk in WA is contracted, and the main companies are not very good at letting a bit of milk go to somebody else.”