Chicken
Family owned and operated company founded by Dick and Mavis Hazeldene in 1957 which has developed into a fully vertically integrated poultry processor (located in the Bendigo region). Supplies chicken to all major supermarkets. Sold a majority stake to BGH Capital in 2021.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jul 2025)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Hazeldene's Chicken Farm Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Factory Farming
This company produces factory farmed chicken meat. Broiler chickens can legally be confined at a density that gives each bird less space than an single A4 sheet of paper. Every year in Australia 550 million chickens endure short and unnatural lives inside factory farms. This approach is fundamentally at odds with chicken welfare.
Source: Voiceless
(2019)
Labour exploitation allegations
In June 2015 this company, which is already under investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman, gave evidence at a Senate inquiry into temporary work VISAs in the labour market in Melbourne over concerns that some contracted staff are being overworked and underpaid. Hazeldene's says the claims are unfounded and that it has a good working culture.
Source: news article
(2015)
APCO member
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice). This company is listed as an APCO member, but has not published an APCO Annual Report (as of July 2025).
Source: APCO
(2025)
FREPA accreditation
This company's free range chicken is certified by Free Range Egg and Poultry Australia (FREPA). However this only represents a small percentage of this company's total chicken meat production.
Source: FREPA
(2020)
RSPCA Approved
Hazeldene's use chicken from Australian RSPCA Approved farms for their range of RSPCA Approved chicken products. These farms raise their birds in an enriched barn environment. Chickens enjoy space to move, good lighting and can perch, dustbathe and forage.
Source: RSPCA Australia
(2020)
Farm Transparency Project profile
The Farm Transparency Project Repository is a public repository/gallery for videos, photos, documents and campaign materials relating to the animal rights movement in Australia. Follow the link to see their profile on this company.
Source: Farm Transparency Project
(2022)
Company Details
Type:
Family-owned private company
Founded:
1938
Revenue:
200 million AUD
(2020)
Employees:
770
(2018)
Contact Details
Address:
74 Hazeldene's Rd, Lockwood, VIC, 3551, Australia
Phone:
03 5431 1300
Website: