Arla Foods Mayer Australia
Dairy products marketing and distributing
Joint venture between European dairy giant Arla and Australia's largest cheese importer, F. Mayer Imports, which kicked off in 2015.

Overall

Owned DNK
Rating C
About the Ratings

Company Ownership

Arla Foods Mayer Australia Pty Ltd
AUS
Arla Foods amba
owns 51% of Arla Foods Mayer Australia Pty Ltd
DNK
Dairy
Europe's largest dairy company. Established in the spring of 2000 through the merger between the Danish MD Foods and the Swedish Arla, Arla Foods is a co-operative owned by approx. 7,200 Swedish and 8,300 Danish milk producers.
F Mayer Imports Pty Ltd
owns 49% of Arla Foods Mayer Australia Pty Ltd
AUS
Importer
Established by Fred Mayer in Sydney in 1957. Import over 1000 different products from throughout Europe, New Zealand & the Asia Pacific region.

Company Assessment

(Last updated Aug 2024)
Arla Foods Mayer Australia Pty Ltd
No assessment data currently available for Arla Foods Mayer Australia Pty Ltd.
Arla Foods amba
Praise
79/100 in TIME rankings
World's Most Sustainable Companies of 2024 by TIME and Statista recognises the Top 500 most sustainable companies in the world. From a selection of 5,000 of the world's largest companies, non-sustainable businesses were excluded, and the remaining companies were rated on Commitment & Ratings, Reporting & Transparency, and Environmental & Social Stewardship. This company received a total score of 78.7/100, ranking 17th overall.
Source: TIME (2024)
Palm oil rating - WAZA
The PalmOil Scan app, produced by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), rates companies on their commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. Companies are scored on their use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), commitment to sourcing CSPO, on-the-ground conservation action, and membership to the RSPO. Companies can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Good" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).
Source: WAZA (2023)
Palm oil scorecard - WWF
The 2024 WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard evaluates the progress and performance of 285 major retailers and manufacturer companies, focusing on actions companies have taken to ensure their own palm oil supply chain is sustainable and free of deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuse. This company is rated 'well on path' with a score of 16.78 out of a possible total of 24.
Access to Nutrition rating
The Global Access to Nutrition Index assesses how the world's 25 largest global food and beverage manufacturers contribute to addressing malnutrition in all its forms: overweight and obesity, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiency. All have been assessed on their commitments, practices, and disclosure with regards to governance and management; the production and distribution of healthy, affordable, accessible products; and how they influence consumer choices and behavior. Of the 25 companies ranked, this company came 5th.
13/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 13/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
42.4% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #18/350, with a total score of 42.4/100.
Criticism
Supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 12.3/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE (2023)
24.1% in Forest 500 Rankings
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 24.1%.
14.8% in methane scorecard
The livestock sector is the single largest contributor to man-made methane emissions. Even though rapid reductions of methane emissions are needed to slow the rate of global warming, the largest meat and dairy corporations are oblivious to the problem. Changing Markets' 2021 report 'Blindspot' investigated the policies and actions of 20 meat and dairy giants to reduce their methane emissions. This company scored 14.8/100 for their methane policy and actions.
Tier 5 in farm animal welfare rankings
The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) 2023 Report ranks global food companies on their farm animal welfare policies, practices and performance. This company appeared in tier 5, "On the business agenda but limited evidence of implementation", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Information
Irresponsible BMS marketing
This company is named and shamed in IBFAN's 2017 report, 'Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2017', evidence of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS), compiled from June 2014 to June 2017. The report covers 792 Code violations from 79 countries and by 28 companies. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Misleading advertising
This company has been criticised for irresponsible advertising. In 2016 the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints about a press ad for organic milk by this company on the grounds that it breached advertising codes. The ASA concluded the claim "Good for the land ... helping to support a more sustainable future" was misleading. The ad was subsequently discontinued or modified.
Soy scorecard 2016 - WWF
This company received a score of 21.5 out of a possible total of 24 in the WWF Soy Scorecard 2016, which rates companies on their use of responsible soy, grown without damaging the environment and harming people. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Gender equality
This company appears on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
Use of non-mulesed wool
Brands owned by this company are listed in Human Society International Australia's Better Wool Guide as using 100% non-mulesed wool from a robust certification scheme, or has a time-bound commitment to do so. Mulesing is the controversial practice of removing strips of the skin of a lamb's rear and is often done without pain relief. In Australia, the only country where mulesing still occurs, an estimated 10 million merino lambs are subjected to mulesing each year - equivalent to 19 lambs per minute.
Responsibility claims
This company has extensive responsibility claims on its website.
Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member
This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
9/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2022 and received a score of 9/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
24.9% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2023 and is ranked #145/816, with a total score of 24.9/100.
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Company Details

Type:
Joint venture

Contact Details

Address:
2-8 McPherson St, Banksmeadow, NSW, 2019, Australia
Website:
www.mayers.com.au

Products / Brands

Arla Foods Mayer Australia
Apetina Cheese
Castello Cheese
Harmonie Butter & Margarine
★ some products certified organic
Lurpak Butter & Margarine
Mayers Cheese
Rosenborg Cheese
Singletons Cheese
Tholstrup Cheese
Viking Cheese