Harvey Fresh

Beverages manufacturing

Western Australian based juice and dairy company. Bought the assets of Challenge Australia Dairy in 2011. Acquired by Parmalat in April 2014 for $120m.

Overall

Owned FRA

Rating

About the Ratings

Company Ownership

Harvey Fresh (1994) Pty Ltd

AUS

Lactalis Australia Ltd

owns 100% of Harvey Fresh (1994) Pty Ltd

AUS

Dairy product manufacturing

This Australian dairy company became foreign owned in 1998 when Italian dairy giant Parmalat bought Pauls Ltd. Parmalat was acquired by French dairy giant Lactalis in 2011. Acquired WA dairy and fruit juice company Harvey Fresh in 2014 for $120m. Changed its name from Parmalat Australia to Lactalis Australia in 2019.

Lactalis Group

owns 100% of Lactalis Australia Ltd

FRA

Dairy product manufacturer

World's largest dairy company with 250 production sites in 50 countries. Founded in 1933 by Andre Besnier; his descendants still own and oversee the company. Increased its stake in Parmalat from 29% to 83% in July 2011. Bought Lemnos Foods in 2010 and Jindi cheese in Nov 2012.

Company Assessment

(Last updated Nov 2024)

Praise Criticism Information

Harvey Fresh (1994) Pty Ltd

Information

Misleading labelling

In 2008 Harvey Fresh provided an undertaking to the ACCC in relation to falsely representing that its 250ml Apple & Blackcurrant Fruit Juice was 100% juice, where flavourings, colours or extracts have been added to the product. Harvey Fresh agreed to stop making the above misrepresentations, recall existing stock of the products, inform consumers by corrective notices, and establish and implement a compliance program.

Source: ACCC (2011)

Misleading labelling

In 2009, the Perth Federal Court declared that Harvey Fresh misled consumers by falsely representing that two of its cheese products were produced in Western Australia, when in fact they were produced in Victoria, contravening sections 52 and 53 of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The court ordered injunctions to prevent Harvey Fresh from making any similar claims about its cheese products in the future, awarded costs to the ACCC and ordered Harvey Fresh to publish corrective notices and implement a trade practices compliance program.

Source: ACCC (2009)

Lactalis Australia Ltd

Praise

4/5 for packaging performance

This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. 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).

Source: APCO (2024)

Criticism

Renewable energy use

Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has: not committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030; not signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project; not invested in on-site solar.

Source: Greenpeace (2021)

Fined $950k for Dairy Code breaches

In 2023 the Federal Court of Australia ordered Lactalis Australia to pay $950,000 in penalties for breaching the Dairy Code. Following proceedings brought by the ACCC, the Court found in September 2022 that Lactalis had breached the Dairy Code by publishing and entering into agreements that allowed Lactalis to unilaterally terminate an agreement in circumstances that didn't involve a material breach by farmers. In particular, under the agreement, Lactalis was permitted to unilaterally terminate the agreement when, in Lactalis' opinion, the farmer had engaged in "public denigration" of processors, key customers or other stakeholders.

Source: ACCC (2023)

Information

Fined for offensive odours

In Aug 2015 the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued two $8000 fines to this company after offensive odours were detected coming from its dairy processing plant at Lidcombe. The EPA's odour surveys detected offensive odours beyond the boundary of the premises on 12 March and 15 April 2015. The odours on both occasions were caused by wastewater stored in a 500,000 Litre tank on the site becoming depleted in oxygen and producing hydrogen sulphide, that is rotten egg gas.

Source: EPA (2015)

Unfair milk supply agreements

This company was one of five major dairy processors that agreed to amend its milk supply agreements after The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found them to be unfair. The ACCC said it had raised concerns with some processors about lengthy notice periods for farmers to terminate their contracts, one-sided termination rights, broad indemnities, and terms that restrict a farmer's ability to lease a farm or sell their cattle.

Source: ACCC (2018)

Rainforest Alliance certified products

This company sells Rainforest Alliance certified iced coffee. However this only represents a fraction of this company's total sales. Rainforest Alliance certification has been dubbed 'Fairtrade light' by critics, as it offers producers no minimum price for their crop, and guarantees a minimum of just 30% of the product is certified.

Source: Rainforest Alliance (2020)

Organic products

Some of this company's products are certified organic by NASAA.

Source: NASAA (2022)

MAIF signatory

This company's Sanulac Nutritionals Australia subsidiary is a signatory to the Manufacturers and Importers Agreement 1992 (MAIF), a voluntary self-regulatory code of conduct between the manufacturers and importers of infant formula in Australia. The MAIF Agreement aims to contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding and by ensuring the proper use of breast milk substitutes, when they are necessary, on the basis of adequate information through appropriate marketing and distribution.

Source: Australian Govt Dept of Health (2024)

Sustainability claims

This company has sustainability claims on its website including environmental policy statements.

Source: company website (2020)

Lactalis Group

Criticism

0.1% in BMS Marketing Index

The BMS Marketing Index 2024 assesses how well companies making breast-milk substitutes (BMS) are following international guidelines for marketing their products. The Index aims to ensure marketing practices don't discourage breastfeeding. This company scored 0.1%. The highest score was 37% and the average score was a disappointing 10%.

Source: Access to Nutrition Foundation (2024)

0/20 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 0/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2024)

Access to Nutrition rating

The Global Access to Nutrition Index 2024 assessed 30 of the world's largest food and beverage manufacturers on their performance to improve access to nutritious foods. Companies are assessed on the nutritional quality of their product portfolios in 25 global markets, plus policies, practices, and transparency relating to nutrition. Of the 30 companies ranked, this company came last.

Source: Access to Nutrition Foundation (2024)

4.4% 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 #279/350, with a total score of 4.4/100.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)

4.3% 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 #654/816, with a total score of 4.3/100.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)

3.2% 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 3.2/100 for their methane policy and actions.

Source: Changing Markets (2021)

24.5% 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 24.5%.

Source: Forest 500 (2023)

CDP Forests score of D

In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests score of D.

Source: CDP (2023)

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 "Poor" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).

Source: WAZA (2023)

Information

Water pollution

In 2010 US-based Lactalis subsidiary Sorrento Lactalis paid the United States a $315,000 penalty for excess discharges in violation of its wastewater permit levels. The company discharged the excess pollutants into Mason Creek from its factory operations in Nampa, Idaho, in violation of the Clean Water Act. The company repeatedly violated its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit over a period of three years from December 2005 to September 2008.

Source: EPA (2010)

Soy scorecard 2016 - WWF

This company received a score of 2 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]

Source: WWF Soy Scorecard 2016 (2016)

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]

Source: IBFAN (2017)

Joint venture with Nestle

Lactalis and Nestle created a dairy products joint venture in 2006 called Lactalis Nestle Chilled Dairy, which operates in nine European countries. Nestle is the target of a boycott call.

Source: company website (2006)

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 'middle of the pack' with a score of 12.98 out of a possible total of 24.

Source: WWF Palm Oil Scorecard (2024)

Tier 4 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 4, "Making progress on implementation", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.

Source: BBFAW (2023)