Dairy
Fonterra merged its Australian and New Zealand businesses in 2024, creating Fonterra Oceania, with eight Australian manufacturing sites in Victoria and Tasmania. In 2026 Fonterra sold its global consumer products business to Lactalis, which included Fonterra Oceania.
Company Ownership
Fonterra Oceania
AUS
Mainland Group Holdings Ltd
owns 100% of Fonterra Oceania
NZL
Dairy
In 2026 Lactalis acquired Fonterra's global consumer business, known as Mainland Group.
Lactalis Group SA
owns 100% of Mainland Group Holdings Ltd
FRA
Dairy product manufacturer
World's largest dairy company with 237 production sites in 43 countries. Founded in 1933 by Andre Besnier; his descendants still own and oversee the company.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jan 2026)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Fonterra Oceania
Praise
Criticism
Information
5/5 for packaging performance
This company received the highest packaging performance level of 5 (Beyond Best Practice) in its 2025 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
(2025)
Fined for worker death
On 17 October 2011, Fonterra Australia was fined $300,000 in Melbourne County Court for failing to provide a safe workplace after an employee was crushed to death by two tonnes of salt.
Source: news article
(2011)
Breaching advertising codes
This company has been criticised for misleading advertising. In 2015 Ad Standards upheld complaints about a tv ad by this company on the grounds that they breached advertising codes. The ads were subsequently discontinued or modified.
Source: Ad Standards
(2015)
Cuts to farm-gate price
In April 2016 Fonterra followed Murray Goulburn's lead and reduced its farm-gate price for raw milk from an average of $5.60 to $4.75-$5. This is below the cost of production, and threatens to push farmers off the land, cull herds for meat, or switch completely to beef farming.
Source: news article
(2016)
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)
Organic products
This company manufactures or distributes products that are certified organic under the Australian Certified Organic label.
Source: ACO
(2022)
Organic products
Some of this company's products are certified organic by NASAA.
Source: NASAA
(2022)
RCMI signatory
This company is a signatory to the Responsible Children's Marketing Initiative (RCMI), which is managed by the Australian Food & Grocery Council and covers products found in retail outlets. Companies that have signed up to the initiative commit to: only advertising healthier choices to children and encouraging a healthy lifestyle through good diet and physical activity; not paying for or seeking product placement television programs, editorial content or interactive games aimed at children, unless the product is a healthier choice; not advertising and marketing to children in Australian schools unless they are asked to by those schools.
Source: AANA
(2023)
Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member
This company is a member of the Australian chapter 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.
Source: SAI Platform Australia
(2023)
Mainland Group Holdings Ltd
No assessment data currently available for Mainland Group Holdings Ltd.
Lactalis Group SA
Praise
Criticism
Information
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, Fair, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Good" (retrieved 4 Feb 2025).
Source: WAZA
(2025)
CDP Climate Change score of B
In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of B.
Source: CDP
(2024)
G grade in ACT Core
The 2026 ACT Core Benchmark assessed 1,600 companies on the credibility of their climate transition plans. Companies are evaluated across six measurement areas; emissions reporting and target definition, planning for the low-carbon transition, governance and policy, low-carbon investments, current target alignment, and performance. Companies receive a letter grade from A to G. This company received a score of G (Uncommitted).
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%.
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.
1% in Gender Benchmark
In 2023 and 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance assessed 2,000 companies on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, and violence and harassment. This company scored 1 out of 100. The average score was 15.3 and the highest score was 51.
7.9% in Social Benchmark
The 2026 Social Benchmark assessed 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 received a score of 7.9/100. The average score was 20 and the highest score was 75.
Supports animal testing
This company appears on PETA's list of food and beverage companies that tests on animals, signifying that: it has not signed PETA's Statement of Assurance document; has definitively conducted, funded, commissioned, or allowed animal testing that is not explicitly required by law or by written requirements by government agencies; and has not adequately resolved this issue in private discussions with PETA.
Source: PETA
(2026)
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)
27.8% in Forest 500 Rankings
Forest 500 identifies and annually assesses the 500 companies and 150 financial institutions most exposed to deforestation risk in their supply chains and investments on the strength and implementation of their commitments on deforestation and human rights. This company received a score of 27.8%.
Source: Forest 500
(2024)
16.7% in Just Transition
The 2026 Just Transition Benchmark assessed 1,600 companies across multiple industries and sectors on how they integrate social equity, inclusivity and the rights of workers into their climate transition plan. This company received a score of 16.7/100. The average score was 5.7 and the highest score was 86.7.
12.2% in Nature Benchmark
The 2026 Nature Benchmark assessed 750 companies from high-impact industries on their efforts to advance a nature-positive future by cutting damaging practices across their operations and supply chains, and by actively restoring and improving ecosystems. Companies are assessed across four measurement areas: Governance, Planet, People and Core social indicators. This company received a score of 12.2/100. The average score was 17.3 and the highest score was 56.4.
11/100 in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2026 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 companies from the food and agriculture value chain on their contributions to healthy, sustainable, and inclusive food systems. Companies are assessed across four measurement areas: Healthy food systems, Sustainable food systems, Inclusive food systems and Governance. This company received a score of 11/100. The average score was 15.5 and the highest score was 61.2.
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)
Underpaying dairy farmers in France
Five hundred French dairy farmers are to take Lactalis to court over the price they were paid in 2014 for their milk.
Source: news article
(2015)
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Founded:
2005
Contact Details
Address:
Level 2, 40 River Blvd, Richmond, VIC, 3121, Australia
Phone:
03 8541 1588
Freecall:
1800 816 773
Website:
Products / Brands
Fonterra Oceania
Allowrie
Butter & Margarine
Anchor
Milk
Bodalla
Cheese
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Girgar
Butter & Margarine
Mainland
Butter & Margarine
Mainland
Cheese
Munchables
Custard & Desserts
Munchables
Cheese
Perfect Italiano
Cheese
Supa Shake
Flavoured Milk
Western Star
Butter & Margarine
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