What is Bega Cheese?
Bega Cheese is an Australian dairy company that began as a farmers' cooperative in the town of Bega on the far south coast of New South Wales in 1899. It is now one of the country's largest food companies.
Dairy farmers in the Bega Valley formed the cooperative to process their milk into cheese and butter. The area's mild climate and green pastures made it ideal for dairy farming.
For many years, Bega was best known for its cheddar cheese, sold in supermarkets across Australia. The company later converted from a cooperative into a listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2011.
Buying Vegemite
In 2017, Bega Cheese bought Vegemite and other grocery brands from the American food company Mondelez International. This returned Vegemite to Australian ownership for the first time in decades.
Bega also bought Lion Dairy and Drinks in 2021, adding brands such as Dairy Farmers, Pura and Masters. This greatly expanded its range of milk, yogurt and juice products.
The Bega Cheese Heritage Centre in Bega showcases the history of the company and the dairy industry. The town of Bega remains closely associated with cheese making.
Did You Know?
Bega also produces peanut butter, which it sells under the Bega brand.