ADELAIDE Hills-based cheese company Udder Delights has formed a new partnership with Japanese dairy company Snow Brand.
The $14.4 million deal had Snow Brand subsidiaries Snow Brand Australia and Meg Milk Snow Brand each acquire 45 per cent of the company, while existing owner Sullivan Enterprises (SA) Pty Ltd retains 10pc.
Udder Delights managing director Saul Sullivan said he and chief executive Sheree Sullivan would continue their roles as well as continuing on with full ownership of the Udder Delights Cheese Cellar in Hahndorf.
“It will be business as usual for our team, and Sheree and I, as we continue to make the very best cheese in the pristine Adelaide Hills,” Mr Sullivan said.
“And, with the support of such an experienced and like-minded global industry pioneer, we have the opportunity to make some of our wildest dairy dreams come true.”
The award-winning Udder Delights was established in Lobethal by Trevor Dunford and his late wife Estelle – parents of Ms Sullivan – as a goat cheese factory in 1999.
With Mr Dunford approaching retirement, Udder Delights started seeking to sell his share of the company – including the Lobethal based cheese factory – to a likeminded partner earlier this year.
“We were at a critical juncture in our business and my father’s pending retirement presented us with an opportunity to work with a new business partner,” Ms Sullivan said.
“We are so pleased that we’ve found another business that already works within our industry and brings a huge amount of experience to the table.”
Mr Sullivan said this partnership would allow the financial backing to create new products, services and innovations, as well as provide new opportunities for staff, suppliers and customers.
“Snow Brand has fully endorsed that the Udder Delights quality must remain at the highest standard, under my watchful eye and guidance as a Master Cheesemaker,” he said.
Megmilk Snow Brand have been making cheese and butter for 90 years in Japan and Snow Brand Australia arrived in 1990 with its Unicorn, Nowra Farmhouse and Flinders Estate brands, specialising in white mould cheeses.
“With our complementary skills sets, we can’t wait to start working on some innovative new projects and products that will further enhance the Australian dairy industry and please the palates of more cheese lovers across the country,” Ms Sullivan said.