Goodman Fielder seeks ComCom permission to buy Yoplait rights in NZ
By Sophie Boot
June 22 (BusinessDesk) - Goodman Fielder New Zealand, which owns a number of dairy brands including Meadow Fresh and
Puhoi Valley, wants to buy the rights to make and sell Yoplait branded yoghurt in New Zealand.
In a statement, the Commerce Commission said it had received a clearance application from Goodman Fielder, the food
manufacturer owned by Singapore-based Wilmar International and Hong Kong-listed investment firm First Pacific Co, to buy
assets related to the manufacture and distribution of Yoplait in New Zealand from Lion - Dairy & Drinks (NZ). Lion, which is owned by Japan's Kirin Holdings, currently has a licence from French company Sodima to use
the Yoplait brand in New Zealand.
As well as acquiring manufacturing and distribution assets from Lion, Goodman Fielder intends to obtain a licence from
Sodima so it would be the exclusive supplier of Yoplait yoghurt in New Zealand, the Commerce Commission said.
Goodman Fielder, which delisted in March 2015 following the takeover by Wilmar and First Pacific, produces a range of
dairy, bread, and grocery items under brands including Vogels, Molenberg, Freya's, Quality Bakers, Edmonds, Chesdale and
Ernest Adams. Its existing yoghurt brands in New Zealand include Activate Probiotic, Naturalea and Kalo. Its financial
statements for calendar 2017 show revenue was $953 million, generating a $52 million profit.
The regulator's decision is due by Aug. 17, according to its website.
(BusinessDesk)