Dear CCI Member,

Lion Dairy & Drinks sale update and notification of transition date to Bega Cheese Limited

I am writing to share an update on the Lion Dairy & Drinks sale to Bega Cheese Limited (Bega). We are working to complete the sale and transition the Dairy & Drinks business to Bega’s ownership on Monday 25 January 2021. 

This means that once the sale completes on Monday 25 January 2021 the Dairy & Drinks business will be part of Bega. 

Although our name will change to Bega, I can confirm that your current contract and account details with us does not change and our ABN and bank account details remain the same, too. The great tasting products that you order from us today, will continue to be available from Bega and be delivered to you in the same way that they are today. 

The sale includes all milk, Milk Based Beverages (MBB), yoghurt, juice and water ice brands and our 11 Australian dairy and juice manufacturing sites. It also includes Lion Dairy & Drinks’ International business, and its share of the joint ventures with Vitasoy Australia Products (Vitasoy) and Capitol Chilled Foods Australia (CCFA), as well as its minority shareholding in Made by Cow and the licensing agreement for the Yoplait brand in Australia and South East Asia. 

We have been working with Bega on the transition and are confident of a smooth handover. A key priority will be upholding service and minimising change impacts to our customers. 

Of course, following the transition some things will change such as our email addresses, our Ordering Portal URL and the logos on our invoices – but this will be a phased approach to reduce any inconvenience to you and we will share more about this shortly after we transition. 

Once the sale has completed on Monday 25 January 2021, all new customer orders and interaction for Dairy & Drinks will be managed by Bega, including pricing, claims, rebates, invoicing and cash collection. 

For now, however, there is no change to the way we operate or interact with you, including the way you place and receive your product orders. 

If you have any questions, please contact your Lion Dairy & Drinks sales representative, who will become your Bega representative from Monday 25 January 2021 on their usual contact number or call our Customer Sales & Service team on 1800 000 570. 

We’re excited for the future and believe Bega, an established Australian dairy and food company with more than 120 years of heritage, is well placed to drive the Dairy & Drinks business forward given its deep dairy capabilities and strong commitment to iconic Australian brands and the local dairy industry. 

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the sale process. We look forward to continuing to partner with you as we transition to Bega. 

Kind regards, 

Kathy Karabatsas 

Managing Director, Lion Dairy & Drinks