News Articles

Brownes chief executive Natalie Sarich-Dayton. Photo: Matt Jelonek.

Agribusiness 17 Feb 2026

Brownes strong despite 'limbo' from stalled sale

Natalie Sarich-Dayton says Brownes is focused on new product lines amid a protracted sale by WA's oldest dairy's Chinese owners.

Frank and Tony Galati with the Spudshed milk range. Photo: Michael O'Brien

Retail 01 Dec 2025

Spudshed moves into milk

Spud King Tony Galati hopes his company's foray into the world of dairy sales will strengthen fresh milk supply in Western Australia.

Brownes sells its Hunt and Brew product through 400 Tesco stores. Photo: Supplied

Manufacturing 23 Oct 2025

Brownes invests in UK, puts sale on hold

Balcatta-based Brownes has bought out its partner in its UK manufacturing plant, while also revealing the sale of the dairy business has been put on hold until next year.

Brownes chief executive Natalie Sarich-Dayton

Agribusiness 22 Apr 2025

Brownes Dairy put up for sale

WA's oldest and largest dairy company, Brownes, has been put up for sale after its Chinese owner got into financial difficulty over a $200 million loan.

Agribusiness 01 Apr 2025

Brownes Dairy reports revenue rise

Brownes Dairy's parent company has recorded profit and revenue increases it attributes to the growth of its export trade.

Agribusiness 06 May 2024

Robotic dairy a test case for growth

The owner of WA's biggest dairy farm is placing his reputation and cash on the line to prove the potential of an autonomous and green production facility.

Agribusiness 20 Mar 2024

Brownes parent company posts $3.2m profit

The parent company of long-established Western Australian dairy company Brownes reported a profit of $3.2 million for 2023.

Retail 13 Mar 2023

Heritage works in Brownes’ fresh start

Natalie Sarich-Dayton feels the weight of running Australia's oldest dairy.

Agribusiness 08 Mar 2023

Brownes boosts revenue, profitability

The parent company of major Western Australian dairy Brownes has recorded an increase in revenue and profitability for the past year, seemingly putting the pandemic and the loss of Woolworths contr

Opinion 08 Feb 2022

Private business has changed

The businesses that dominate the unlisted landscape are very different from 20 years ago.

Regulation 05 Jul 2021

Brownes fined $22,000

WA dairy company Brownes has been hit with two infringements after failing to comply with a code that requires it to disclose the details of milk supply agreements.

Appointments 25 Jun 2021

Appointments June 25, 2021

Our weekly appointment wrap includes Alex Jenkins, Natalie Sarich-Dayton, Nick O'Loughlin, Kathryn Penno, Martina Ellis and Jerome Lee.

Food & Drink 29 Jul 2020

Brownes to make cheddar for local market

Brownes Dairy has moved back into the local cheddar cheese market, launching a WA-made range in an effort to appeal to consumers on this side of the Nullarbor.

Agribusiness 25 Nov 2019

Chinese group to buy Lion Dairy for $600m

The company behind Masters dairy products is moving from Japanese to Chinese ownership, after the dairy heavyweight behind the $1.5 billion bid for organic infant formula maker Bellamy's Australia agreed to acquire Lion Dairy & Drinks.

Great for the State 19 Nov 2019

From ocean to plate, it’s favoured in Asia

Hard work, a lean supply chain and premium quality help make WA lobster a popular delicacy in China.

Deals 10 Oct 2018

Lions share of Australian dairy for sale

Australian company Lion Dairy and Drinks, which owns WA dairy business Masters, is up for sale by its Japanese owners following a month-long review.

Agribusiness 18 May 2018

Brownes moves to secure supply

Brownes Dairy is chasing extra supplies for its expanded cheese factory in the state's South West and is believed to have approached the Lactanz cooperative and two farmers who were told last year their milk wasn't needed.

Government 18 May 2018

Confidence in China relationship

Australian businesses can be confident that strong personal relationships with their partners in China can help overcome any short-term problems between the governments of the two countries, according to two local business executives with close ties to the Asian powerhouse.

Deals 14 Nov 2017

Brownes sold to Chinese consortium

Western Australia's three largest dairy producers are now under foreign ownership, after Brownes was sold to a consortium of investors that includes Chinese dairy operator Shanghai Ground Food.

Agribusiness 18 Nov 2016

Brownes cultivates pouch market

Dairy producer Brownes has become the first local company to manufacture yoghurt pouches as part of an ambitious plan to usurp Yoplait as Western Australia's highest selling yoghurt maker.

Deals 11 Apr 2016

Uncertain outlook for deals

SPECIAL REPORT: A flurry of deals over the past fortnight, including four acquisitions by international companies expanding in Western Australia and the year's largest capital raising, has added life to a flat corporate finance market.

Food & Drink 03 Aug 2015

Brownes milks social media revolt

Brownes Dairy believes it has benevolently quelled a social media revolt sparked by its move late last year to alter its flavoured milk recipes.

Energy 15 Jun 2015

Private equity players pick Quadrant

THE launch this month of independent oil and gas producer Quadrant Energy has underlined the big role private equity investors play in Western Australia, owning more than a dozen major businesses a

Financial Services 03 Mar 2015

Equity funds hold on to private ventures

Private equity funds are turning into long-term owners of some major WA businesses, after being unable to complete their planned exits.

Agribusiness 23 Feb 2015

Ag property a good buy

Demand for Western Australian agricultural property assets is expected to run hot throughout 2015, with offshore buyers not expected to be deterred by new rules for foreign investment in farmland.

Appointments 02 Feb 2015

Purcell leaves Brownes

Brownes Dairy managing director Ben Purcell has resigned.Mr Purcell was a 2013 Business News 40under40 award recipient.The company has not yet announced a replacement.

Property 29 Jul 2014

Agribusiness stoking property market: Colliers

Property transactions in the agribusiness sector are heating up, with considerable activity in the first six months of 2014, according to Colliers International.

Property 30 Jun 2014

Stockland buys Brownes Dairy site for $53.5m

Western Australia-based Brownes Dairy's head office, processing and distribution centre in Balcatta has been bought by national developer Stockland, in a deal worth $53.5 million.

Agribusiness 28 May 2014

Lion to sack Bentley workers

Beverages giant Lion has confirmed about a third of workers at its Bentley milk processing plant will lose their jobs after the company was dumped as Woolworths' milk supplier in Western Australia for rival Brownes.

Agribusiness 11 Apr 2014

No cream tipped on free trade deals

A shake-up in Western Australia's dairy industry may be set to deliver for local stakeholders, but the broader sector is unimpressed with free trade commitments made with South Korea and Japan.

Special Reports 01 Aug 2013

Media changes rules of engagement

LAST week the most ubiquitous brand launched an advertising campaign in which it proferred a newfound dedication to health awareness.

Special Reports 13 Mar 2013

Ben Purcell

Ben PurcellManaging director Brownes Dairy

Special Reports 04 Apr 2012

Private equity on the march in WA but deals scarce

Private equity funds are scouring Western Australia, looking to invest in local businesses but only a handful of deals have been completed.

Deals 16 Jun 2011

Archer completes fourth WA deal

PRIVATE equity group Archer Capital has emerged rapidly this year to become one of the largest investors in Western Australia, following its purchase of the company behind the Chicken Treat and Red Rooster fast food chains.

Agribusiness 21 Mar 2011

DairyWest completes Brownes acquisition

DairyWest has added premium yoghurt producer West N Fresh to its investment portfolio, after it today announced the completion of its purchase of Brownes.

Special Reports 17 Mar 2011

Private players indicate strong preference for a profitable life in the fast lane

Softer conditions outside mining don't bother big private companies too much.

21 Oct 2010

Private equity firm buys Brownes

New Zealand-based Fonterra has completed the break up of WA business Peters & Brownes, selling Brownes to private equity investment firm Archer Capital, following last year's sale of Peters to Nestle.

Food & Drink 09 Jul 2008

Buying local easier said than done

The food industry has questioned the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture and Food's latest marketing campaign to encourage consumers to buy locally made products.

03 May 2005

Export sweetener for Peters

An $8 million upgrade to Peters & Brownes Group's Balcatta production facility is already paying dividends for the group, helping the dairy giant secure a major deal to supply super premium ice-cream to Japan.

Special Reports 09 Dec 2003

Peters & Brownes goes super premium

PB Foods, the parent of dairy manufacturer Peters & Brownes, has agreed to invest $7 million to expand production of super premium ice cream for the Japanese market.

News Articles for Brownes

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