BEGA Cheese Limited has made substantial acquisitions in the past two decades, growing rapidly to transform itself from a largely bulk manufacturing business to the genuine brand business that it is today.
Bega Cheese Limited’s executive chairman, Barry Irvin said that the enterprise is comfortable with its current assets, which encompass some of Australia’s most iconic packaged dairy products and spreads, and will keep strongly investing in its new, innovative brands, Happi and 180 Nutrition.
Significant for the Tatura site, Barry stated that the new brands, which are produced at the factory, mark a genuine and innovative step in the company’s already diverse portfolio, and with these new products being the first of their kind on the market, Barry said,
“This year’s launch of the Happi Day and Night Infant formula as well as the patented “inferrin” encapsulated lactoferrin range of supplements, sees Bega moving up the value-added chain and into branded, whereas traditionally we were a business that provided those products to other brands.”
Innovation of production lines is just one of many other areas that Barry talks enthusiastically about when asked to delineate the company’s vision. While robotics already sits on the company’s high packaging lines, Barry said,
“There’s no question that robotics needs to be thought about beyond what we think of physical machinery. It’s more about the technology and the data capability that makes sure you service your customer better, that your supply chain is more efficient or as sustainable as can be.
“We are starting to understand the role of Cobots in our manufacturing facilities…and they will work alongside people but will also alleviate the heavy lifting and mundane elements of the job, allowing employees to upskill and diversify to supervisory roles, and to collaborative teams involved in problem solving, ensuring seamless systems of production.”
