AUSTRALIA | Bega Cheese Limited has released its full-year audited results for the financial year ending the 30th of June 2025.
The Group has continued to grow profitability in its Branded segment, and successfully returned the Bulk segment to profit, delivering a strong normalised Group result.
The Group achieved statutory earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of AUD 165.5 million. A strong underlying financial performance was impacted by the restructuring costs of several transformational business improvement initiatives that position the Group exceptionally well for the future.
The normalised FY2025 EBITDA of AUD 202.0 million increased by AUD 37.9 million or 23 percent when compared to the prior period.
Normalised items in the current period include the completed sale and exit of juice primary processing at Leeton NSW, the planned closure and consolidation of cheese packaging and processing capacities at Strathmerton Victoria into the Ridge Street facilities in Bega NSW, and the impairment of plant and equipment associated with the announced closure of peanut processing operations in Kingaroy and Tolga in Queensland.
Operational highlights of the FY2025 result included:
- Strong volume growth in branded white milk, yoghurt and spreads.
- The successful launch of branded high-protein and ‘better for you’ products.
- Execution of cost savings and continuous improvement programs.
- Realignment of dairy commodities and farm gate milk prices combined with a focus on higher value dairy commodities returned the Bulk segment to profit.
- Discipline on working capital optimisation and improved operating cashflow.
- Strong balance sheet with leverage ratio of 0.8 times.
The Group maintained strong market share positions across key categories and continued to grow in foodservice and key Asian markets.
Continued focus on core categories, the success of our branded new product development pipeline, and the full-year benefit of business restructuring contributed to the pleasing financial performance. Branded segment normalised EBITDA was AUD 205.2 million compared to AUD 199.9 million in the prior year.
The return to profit of the Bulk segment made an important contribution to the FY2025 result. Bulk segment EBITDA was a profit of AUD 38.7 million compared to an EBITDA loss of AUD 18.2 million in the prior year.
Subject to normal trading conditions, the Group expects continued growth in the Branded segment and stable returns in the Bulk segment. The Group’s new product development pipeline will launch a number of exciting new products in FY2026, supporting further Branded growth.
The manufacturing rationalisation initiatives announced are forecast to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the Branded segment and mitigate cost and overhead inflation towards the late stages of FY2026, with full-year benefits being realised in FY2027.
The Group provides guidance of a normalised EBITDA in the range of AUD 215m to AUD 220m in FY2026.
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