HOME-BRAND IMPORTS PUT AUSTRALIAN DAIRY ON THE LINE

Australian Dairy Farmers is questioning how major supermarkets are supporting Australian dairy producers, following Woolworths’ latest profit result and concerns over imported home-brand products.

Woolworths has reported an 18.1% increase in net profit to $1.14 billion for the 2026 financial year, while its Australian Food division recorded sales of $53.9 billion.

Australian Dairy Farmers President Ben Bennett says the retailer’s use of imported United States dairy products, including home-brand cheese, is putting pressure on Australian farmers, processors and regional jobs.

Mr Bennett says imported dairy is increasingly appearing on supermarket shelves, with some products using green-and-gold-style packaging that may make their country of origin unclear to consumers.

He says every imported product replacing Australian dairy reduces demand for local production, putting pressure on processing capacity and Australia’s food security.

Mr Bennett is calling on major retailers to clearly identify imported products and explain how they will support Australian farmers and processors in their supply chains.