Lion is owned by the Japanese conglomerate Kirin,and while it is not listed on the Australian stockmarket its brands are well known by Australian consumers and their fridges.
Lion Dairy and Drinks (LDD) also makes products under the brands of Dairy Farmers,Farmers Union,Moove,Dare iced-coffee and Tasmanian Heritage cheese - a leading camembert and brie label. It also owns juice brands Daily Juice and Juice Brothers.
Industry observers believe Lion Dairy and Drinks could attract attention from investors at home and abroad.
The review is restricted to Lion’s dairy and drinks business and won’t include its Australian beer division,a fact that one observer said is telling. Lion makes beers such as Tooheys,Boags,XXXX and Hahn.
The move to reconsider Lion's dairy and drinks business comes about a decade after Kirin first entered this space in Australia. The Japanese conglomerate bought National Foods in 2007 for $2.8 billion,and the following year it bought the dairy co-operative Dairy Farmers for $910 million.
LDD’s turnaround phase is now complete.
Lion chief executive Stuart Irvine
Lion chief executive officer Stuart Irvine said that over the last three years the Lion Dairy and Drinks business had grown its brands,improved supply chain efficiency and boosted its quality and service.