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Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Katherine Tweedie Katherine Tweedie Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2023 ANZSIC F3603

Revenue

$3.7bn

2023-24

$3.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

3,625

Businesses

585

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia industry analysis

A substantial shift in the dairy supply chain has affected the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry. Wholesalers were once an integral part of the chain, acting as a key link between manufacturers and retailers. However, major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths have become increasingly dominant, and this trend alongside rising consolidation among dairy manufacturers have affected the industry. As a result of greater wholesale bypass and downward price pressure, revenue is expected to fall at an annualised 1.3% to $3.7 billion over the five years through 2023-24. Health and lifestyle trends have been moving away from dairy produce, as more people have opted for dairy-free alternatives due to dietary concerns or choices, like veganism. Falling revenue trends include a drop of 5.5% in the current year, as lower milk consumption has weakened dairy produce wholesalers’ performance.

Trends and Insights

  • Wholesale bypass trends have been cutting into dairy produce wholesalers’ performance. Large supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths are buying directly from manufacturers, constraining revenue growth.
  • Yoghurt has provided a source of demand. Consumption has grown, as yoghurt’s perceived health benefits – like its probiotic and nutrient content – has fuelled consumer demand.
  • A large portion of Australia’s dairy herd is located in Victoria and New South Wales. The spread of dairy produce wholesalers tends to correspond with that of the dairy herd, since manufacturers locate themselves close by.
  • Customers want to acquire dairy produce at the lowest possible price. Wholesalers therefore compete on price, and can also benefit from selling well-known and reputable products.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.7bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Wholesale bypass has been damaging performance

  • The dairy supply chain has been shifting. Wholesalers were once a crucial part of the supply chain, acting as the key link between manufacturers and retailers. As the supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have grown, dairy produce wholesalers’ importance has taken a hit.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Milk substitutes’ popularity will likely constrain performance

  • Milk substitutes like soy milk, almond milk and oat milk will continue to keep per capital milk consumption relatively low. Consumers are choosing dairy-free alternatives due to allergies and dietary choices like veganism.

Biggest companies in the Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Drinking milk, Cheese and Milk powder. Drinking milk is the largest segment of the Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Restaurants have been a strong source of demand for cheese

  • According to Dairy Australia, five broad cheese varieties exist: cheddar and cheddar types; semi-hard and stretch cheese like mozzarella; fresh types like goat’s cheese and feta; hard-grafting types like parmesan; and eye cheese and mould-ripened cheeses, like blue vein and brie.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry consists of businesses that primarily wholesale dairy products, acting as the intermediary between manufacturers and retailers. Dairy products include milk, cheese, cream, butter, yoghurt, powdered milk, dairy desserts and ice cream.

What's included in this industry?

Butter wholesalingCheese wholesalingCream wholesalingDairy products wholesalingIce cream wholesalingMilk wholesaling (except canned)Yoghurt wholesaling

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

WHOLESALE BYPASSPROBIOTICVERTICAL INTEGRATION

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 3603 - Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Wholesale bypass trends have been cutting into dairy produce wholesalers’ performance. Large supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths are buying directly from manufacturers, co...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Yoghurt has provided a source of demand. Consumption has grown, as yoghurt’s perceived health benefits – like its probiotic and nutrient content – has fuelled consumer demand...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

A large portion of Australia’s dairy herd is located in Victoria and New South Wales. The spread of dairy produce wholesalers tends to correspond with that of the dairy herd,...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Customers want to acquire dairy produce at the lowest possible price. Wholesalers therefore compete on price, and can also benefit from selling well-known and reputable produ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry doesn’t have any major companies. The industry is highly fragmented, and wholesalers tend to focus on niche geographic areas.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code applies to manufactured dairy products. The code dictates labelling requirements, provides product definitions and sets out perm...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Most dairy produce wholesalers are small and service niche geographic areas. Since small wholesalers find it difficult to maintain high-volume stock turnover, they tend to be...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
    • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
    • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
    • Average Wage (2013-2028)
    • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
    • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
    • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
    • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2013-2028)
    • IVA (2013-2028)
    • Establishments (2013-2028)
    • Enterprises (2013-2028)
    • Employment (2013-2028)
    • Exports (2013-2028)
    • Imports (2013-2028)
    • Wages (2013-2028)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia in 2024?

    The market size of the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia is $3.7bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia industry in 2023?

    There are 585 businesses in the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2018 and 2023.

    Has the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2018 and 2023.

    What is the forecast growth of the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia is expected to grow.

    What does the Dairy Produce Wholesaling in Australia include?

    Butter wholesaling and Cheese wholesaling are part of the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry.

    How competitive is the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia?

    The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Dairy Produce Wholesaling industry in Australia.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • Soy and Almond Milk Production in Australia
    • Alternative Meat in Australia

    Complementors

    • Dairy Cattle Farming in Australia
    • Milk and Cream Processing in Australia
    • Ice Cream Manufacturing in Australia
    • Butter and Dairy Product Manufacturing in Australia

    International industries

    • Dairy Wholesaling in the US
    • Dairy Wholesaling in Canada
    • Dairy Product, Egg & Edible Oil Wholesaling in the UK
    • Food, Beverage & Tobacco Wholesaling in Ireland
    • Beverage and Tea Wholesalers in China

    View all industries in Australia

    Methodology

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    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in Australia include:

    • Australian Bureau of Statistics
    • Australian Taxation Office
    • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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