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Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Arna Richardson Arna Richardson Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2024 ANZSIC C1173

Revenue

$1.3bn

2024-25

$1.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

2,872

Businesses

53

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia industry analysis

Australian biscuit manufacturers have faced a series of challenges in recent years. Higher imports, declining per capita biscuit consumption and dwindling profit margins have forced several biscuit manufacturers to shutter over the past decade. Several notable biscuit companies have gone into administration, while all the industry's major players have changed hands, including industry giant Arnott’s Biscuits Limited. As with several other food processing industries, biscuit companies have increasingly outsourced production to countries with low operating costs. This trend has supported industry imports, which will satisfy just over 30% of domestic demand in 2024-25.

Trends and Insights

  • Import competition, declining per capita biscuit consumption and volatile ingredient costs are challenging Australian biscuit manufacturers. In response to consumers' shifting preferences towards alternative snacks, biscuit manufacturers are fighting back as they seek to reinvent biscuits.
  • The lines between sweet biscuits and confectionery and between biscuits and snacks have become increasingly blurred. This trend has occurred as relevant food manufacturers have sought to retain consumer interest.
  • Biscuit manufacturing is heavily concentrated in Victoria, home to half of all industry enterprises. It does not occur in Tasmania, the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory, and it has recently ceased in Western Australia.
  • Biscuit manufacturers face competitive pressures from both internal and external sources. These competitive forces have intensified recently, especially as rival food manufacturers have developed new crossover foods designed to compete against biscuits as alternative snacking options.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Changing biscuit consumption trends have had a mixed effect on manufacturers

  • Changing consumer dietary habits, volatile input prices and escalating external competition have negatively affected biscuit manufacturers' performance in recent years.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

Biscuit manufacturers will face challenges from various quarters

  • Changing downstream demand, new healthier eating trends, escalating competition and rising import penetration rates will adversely influence several biscuit manufacturers' growth prospects in the coming years.

Biggest companies in the Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Arnott's Group
830.0
Mondelez Australia
137.0
Kinrise
115.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Sweet biscuits, Savoury biscuits and snacks and Chocolate biscuits. Sweet biscuits is the largest segment of the Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Sweet biscuits are now positioned as a lunch box staple

  • This segment includes plain biscuits, cream biscuits and cookies, alongside rusks variants, shortbread biscuits, gingerbread biscuits and other festive delicacies. Ice cream cones, wafers and raw cookie and biscuit dough are also included in this segment.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry comprises companies that manufacture biscuits, including biscuit dough, mainly in factories. Companies that bake biscuits onsite and sell them directly to consumers from the same premises are not included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Sweet biscuitsSavoury biscuits and snacksChocolate biscuits

Companies

Arnott's GroupMondelez AustraliaKinrise

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COOKIESBISCUITRUSKS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 1173 - Biscuit Manufacturing 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

Import competition, declining per capita biscuit consumption and volatile ingredient costs are challenging Australian biscuit manufacturers. In response to consumers' shiftin...

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 (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • 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

The lines between sweet biscuits and confectionery and between biscuits and snacks have become increasingly blurred. This trend has occurred as relevant food manufacturers ha...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

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
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

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

Biscuit manufacturing is heavily concentrated in Victoria, home to half of all industry enterprises. It does not occur in Tasmania, the Northern Territory or the Australian C...

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 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

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

Biscuit manufacturers face competitive pressures from both internal and external sources. These competitive forces have intensified recently, especially as rival food manufac...

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 2019-2024
  • 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

Australian biscuit manufacturing includes both large and small-scale manufacturers. Large multinational biscuit companies produce most high-volume biscuits sold in supermarke...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Arnott's Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Mondelez Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Kinrise's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Arnott's Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Mondelez Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Kinrise, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

Heightened public awareness about health and nutrition has meant that more consumers are considering biscuits and crackers' sugar, sodium and carbohydrate content. In respons...

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 (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

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

Cost structures vary among biscuit manufacturers, depending on the size and scale of production, ease of access to production inputs, technology and capital investments. Larg...

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 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

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 (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

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

What is the market size of the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia is $1.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 53 businesses in the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Biscuit Manufacturing market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Biscuit Manufacturing market in Australia are Arnott's Group, Mondelez Australia and Kinrise

What does the Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia include?

Sweet biscuits and Savoury biscuits and snacks are part of the Biscuit Manufacturing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Biscuit Manufacturing in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Arnott's Group.

How competitive is the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Biscuit Manufacturing industry in Australia.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

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.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

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.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.