Learn how we have grown a stable of loved and trusted household brands. As well as the exciting opportunities that come with being backed by one of the world's leading Agriculture businesses, Wilmar.
Key Milestones
Starting back in 1909 with humble beginnings through to 2021 where we joined a world of possibilities with the Wilmar Group.
Geo Fielder & Co. was incorporated in New South Wales, Australia. The State had some good wheat-producing districts and the company milled wheat which was then sold as ‘Fielder’s Flour’ in NSW and Queensland.
Geo Fielder & Co became a public company and its operations expanded to include the sale of gluten for both the domestic market and to export.
The Goodman family is running a small and very successful bakery in Motueka, located in the Nelson region of New Zealand. The owners’ son, Patrick joins the business where he quickly and successfully expands the sale of the bakery’s products beyond the business’s physical walls to local grocers in the area.
The bakery’s success motivates a number of grocers to invest in the business. The Goodman family buys a number of local bakeries in the Nelson region.
Patrick Goodman leads a group of eight bakers to form the cooperative called ‘Quality Bakers’.
Quality Bakers establishes itself as one of the top three milling companies in New Zealand.
Quality Bakers joins with A.S. Paterson & Co and the business is named AS Paterson.
In Australia, Fielder Gillespie Ltd is formed following a merger with Gillespie Bros Holdings Ltd.
In New Zealand, Paterson and Goodman part ways. Patrick takes over the company and it is Goodman Group.
A merger with Davis Consolidated Industries Ltd sees the creation of Fielder Gillespie Davis Ltd. The subsequent merger between the Goodman Group Ltd and Fielder Gillespie Davis Ltd, resulted in the establishment of Goodman Fielder Ltd.
Goodman Fielder Ltd acquires Watties Industries Ltd (NZ). The company name changes to Goodman Fielder Wattie Ltd. The acquisition gives the company a more diversified food products range, including leading positions in New Zealand’s snack, canned, frozen, and convenience food segments.
Goodman Fielder Wattie acquires Uncle Tobys. At this time Uncle tobys are one of the most recognized brands in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Watties is sold to H.J. Heinz Co., and the company’s name changes back to Goodman Fielder.
Goodman Fielder acquires, family-owned, Ernest Adams Ltd. They are the leading baked goods company in the New Zealand market, with its flagship factory in Palmerston North.
A restructure in 2001 saw the creation of five new key operating divisions; Milling Australia, Baking Australia, GF New Zealand, GF Consumer Products, and GF International. In 2003 Goodman Fielder Ltd was acquired by Burns, Philp & Company Limited, and over the next three years Natures Over Limited (NZ Snacks business), La Famiglia Fine Foods Pty Limited, a frozen and chilled bread business (Australia) and Hansells (NZ) Limited’s snacks business in New Zealand all joined Goodman Fielder.
An Initial Public Offering of shares in Goodman Fielder Limited is listed on the ASX and NZX.
Burns, Philp & Company Limited retain The Uncle Tobys Company and Bluebird Foods businesses.
New Zealand Dairy Foods Holdings Limited is acquired (a dairy and smallgoods business in New Zealand).
Goodman Fielder celebrates its centenary year.
Goodman Fielder Australia moves to a new corporate head office and research facility in North Ryde (Sydney, NSW)
Goodman Fielder New Zealand move from their Ellerslie office to a new space located in the heart of the City.
The business is restructured to focus on its core competencies of baking, dairy, flour and cake mix, spreads and dressings and mayonnaise.
The Integro Foods Business is divested. In New Zealand the company divests its flour and milling business.
The biscuit aspect of the business is divested. In New Zealand, the meats and Pizza businesses are divested.
Goodman Fielder is acquired by two leading food companies in Asia; Wilmar International and First Pacific. The new ownership provides a significant opportunity for Goodman Fielder to invest further in its brands, people and facilities to create the region’s leading consumer food company.
Wilmar International acquires First Pacific’s 50% share of Goodman Fielder.
Where to next?
Over the past 120 years Goodman Fielder has evolved and adapted to ensure we are consistently producing food that our customers and consumers will love. As trends change we will continue to listen to our consumers feedback and adapt our products accordingly. All while ensuring we deliver on our promise of winning on taste and our purpose of making everyday food better for everyone.
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