Snack Brands Australia

Snack Brands Australia is an Australian snack-food business established in 1998 during the restructuring of the country's salty-snack market. It was created after Frito-Lay, a PepsiCo subsidiary, acquired The Smith's Snackfood Company. Because Smith's and Frito-Lay were regarded as the two largest producers of salty snacks in Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission required the divestment of selected brands and manufacturing assets to preserve competition. Those assets were assembled under the Snack Brands Australia name and sold to Dollar Sweets Holdings. The business developed into one of Australia's largest suppliers of packaged savory snacks and became the principal domestic competitor to Smith's. Its portfolio has included potato chips, corn snacks, extruded snacks, crackers, popcorn-related products and meat snacks. Core and historically prominent lines include Kettle, Thins, The Natural Chip Co, Cheezels, CC's, French Fries, Jumpy's, Samboy, Chickadees, The Natural Cracker Co and Tyrrells. Manufacturing and distribution have been centered in New South Wales, with the company operating major production facilities in Sydney and supplying the Australian grocery, convenience and food-service markets. Ownership changed substantially over the following decades. In 2016, Philippine food and beverage company Universal Robina Corporation acquired Snack Brands Australia for A$600 million, together with its product portfolio and two manufacturing facilities. Later that year, Snack Brands Australia was combined with New World Foods, a business with a long operating history in snack production. The combination also brought Local Legends Jerky into the wider portfolio and expanded the group's category and distribution reach. Snack Brands Australia subsequently invested in logistics infrastructure. In 2018, plans were approved for a large automated distribution facility at Erskine Park in western Sydney. The project was designed as a high-bay logistics center using robotics and automated storage and retrieval technology, supporting the scale and complexity of a national snack-distribution operation. In December 2019, Universal Robina and Germany's Intersnack formed Unisnack ANZ, combining Snack Brands Australia with Griffin's Foods. Intersnack initially held 40 percent of the joint venture. Universal Robina exited the Australian and New Zealand market in August 2021 by selling its remaining 60 percent interest to Intersnack, making Intersnack the controlling owner of the consolidated business. Sustainability has also been part of the company's public operating profile. Snack Brands Australia joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil as an associated member in 2012 and later committed to sourcing certified sustainable palm oil for its manufactured products. The company began using the RSPO mass-balance supply model in 2014, and its Australian manufacturing sites obtained RSPO certification after audits in 2015. The business reported that all of its palm-oil volume in 2019 was RSPO-certified. The company continues to operate as an Australian snack manufacturer within the Intersnack group. Reference material identifies Kurt Preshaw as chief executive officer and describes a workforce of more than 400 employees. Manufacturing-site changes reported in the reference material indicate a consolidation of Australian production, with the Blacktown site closing in early 2025 and the Smithfield site scheduled to close later in 2025, leaving Orchard Hills as the flagship Australian production location. These site-status details should be verified against current company or regulatory disclosures.

Snack Brands Australia emerged from an Australian competition remedy connected with PepsiCo's acquisition of The Smith's Snackfood Company. In 1998, Frito-Lay acquired Smith's. The transaction brought together two of the country's largest salty-snack producers, prompting the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to require the divestment of selected brands and production assets. Facilities in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria were among the assets released. The divested package was sold to Dollar Sweets Holdings and operated under the Snack Brands Australia name. The new business developed a broad portfolio of Australian snack brands and established itself as a major competitor in potato chips and other savory categories. Its range expanded beyond conventional potato crisps to include corn snacks, extruded snacks, crackers and meat snacks. Kettle, Thins, The Natural Chip Co, Cheezels, CC's, French Fries, Jumpy's, Samboy and Chickadees became among the better-known names associated with the business. Tyrrells and The Natural Cracker Co were also included in the product portfolio described in company reference material. In September 2012, Snack Brands Australia became an associated member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. In 2013, it publicized a commitment to use 100 percent RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil in manufactured products by 2020. The company began procuring certified palm oil through the RSPO mass-balance method in October 2014. Its Australian manufacturing sites underwent an RSPO audit in February 2015 and gained certification for segregated palm oil. The company later reported that all 8,560 tonnes of crude and refined palm oil used in 2019 were RSPO certified. Universal Robina Corporation acquired Snack Brands Australia in 2016 for A$600 million. The transaction covered the complete product portfolio and two manufacturing facilities in Sydney, identified in reference material as Smithfield and Blacktown. The acquisition followed several years of growth, with the cited reference describing a 7.4 percent compound annual growth rate over the preceding four years. Later in 2016, Snack Brands Australia was combined with New World Foods. The transaction broadened the business and included Local Legends Jerky, whose products were distributed in Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom. Logistics became a major strategic focus during the Universal Robina period. In 2018, plans were approved for a new distribution center at Erskine Park, Sydney. The proposed facility covered approximately 30,255 square metres and was designed around automated storage, retrieval and robotic systems. Altis Property Partners was associated with the development, while TM Insight managed the development and construction process. The project was intended to support national distribution and was described in the reference material as one of the largest industrial property transactions of the 2018 financial year. In December 2019, Universal Robina and Intersnack created Unisnack ANZ, a joint venture combining Snack Brands Australia and Griffin's Foods. Intersnack acquired a 40 percent stake at formation. Universal Robina subsequently decided to leave the Australian and New Zealand market, selling its remaining 60 percent interest to Intersnack in August 2021. Snack Brands Australia therefore became part of the Intersnack group, a major international snack-food company headquartered in Germany. The company has maintained its headquarters in the Norwest area of Sydney and has operated manufacturing facilities in New South Wales. Reference material describes production of approximately 200 million packets annually and a workforce of more than 400 people. It also reports a transition in the manufacturing network: Blacktown closed in early 2025, Smithfield was expected to close later in 2025, and Orchard Hills was identified as the remaining flagship Australian manufacturing site. These operational details, as well as the current executive listing, warrant confirmation through up-to-date corporate sources.

• 2021

  Intersnack acquired the remaining Unisnack ANZ stake

  [1]Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Intersnack became the full owner of the consolidated business after Universal Robina exited the region.

• 2019

  Unisnack ANZ joint venture formed

  [1]Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Universal Robina and Intersnack combined Snack Brands Australia and Griffin's Foods in a joint venture.

• 2018

  Erskine Park distribution center approved

  [1]Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Plans were approved for a large automated distribution facility in western Sydney.

• 2016

  Acquired by Universal Robina

  [1]Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Universal Robina acquired the business and its portfolio and manufacturing assets for A$600 million.

• 2016

  Merged with New World Foods

  [1]Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The combination expanded the snack portfolio and included Local Legends Jerky.

• 2015

  Australian sites received RSPO certification

  [1]Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The company's Australian manufacturing facilities passed an RSPO audit for segregated palm oil.

• 2012

  Joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

  [1]Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Snack Brands Australia became an associated member of the RSPO.

• 1998

  Snack Brands Australia established

  [1]Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The business was formed from brands and manufacturing assets divested after Frito-Lay's acquisition of The Smith's Snackfood Company.

A broad Australian savory-snack house offering mainstream, premium, natural-positioned and specialty snack brands across grocery and convenience channels.

• Potato chips

  Kettle

  A premium-positioned potato-chip brand known for thicker-cut chips and a broad range of flavored products. It is one of the most prominent brands in the Snack Brands Australia portfolio and has also been associated with the company's certified sustainable palm-oil sourcing program.

• Potato chips

  Thins

  A thin-cut potato-chip line positioned around a lighter, crisp texture. It forms part of the company's mainstream packaged-snack range sold through Australian retail channels.

• Cheese-flavored snacks

  Cheezels

  A ring-shaped cheese-flavored snack and one of the recognizable Australian brands managed by Snack Brands Australia. Its distinctive format differentiates it from the company's potato-chip and corn-chip lines.

• Corn chips

  CC's

  A corn-chip brand sold as a savory snack and commonly associated with sharing occasions and flavored corn-chip products. It is part of the company's broad Australian snack portfolio.

• Potato chips

  The Natural Chip Co

  A potato-chip line presented with a more natural and straightforward brand identity. It complements the premium Kettle range and the more conventional Thins offering within the company's portfolio.

• Crackers

  The Natural Cracker Co

  A cracker line extending Snack Brands Australia's portfolio beyond chips and corn snacks. It serves snack, entertaining and accompaniment occasions.

• Extruded snacks

  French Fries

  A thin, fry-shaped extruded savory snack included among the company's Australian product lines.

• Extruded snacks

  Jumpy's

  A shaped extruded snack brand in the company's family-oriented savory-snack range.

• Potato and savory snacks

  Samboy

  An Australian savory-snack brand included in the Snack Brands Australia portfolio, with products spanning flavored potato and related snack formats.

• Extruded snacks

  Chickadees

  A shaped savory snack brand sold within the company's Australian packaged-snack range.

• Premium potato chips

  Tyrrells

  A premium potato-crisp brand included in the product portfolio described for Snack Brands Australia.

• Meat snacks

  Local Legends Jerky

  A jerky business brought into the wider group through the 2016 combination with New World Foods. Its products were distributed in Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom.

• 2021

  Intersnack obtained full ownership of Unisnack ANZM&A

  Background

  Universal Robina decided to exit the Australian and New Zealand market.

  Action taken

  Intersnack acquired Universal Robina's remaining 60 percent stake in Unisnack ANZ.

  Aftermath

  Snack Brands Australia became part of the privately held Intersnack group.

  Source

• 2019

  Formed Unisnack ANZ with IntersnackM&A

  Background

  Universal Robina and Intersnack sought to consolidate their Australian and New Zealand snack operations.

  Action taken

  They established a joint venture combining Snack Brands Australia and Griffin's Foods, with Intersnack holding 40 percent initially.

  Aftermath

  Universal Robina later sold its remaining interest to Intersnack.

  Source

• 2018

  Approved an automated Erskine Park distribution centerStrategy

  Background

  The company required expanded logistics capacity for a large national snack portfolio.

  Action taken

  Plans were approved for a 30,255-square-metre automated logistics facility at Erskine Park in Sydney.

  Aftermath

  The project was designed to use high-bay storage, robotics and automated retrieval technology.

  Planned development value. A$200 million development; projected end value of A$400 million (2018 plans)

  Source

• 2016

  Universal Robina acquired Snack Brands AustraliaM&A

  Background

  Universal Robina sought to expand its presence in the Australian snack-food market.

  Action taken

  Universal Robina purchased the business, its product lines and two Sydney manufacturing facilities for A$600 million.

  Aftermath

  The business was later combined with New World Foods and became part of the Unisnack ANZ structure.

  Acquisition price. A$600 million (2016 transaction)

  Source

• 2016

  Merged with New World FoodsM&A

  Background

  The transaction was intended to extend growth in the expanding snack-food market.

  Action taken

  Snack Brands Australia combined with New World Foods and added Local Legends Jerky to the broader business.

  Aftermath

  The combined operation gained a wider product and distribution footprint.

  Source

• 2012

  Adopted a sustainable palm-oil sourcing strategyStrategy

  Background

  The company joined the RSPO and subsequently announced a goal of using certified sustainable palm oil across its manufactured products.

  Action taken

  Snack Brands Australia adopted RSPO participation, began mass-balance procurement in 2014 and obtained certification for its Australian manufacturing sites in 2015.

  Aftermath

  The company later reported that all palm oil used in 2019 was RSPO certified.

  Source

1. 1Snackbrands Australiaen.wikipedia.org