Bega Group to close Victorian cheese factory

Bega Cheese Limited (Bega Group) announced on Tuesday that it will close its cheese processing and packaging operation in Strathmerton, Victoria, and consolidate its operations into its existing site at Ridge Street, Bega.

A phased closure of the Strathmerton site is expected to be complete by mid-2026.

“As the business maintains its focus on delivering productivity improvement and growth, we continue to look at opportunities to simplify our operational footprint and invest for the future ensuring we maintain globally competitive infrastructure,” said Bega Group Chief Executive Officer Pete Findlay.

Bega Group says it is working closely with the approximately 300 employees at Strathmerton whose roles are impacted by this change and will be supporting them through this transition.

“We are very aware of the impact of this decision, and we are doing our best to manage this transition with care and respect for our Strathmerton employees and the local community. Where possible, we will offer re-deployment to employees and continue to support them through this period,” Findlay said.

The Bega Valley is the home of Bega Group and the company has a rich heritage in the area. Investing in the Ridge Street site enables Bega Group to enhance capability and modernise its cheese processing and packing operations. It is expected to create approximately 100 jobs in the Bega Valley.

The company will continue to have a strong presence in Victoria, retaining five manufacturing facilities in the state, including Tatura, Morwell, Chelsea, Koroit and Port Melbourne, and employing over 1700 Victorians.

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