Mainland (cheese)
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Mainland Cheese is a brand of
cheese Cheese is a type of dairy product produced in a range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats or sheep). During prod ...
owned by Fonterra Co-operative Group that is sold throughout
Australasia Australasia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising Australia, New Zealand (overlapping with Polynesia), and sometimes including New Guinea and surrounding islands (overlapping with Melanesia). The term is used in a number of different context ...
and parts of the Americas. It began as a family business in the
South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
of
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
(which is jocularly known as the "mainland" of New Zealand because it is larger than the
North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...
).


Company history

Mainland Products Ltd was founded in 1954 by Peter McConnon. It grew rapidly, encompassing fresh and processed
milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfeeding, breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. ...
, cheese (with which the company's name is most associated today) as well as
ice cream Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as Chocolate, cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food ...
( Tip Top), processed meats (Kiwi Huttons) and other consumer foods. Kiwi Co-operative Dairies led by CEO Craig Norgate acquired 83% of the business in the 1990s. The balance was acquired by
Fonterra Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited is a New Zealand Multinational corporation, multinational publicly traded dairy cooperative, co-operative owned by New Zealand farmers. The company is responsible for approximately 30% of the world's dairy ex ...
(formed by a 2001 merger which included Kiwi Co-op), also led by Norgate, in 2002. In 2005, Fonterra sold most of the business that was formerly part of Mainland to Graeme Hart's Rank Group Ltd, but it retained all the cheese assets. Mainland cheese now comes under Fonterra Brands. The balance of the former Mainland company is now part of
Goodman Fielder Goodman Fielder is an Australian manufacturer, marketer and distributor of bread, smallgoods, dairy products, margarine, oil, dressings and various food ingredients. Its main operations are in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, ...
. Mainland remained a family owned and operated business, with Peter's sons Baird and Alan along with grandson Simon McConnon, until its sale to Fonterra. On 11 November 2024, Fonterra confirmed that it would be selling several of its consumer brands including Mainland.


Advertising

Mainland established an iconic advertising campaign.Mainland Cheese Cheesemakers on TV
, ''The Inspiration Room Daily'' blog (26 October 2005). Mainland's advertising in New Zealand has been largely focused on the theme of waiting/patience, mirroring the aging process of cheese. Mainland's advertising in Australia has been largely focused on playing on the New Zealand accent. For example, "your frind in the frudge" (''your friend in the fridge''), and confusing the sound of "cheese day" with "Tuesday".


See also

* Edam (cheese)


References


External links


Mainland Cheddar Cheese U.S.Mainland at Fonterra
Dairy products companies of New Zealand New Zealand cheeses Food and drink companies established in 1954 New Zealand companies established in 1954 Fonterra brands Food brands of New Zealand {{newZealand-company-stub