Mainland (cheese) facts for kids
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| Owner | Fonterra Co-operative Group |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1954 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
Mainland Cheese is a popular brand of cheese. It is owned by a big company called Fonterra Co-operative Group. You can find Mainland cheese in stores across Australasia (which includes Australia and New Zealand) and in some parts of the Americas. The company started as a family business in the South Island of New Zealand. People sometimes call the South Island the "mainland" because it's bigger than the North Island. This is how the cheese got its name!
Contents
The Story of Mainland Cheese
How it All Began
Mainland Products Ltd was started in 1954 by a person named Peter McConnon. The company grew very quickly. It didn't just make cheese. It also made fresh and processed milk, ice cream (like the brand Tip Top), and even processed meats.
Joining Fonterra
In the 1990s, another company called Kiwi Co-operative Dairies bought most of Mainland Products. Later, in 2001, Kiwi Co-op joined with other dairy companies to form Fonterra. Fonterra then bought the rest of Mainland Products in 2002.
Focusing on Cheese
In 2005, Fonterra sold most of the businesses that used to be part of Mainland. But they kept all the cheese-making parts! So, Mainland cheese is now part of Fonterra Brands. The other parts of the old Mainland company are now part of a different food company. Mainland was a family business for a long time, with Peter's sons and grandson working there, until Fonterra bought it completely.
In November 2024, Fonterra announced that it was planning to sell some of its consumer brands, including Mainland.
Mainland's Fun Ads
Ads in New Zealand
Mainland cheese is famous for its clever advertisements in New Zealand. These ads often talk about waiting and being patient. This is because cheese needs time to age and become delicious! It's a bit like waiting for something good to happen.
Ads in Australia
In Australia, Mainland's ads often play on the New Zealand accent. For example, they might say "your frind in the frudge" instead of "your friend in the fridge." They also made a funny ad that confused the sound of "cheese day" with "Tuesday."
See Also
External Links
- Mainland Cheddar Cheese U.S.
- Mainland at Fonterra
