Burns Philp
Encyclopedia
Burns Philp was once a major player in the food manufacturing business. Since its delisting from the Australian Stock Exchange in December 2006 and the subsequent sale of its assets, the company has mainly become a cashed up shell company
. It is wholly owned by Graeme Hart
's Rank Group.
began a trading partnership, originally named the "Burns, Philp & Company Limited". They were the first company to offer tourism to New Guinea, in 1884, advertising the 'New Guinea Excursion Trip'. This consisted of a five week trip from Thursday Island and has been described as the "official beginning of tourist cruises in the South Pacific". The company later published a book titled Picturesque Travel. Sir Robert Philp
twice became Premier of Queensland, while Sir James Burns, became a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales and founder/ benefactor of Burnside Presbyterian Homes for Children.
By 1914 the Burns Philp Tourist Department was established, advertising tours on Lord Howe and Norfolk Island. Acquisition of the Port Moresby Hotel occurred in the same year, with the Papua Hotel purchased some years later. Burns Philp "maintained a near monopoly on passenger services to Melanesia until the outbreak of the war in the Pacific". During this period the company had a dominant role in trade in the region didtributing general merchandise and collecting copra. The war saw the British government take over some of the Burns Philp fleet, and the vessel Macdui was sunk in Port Moresby in 1942 on its first voyage as a troop carrier.
Burns Philp was once involved in the production and distribution of food ingredients and consumer branded food, beverage and related products. The Group operated internationally, with leading products and brands enjoying significant market share
s in each of its principal markets. Its product ranges included packaged bread and other baked goods, snack foods, breakfast cereals, edible oils, and meal components. One of the most significant subsidiaries of the business in terms of profit was Goodman Fielder
, Australasia
’s largest baker, which was floated in an IPO (initial public offering
). In 2007 Burns Philp sold its remaining 20% stake in Goodman Fielder for NZ$676m.
Since 1997 New Zealand businessman Graeme Hart
has had an interest in Burns Philp. He has been on the Board of Directors since 1997 and Chairman since 2004.
In December 2006 Hart acquired the remaining 42% of Burns Philp he didn't already own and the company was delisted on 20 December 2006. Following the sale of its yeast and spices business to UK firm Associated British Foods, Uncle Toby's
to Nestle
for NZ$1.1bn, Bluebird Foods to PepsiCo
for NZ$245m, and its NZ$676m 20% stake in Goodman Fielder the company became largely a cashed up shell. Burns Philp is wholly owned by Hart's private investment company Rank Group Limited.
, was built in 1901 to the design of Arthur Anderson (architect)
of A.L. & G. McCredie & Anderson.
Shell (corporation)
A shell corporation is a company which serves as a vehicle for business transactions without itself having any significant assets or operations. Shell corporations are not in themselves illegal and have legitimate business purposes. However, they are a main component of the underground economy,...
. It is wholly owned by Graeme Hart
Graeme Hart
Graeme Hart is a New Zealand businessman reported to be the richest person in Australasia with a personal fortune of NZ$8.8 billion according to the 2009 Forbes rich list. The 2007 September 22–28 issue of the New Zealand Listener listed Hart as being the 29th most powerful New Zealander...
's Rank Group.
History
In April 1883, James Burns and Robert PhilpRobert Philp
Sir Robert Philp, KCMG was a Queensland businessman and politician who was Premier of Queensland from December 1899 to September 1903 and again from November 1907 to February 1908.-Early life:...
began a trading partnership, originally named the "Burns, Philp & Company Limited". They were the first company to offer tourism to New Guinea, in 1884, advertising the 'New Guinea Excursion Trip'. This consisted of a five week trip from Thursday Island and has been described as the "official beginning of tourist cruises in the South Pacific". The company later published a book titled Picturesque Travel. Sir Robert Philp
Robert Philp
Sir Robert Philp, KCMG was a Queensland businessman and politician who was Premier of Queensland from December 1899 to September 1903 and again from November 1907 to February 1908.-Early life:...
twice became Premier of Queensland, while Sir James Burns, became a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales and founder/ benefactor of Burnside Presbyterian Homes for Children.
By 1914 the Burns Philp Tourist Department was established, advertising tours on Lord Howe and Norfolk Island. Acquisition of the Port Moresby Hotel occurred in the same year, with the Papua Hotel purchased some years later. Burns Philp "maintained a near monopoly on passenger services to Melanesia until the outbreak of the war in the Pacific". During this period the company had a dominant role in trade in the region didtributing general merchandise and collecting copra. The war saw the British government take over some of the Burns Philp fleet, and the vessel Macdui was sunk in Port Moresby in 1942 on its first voyage as a troop carrier.
Burns Philp was once involved in the production and distribution of food ingredients and consumer branded food, beverage and related products. The Group operated internationally, with leading products and brands enjoying significant market share
Market share
Market share is the percentage of a market accounted for by a specific entity. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 67 percent responded that they found the "dollar market share" metric very useful, while 61% found "unit market share" very useful.Marketers need to be able to...
s in each of its principal markets. Its product ranges included packaged bread and other baked goods, snack foods, breakfast cereals, edible oils, and meal components. One of the most significant subsidiaries of the business in terms of profit was Goodman Fielder
Goodman Fielder
Goodman Fielder is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of bread, small goods, dairy products, margarine, oil, dressings and various food ingredients. Its main operations are in New Zealand and Australia...
, Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
’s largest baker, which was floated in an IPO (initial public offering
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
). In 2007 Burns Philp sold its remaining 20% stake in Goodman Fielder for NZ$676m.
Since 1997 New Zealand businessman Graeme Hart
Graeme Hart
Graeme Hart is a New Zealand businessman reported to be the richest person in Australasia with a personal fortune of NZ$8.8 billion according to the 2009 Forbes rich list. The 2007 September 22–28 issue of the New Zealand Listener listed Hart as being the 29th most powerful New Zealander...
has had an interest in Burns Philp. He has been on the Board of Directors since 1997 and Chairman since 2004.
In December 2006 Hart acquired the remaining 42% of Burns Philp he didn't already own and the company was delisted on 20 December 2006. Following the sale of its yeast and spices business to UK firm Associated British Foods, Uncle Toby's
Uncle Tobys
Uncle Tobys is an Australian brand of breakfast cereals and other breakfast food products. The brand has a lot of history and is mentioned in a 1892 newspaper...
to Nestle
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
for NZ$1.1bn, Bluebird Foods to PepsiCo
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company...
for NZ$245m, and its NZ$676m 20% stake in Goodman Fielder the company became largely a cashed up shell. Burns Philp is wholly owned by Hart's private investment company Rank Group Limited.
Former Burns Philp Building
The former Burns Philp Building in Bridge Street, SydneyBridge Street, Sydney
Bridge Street is a street in the CBD of Sydney, Australia. It runs east-west between George Street and Macquarie Street. It is in the Local Government Area of the City of Sydney and the postcode is 2000. The street is 500 metres long...
, was built in 1901 to the design of Arthur Anderson (architect)
Arthur Anderson (architect)
Arthur William Anderson was an Australian architect active in the last decade of the 19th Century and the first 40 years of the 20th century. He was a founder and first president of the Federal Council of the Australian Institute of Architects...
of A.L. & G. McCredie & Anderson.