Our Story

Cheese That Entertains.

Moondarra Cheese is a proudly Australian company crafting a range of cheeses that bring fun, flavour and togetherness to every table.

Australia’s no.1 flavoured
Cream Cheese manufacturer

Australia’s #1 Flavoured
Cream Cheese

Moondarra Cheese has consistently grown into a value added, vertically integrated leader in flavoured cheese, employing over 100 people and operating 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. We source fresh milk and cream daily from local dairy farmers and produce cheese that’s proudly Australian and widely loved.

Moondarra Cheese has been a trusted retail trade partner for over 25 years and is recognised and available in all supermarkets and retailers in Australia, and increasingly overseas in markets like Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, and NZ.

There have been several important ingredients to the ongoing success of Moondarra Cheese – high-quality ingredients, constant innovation, and the passionate people behind the brand.

The story so far...

1999 – 2004

Origins & Early Days

Moondarra Cheese was founded in 1999 by two friends, Matt Freeman and Nick Katis, who shared an epicurean passion for great cheese, an entrepreneurial spirit and an appetite for innovation.

It's been an adventure ever since.

The early days were spent in a small Nunawading factory with a team of three (Matt, Nick and Jeffo), where every piece of cheese was made and packed by hand. Early flavours focused on Apricot Almond, Sweet Chilli, and Spring Onion & Chives.

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2005 – 2010

Accreditation, Quality & Growth

Achieved Dairy Food Safety Licence and SQF accreditation, establishing a proprietary process and unique method of manufacture that ensured premium, consistent quality. Installed new Veripack machinery to meet growing demand and expanded into key export markets across Japan and Russia. Launched standout flavour innovations — Cranberry Macadamia, Chocolate Hazelnut, and the breakout hit, Honey Pistachio.

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2011 – 2016

Exponential Growth: A State of the Art “Home” at Dandenong South

Moondarra moved into a purpose-built facility in Dandenong South, a state-of-the-art home engineered for scale, technology and quality. The new factory positioned Moondarra as a best-in-class manufacturer and the lowest-cost producer in the category, packing private label for Coles, Woolworths and Aldi, alongside South Cape and the flagship Moondarra range.

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2017 – 2020

Integration & Automation

A new cream cheese plant was commissioned, taking in fresh local milk and cream every day. Volume and capacity surged by 500%, while integration and automation across the line delivered a step-change in efficiency and availability.

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2021 - 2023

Innovation

Innovation took centre stage with the launch of Moondarra Marinated 430g, a standout product that went on to win multiple Gold Medals. The range expanded with the introduction of Moondarra Honey Fig & Macadamia, while bulk cream cheese exports opened up across China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

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2023 - Present

Further Expansion

A new era began with the acquisition of Tarago Cheese in Gippsland, bringing a celebrated specialty cheese brand to the Moondarra portfolio. Capacity expanded across both Moondarra and Tarago sites, the Moondarra Cheese Shop & Café opened its doors in Dandenong South, and the range grew with the launch of Moondarra Snack Packs.

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International Distribution

Moondarra Cheese has been a trusted retail trade partner for over 25 years and is recognised and available in all supermarkets and retailers in Australia, and increasingly overseas in markets like Japan, China, Korea, USA, the Philippines, Thailand and NZ.