Ice cream giant Golden North moves to Murray Bridge, leaving tiny SA town after 100 years

The move will shed scores of jobs for the tiny town as new owners relocate production and chase rapid expansion. Find out where it’s moving.

Iconic ice cream maker Golden North is set to relocate from Laura to Murray Bridge. Picture: Emma Brasier

A new ownership group has taken over iconic South Australian ice cream maker Golden North with plans to relocate production to a new site in Murray Bridge.

The move will bring to an end more than 100 years of manufacturing at the company’s current factory in Laura, near Port Pirie, where the first production of Golden North ice cream started in 1923.

Four of the five South Australian families who acquired the business in 2008 have exited the ownership group, handing over the reins to their business partner Dimi Kyriazis and new co-owner Steve Kosmidis.

Golden North director and co-owner Dimi Kyriazis at the company’s new Murray Bridge facility. Picture: Emma Brasier

Mr Kosmidis, who sold his X Convenience petrol station chain to BP last year, recently acquired the former Beston Global Food Company dairy site in Murray Bridge from liquidators as part of a plan to relocate Golden North production to the city.

Mr Kyriazis said the move would enable the company to expand its production of ice cream tubs and beloved products like Giant Twins, and it was also exploring opportunities to expand into the production of cheese and other dairy products.

Golden North has been producing ice cream at its Laura factory since 1923. Employees pictured at the site during its 90 year anniversary celebrations in 2013.

“We’re victims of our own success at the moment because we’ve gotten to a point where we’ve really outgrown where we are, and 99 per cent of that success is because of the people who are at Laura - they have done a spectacular job,” he said.

“But there is no dairy farming close to our factory, everything we make has a 600km round trip put onto it because of being in the Mid North versus being closer to Adelaide.

“The opportunity that the Murray Bridge site has presented to us is we’ve got physical space to grow into, and we’re also on the highway to all of our customers on the east coast – we will get it set up for growth, sustainability, and make sure that our brand lives for another 100 years.”

Golden North will oversee a 12-month transition period, with its current facility in Laura set to close by June 2026.

Golden North makes more than 10 million litres of ice cream a year, and has ambitions to increase production to 40 million litres. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

The company is offering redeployment opportunities to the 80 workers employed at the site, while the state government is also chipping in by offering career transition services, a dedicated job and skills hub, mental health support services and a $1m community infrastructure program to support the township following Golden North’s departure.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the support measures would help the local workforce transition into new employment.

“The expansion of Golden North’s production offers exciting opportunities, but the state government recognises the impact it will have on the Laura community,” he said.

Northern Areas Council mayor Sue Scarman described the departure of Golden North from Laura as “disappointing” and a “loss for our community” after more than 100 years as a significant employer in the town.

“Council will work closely with the community to ensure the state government support package is used to help reduce the impact and create new opportunities for local growth to ensure a positive path forward,” she said.

Eli Willis, Jobe Stevens, Sky Sargent, Cooper Willis enjoy Golden North ice creams in Laura, the little town that has been home to the famous SA brand for more than 100 years.

Golden North makes more than 10 million litres of ice cream a year, and it has ambitions to increase production to up to 40 million litres as it looks to ramp up sales nationally and in emerging export markets.

The company is planning a multimillion-dollar investment in new equipment and upgrades to the Murray Bridge site to support its growth plans.

“We want to be able to punch out ice cream faster, employ more people and really integrate ourselves into that new area,” Mr Kyriazis said.

“This new factory that we’ll create will allow us to compete with the big guys and we will grow, there’s no doubt about it.”

The state government is providing financial support to Golden North to assist with its relocation and expansion, but would not disclose details to The Advertiser.

Originally published as Ice cream giant Golden North moves to Murray Bridge, leaving tiny SA town after 100 years