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Australian Food Super vs Colonial First State

Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.

By SuperGuru Group · Research checked 11 September 2026 · Historical APRA figures to 30 June 2026

Australian Food Super

Industry fund

Australian Food Super is the current name of AMIST Super. It has meat-industry roots and is now open to everyone.

Membership

Anyone can join, subject to product rules. People can remain members when they leave the meat industry.

Colonial First State

Retail fund

Colonial First State's FirstChoice range lets members choose an age-based option or build a portfolio from a broad managed-fund menu. Employer and personal products have different terms.

Membership

FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super is open to the public. FirstChoice Employer Super is available through a participating employer; eligible spouses can also join and members can remain after changing jobs.

Compare fees and investment returns

Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.

APRA product data to 30 June 2026
MeasureMySuperChoose an investment option
Return basisMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative memberChoose an option
3-year return, per year6.77%Choose an option
5-year return, per year6.02%Choose an option
7-year return, per year6.52%Choose an option
10-year return, per year7.14%Choose an option
APRA strategic growth allocation68.25%Choose an option
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000$440 a year (0.88%)Choose an option
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)$125 a yearChoose an option
2026 performance testPassChoose an option
New-member status at reporting dateCheck the current product eligibility rulesCheck the current product eligibility rules

Source: APRA Comprehensive Product Performance Package 2026, published 28 August 2026. Fees reflect the reporting year to 30 June 2026, are net of tax, use standard arrangements and exclude member-activity fees. Dollar figures are rounded. They are not a current quote. Check the latest PDS for changes, insurance premiums and any separately charged advice.

Returns are annualised historical results. Different return bases, risk levels and periods cannot be treated as interchangeable. MySuper net returns use a $50,000 representative balance even when you change the fee balance. A lifecycle stage return does not track a person moving between stages. Missing figures mean not reported, not zero. Past returns do not predict future returns. Read our method and APRA's definitions.

How the products differ

Australian Food Super and Colonial First State: product features and conditions
What to compareAustralian Food SuperColonial First State
Membership and access

Anyone can join, subject to product rules. People can remain members when they leave the meat industry.

Sources123

FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super is open to the public. FirstChoice Employer Super is available through a participating employer; eligible spouses can also join and members can remain after changing jobs.

Sources13
Accounts and products

Superannuation and pension products.

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FirstChoice products. Essential Super and CFS Edge are distinct product propositions.

FirstChoice Wholesale Personal Super

FirstChoice Employer Super

FirstChoice pension products

CFS Lifestage

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Investment choices

The fund has MySuper and Choice investments. Pension members can access the Choice menu but not the MySuper option.

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CFS Lifestage in FirstChoice Employer Super; identify the chosen option in Personal Super.

FirstChoice offers ready-made diversified portfolios and a broad selection of asset-class and manager options. CFS Lifestage adjusts the mix with a member's birth cohort. Sustainable choices include Thrive+ Sustainable Growth. Access to managed accounts can require a financial adviser.

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Insurance

Members can opt in to life, TPD and income protection cover. Check eligibility and the current insurer documents, especially for manual work or changing employment.

Sources123

FirstChoice Employer Super can provide automatic insurance for eligible employee members. Insurance depends on the plan, so ask about cover, premiums and any employer subsidy. A Personal Super account should be checked under its own insurance terms.

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Retirement income

Australian Food Super Pension provides an account-based income product. Compare its fee and investment documents separately from accumulation super.

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CFS has pension products and services for starting and managing a retirement income stream. Compare the particular pension product and investment menu rather than carrying across fees from FirstChoice Employer Super.

Sources45
Advice and support

The fund has engaged Retire360 to provide advice. Confirm which assistance is included and what a more detailed personal plan costs.

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CFS offers personal advice on FirstChoice super and access to broader financial advice. Comprehensive advisers charge a fee that may be one-off or ongoing; include this cost when comparing an advised portfolio.

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Fee details to check

Use the current product disclosure and member guide for the option and account type. Include insurance premiums in a personal comparison.

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Calculate fees for the actual FirstChoice product and selected managers. A low administration fee does not include all underlying investment costs or any advice fee. Employer-plan insurance and discounts can also alter the member's total.

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Comparing investment performance

Compare the published MySuper or Choice option over identical dates and distinguish pension from accumulation results.

Sources123

CFS Lifestage needs an age-cohort comparison. A chosen managed fund's return is specific to that investment; it should not be presented as the return of Colonial First State overall. Different FirstChoice products can hold a similarly named option with different charges.

Specify Employer Super versus Wholesale Personal Super.

Do not treat Essential Super's Lifestage product as interchangeable with FirstChoice Lifestage.

Sources2

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Australian Food Super

Editorial assessment

Worth comparing for food-industry workers who want to investigate occupation-specific insurance and a conventional super-and-pension offering.

What deserves a closer look

  • AMIST is an old name for the same offering, not another current competing fund.
  • Do not confuse it with Meat Employees' Industry Superannuation Fund, which is a different scheme.

Sources123

Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Colonial First State

Editorial assessment

FirstChoice is most interesting when you have a reason to use investment choice. Its range accommodates a simple age-based holding as well as a more tailored portfolio. If you only want one diversified option, compare its complete cost and service with other simple accounts before paying for features you may not use.

Who might put it on their shortlist

  • People who want to select among investment managers within a super product.
  • Employees reviewing a participating CFS workplace plan.
  • Members who want an age-based strategy but may want more investment choice later.

What deserves a closer look

  • FirstChoice, Essential Super and CFS Edge are separate products with different menus and fees.
  • A wide menu creates more decisions and does not itself improve returns.
  • Some services and managed-account features depend on using an adviser.
  • A public performance comparison should use the actual option, product and cohort rather than a brand-level result.

Sources6

Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

Before choosing between Australian Food Super and Colonial First State

Use the membership rules to establish which accounts are available to you. Then compare the total price of the investment option and cover you need. A lower fee or higher historical return alone does not tell you which fund is suitable.

Ask both funds to confirm insurance acceptance, exclusions, waiting periods and whether cover would change when you leave your employer. Obtain advice before giving up a defined benefit or an insurance policy you may not be able to replace. ASIC Moneysmart explains the comparison checks.

Read the full Australian Food Super profile · Read the full Colonial First State profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Australian Food Super

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. Australian Food Super and former AMIST identity
  2. Pension and investment choice assessment
  3. Product comparison factsheet

Sources for Colonial First State

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. CFS products and membership
  2. Employer Super investment options
  3. FirstChoice Employer Super
  4. CFS financial advice services
  5. FirstChoice platform and current product updates
  6. Essential Super fees and investments guide