Calls have been made for one of Australia’s biggest grocery retailers to reverse its decision to withdraw Norco milk, produced by an Australian Farmers collective, from 90 of its supermarkets and metro stores in Sydney.
Woolworths stated that they made this decision to align their product offerings to local demand in their Metro stores.
However, EastAUSmilk dairy advocacy group president Joe Bradley said the move “shows that big supermarkets don’t give a stuff about the consumer or the farmer.”
The Lismore-based Norco, established in 1895, is a farmer-owned dairy co-operative that supplies milk from 200 dairy farms across northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland. Devasting floods in 2022 caused considerable damage to Norco’s factory in Lismore, and the rebuild cost was over $100 million (US$64.9 million).
Woolworths said customer preferences had fueled decreased demand for the product in Sydney, but sales continued to be strong further north.
“While we have seen lower demand for Norco in metropolitan Sydney stores, We’ve actually increased the range of Norco products in our Queensland stores and New South Wales stores north of Sydney,” a Woolworths spokesperson said.
“In our Sydney stores, the space made available by the removal of Norco has been given to other Australian-owned milk brands—Riverina and Dairy Farmers.”
In a release on their website, Kevin Hogan, a member from the Centre-right political party Nationals, implored consumers to vote with their feet in light of Woolworth’s decision saying, “They don’t support our region. Please don’t support them.”
The Party’s leader David Littleproud challenged Woolworths’ loyalty to local farmers by highlighting an instance of them sourcing milk solids from overseas markets during the period when the Norco factory was out of commission.
“What makes this even worse is that while they (Norco) were out of production, Woolworths sourced their one-litre tub of ice cream for their home brand and their ice cream sticks from Slovenia, New Zealand, and Spain. There was no need for that. There were already Australian suppliers that could have taken that.”
He also questioned Woolworths’ moral standards, saying “For Woolworths to go somewhere else is a true reflection of the moral values that Woolworths has. I just say to Woolworths, have a good hard look at yourself.”
“To hit a town that’s on its knees already and to do it in the way you have, instead of supporting it like the rest of the nation has, it is a true reflection of Woolworths and what you have become.”
Norco chief executive Michael Hampson declined to comment on the decision, but the company issued a media statement that included a thinly veiled suggestion that consumers looking to support the cooperative should shop elsewhere.
“For customers who want to support our hard-working farmers, we encourage you to visit our store locator at www.norcofoods.com.au and click on ‘where to buy,’ which shows where all Norco branded products are sold across Australia.”
