A century delivering the best from our backyard

Innovation and resilience deliver a century for dairy producer Riverina Fresh

100 years on from its foundation as the Murrumbidgee Co-Operative Dairy Co Ltd, 100% Australian-owned and independent dairy producer Riverina Fresh is proud to announce that it is celebrating its centenary across 2022.

Through 100 years of operations the Wagga Wagga based company has endured the Murrumbidgee’s floods, the Riverina’s droughts, summer bushfires and most recently COVID-19 to establish itself as an iconic member of the Riverina community.

Riverina Fresh CEO Rob Collier said that achieving this milestone was testament to everyone associated with the company always bringing their best – whether facing obstacle or opportunity – to make Riverina Fresh the award-winning dairy producer and regional standout that it is today.

“Since our foundation in 1922, the company has developed a reputation for innovation and resilience, and we’ll carry those strengths into our next 100 years in the Riverina. We are exceptionally proud of our past, and we are focused on the challenges and opportunities of growing a more sustainable business into the future.

Riverina Fresh will celebrate its centenary across a series of events in 2022 including the Sydney Royal Easter Show, the Melbourne International Coffee Expo, and the Wagga Wagga Show.

“We’re delighted to be marking a century delivering the best from our backyard – and this reference to our backyard is a nod to everyone who has made this milestone possible and supported us.

“To our founders, our generations of farming families, our employees, our partners, and our customers – thank you – together we have secured this rare achievement and established a legacy we can all be proud of.

Starting out as the Murrumbidgee Co-Operative Dairy Co Ltd in 1922, the company still operates from its original site at Wagga’s Hammond Avenue. Over the past decade the company has expanded to include operations in Sydney and Melbourne and the introduction of a food services business, strengthening its regional and metro connectivity and links to the specialty coffee and hospitality sectors.

Riverina Fresh’s premium dairy products have always been highly regarded. Riverina Fresh was recognised by consumers as the Best Rated Fresh Milk Brand in Australia at the 2020/21 Finder Retail Awards. Leading coffee roasters and baristas know the Riverina Fresh milks for their exceptional taste, consistency, and functionality. Riverina Fresh milks were chosen by Australian Barista Champion Hugh Kelly to complement his coffees at the World Barista Championships in Milan in 2021 and have been chosen as the competition milks for the upcoming World Barista Championships in Melbourne in September this year.

Riverina Fresh is a major employer in the Riverina and its milk is sourced from around 20 dairy farmers across the local region – some of whom have been producing milk for multiple generations. Their milk is transformed into award-winning milks, creams, and yoghurts that are supplied to leading retailers and cafés across New South Wales, Victoria, and ACT.

“We look forward to a year of recognition and celebration with our employees, farmers, local community, customers and business partners and will have more to share shortly” concluded Mr Collier.