Norco expands with hinterland ice-cream facility in Lismore

Australia’s biggest dairy cooperative and Lismore staple has bolstered employment and opportunity for the region with its huge ice-cream expansion.

A $30 million factory upgrade of Australia’s only 100 per cent farmer-owned dairy cooperative Norco will prove invaluable for the Lismore economy with construction kicking off this month.

The investment into a Lismore ice-cream facility, which is expected to increase ice cream production by an additional 20 million litres per year, will allow Norco to meet current demand for its popular Hinterland ice-cream range while making space for new production lines and further expansion.

The premium ice-cream range launched last year, has seen massive demand for its locally sourced product that is now available in eleven flavours across Woolworths stores nationally.

The South Lismore plans have been in the pipeline for a while.

Norco CEO, Michael Hampson, said that the factory upgrade demonstrates Norco’s commitment to building a sustainable future for the co-op’s farmer owners.

“As our largest commercial investment to date, the factory upgrade will allow us to double-down on our commitment to providing value to our farmers while also supporting the future of the local area with greater long-term employment opportunities,” Mr Hampson said.

“Our farmer owners have proven time and time again they can maintain top quality milk even when the environment is tough.”

Norco’s factory upgrade has been undertaken with support from both federal and local government with the dairy co-op receiving a $15 million towards the project as part of a major program targeting growth in regional areas.

The works will see an initial 30-plus jobs created in the local community during the construction phase, with further permanent positions becoming available when work is complete.

Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, who supported Norco’s application for government funding, said the upgrade will safeguard jobs for the Lismore community and ensure long term profitability for Norco’s farmer members.

“Norco is a fantastic example of what farmers can do when they work together,” Mr Hogan said.

“Norco came to me with plans to substantially increase production capacity and improve efficiencies at their Lismore Ice-Cream factory to ensure the job security of its existing employees at that site and to expand its workplace.

The first phase of building works is currently underway and expected to be completed in the second half of next year.