Woolworths reportedly set to axe Australian owned Norco milk from 90 stores

Woolworths has hit back at reports it would be axing an iconic Australian-produced item from almost 100 stores.

Woolworths has hit back at reports it had ditched an Australian-owned milk brand from all Metro stores.

It was reported that Norco branded milk will disappear from the shelves of all of the smaller format Metro stores.

Norco, founded in 1895, is a farmers’ cooperative based in Lismore in northern New South Wales. As well as milk, it produces flavoured milk, cheese and butter.

The cooperative was devastated by floods in Lismore in 2022 which saw its ice-cream plant inundated. A limited rage of ice-creams have only just started to be produced again.

But a spokesperson has clarified Woolworths will continue to stock Norco in the majority of stores, including Metro stores in Queensland. It is just stores in metropolitan Sydney, where Norco sales are lower, that the brand will be replaced by other Australian-owned milks.

“We continue to have a close relationship with Norco and stock their products in all our Queensland stores and New South Wales stores north of Sydney,” a Woolworths spokesperson told news.com.au.

“While we have seen lower demand for Norco in metropolitan Sydney stores, we know they have a very loyal following up north, and we’ve actually increased the range of Norco products in our Queensland stores and New South Wales stores north of Sydney.

“We’ve worked together with Norco on this change and we’ll continue to partner with them to deliver quality milk based on customer demand.

“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.

“All our fresh milk is 100 per cent Australian sourced.”

Woolworths will still stock Norco milk in many stores. Picture by Richard Gosling

A Norco statement confirmed products would be removed from close to 100 Sydney Woolies stores.

“Norco can confirm that its 100 per cent farmer-owned milk brand has recently been removed from approximately 90 Woolworths Supermarkets in central Sydney,” a spokesperson said.

“In response, Woolworths did commit to some expanded product distribution in Queensland, which we appreciate.

“For customers who want to support our hard working farmers, we encourage you to visit our store locator, which shows where all Norco branded products are sold across Australia.”

Norco white milk will vanish from some Sydney stores. Picture David Clark

‘Done with you now’

Nationals MP Kevin Hogan, the member for Page, which includes Lismore, has urged a boycott of the chain in the wake of the reported Norco delisting.

“They are sourcing their six pack mini ice cream sticks from Slovenia! And their one litre tubs from New Zealand,” he told news.com.au.

“They don’t like Australia Day. They don’t support our region. Please don’t support them.”

It has gone down too well on Woolworths’ socials either.

“Norco milk, 100 per cent Aussie farmer owned. That’s what I’ll pick. But not from Woolworths anymore, from your opposition,” said one.

“Been a Woolworths shopper for ever. Done with you now.

Of Australia’s four biggest milk producers, three are foreign-owned. Saputo, maker of Devondale milk, is Canadian; Pauls’ producer Lactalis is French; while Fronterra is from New Zealand.

One of the biggest brands, Dairy Farmers, continues to be 100 per cent Australian and is owned by the NSW based Bega company which also produces Vegemite.

Norco is based in Lismore in northern NSW. Picture by Richard Gosling

In October, Norco posted a $9.1 million profit despite its flooding woes which also saw its head office go underwater. Yet it managed to pay its farmers a record price for their milk.

“Our farmers needed that price increase, they deserve that price increase and it was great that being the cooperative in the region, we were able to drive that for our members and for other dairy farmers in the region also,” chief executive Michael Hampson told the ABC.

Woolworths has had a torrid few months. It came under fire for axing dedicated Australia Day merchandise, along with Coles it is the subject of numerous inquiries into supermarket process and its CEO Brand Banducci resigned days after he walked out of an ABC interview.