NSW consumers now have a wider choice of flavoured milks with farmer-owned Berry Rural Co-op expanding its product range, backed by Farming Together.
The six dairy farm-co-op this week releases its first range of full-cream, full-flavoured milks in chocolate, strawberry and iced coffee flavours.
Customers from southern NSW to Wollongong and the tablelands will be able to taste the best of south coast dairy, available conveniently from some Woolworths, Coles and independent supermarkets.
The milks, branded South Coast Dairy, come in 300ml, 500ml and two-litre packaging and feature real flavours, said co-op general manager Kara Duncan. The flavoured milk lines join the South Coast Dairy-branded full-cream, light and skim milk.
“Our customers have been asking for flavoured milks for many years, but we have taken our time in development of the range to get it right. We only wanted to bring a premium quality offering to the market,” Kara said.
She added that the co-op decided to expand into flavoured milks after a study undertaken with help from the Australian Government-backed Farming Together program.
“Farming Together helped us consolidate our position, it gave us an understanding on where our business needed to go.”
The co-op received $131,000 from Farming Together, to help develop a strategic plan, a business plan and a governance program as well as a succession plan and marketing plan.
Formed in 1911, the co-op is handling 3m litres milk/year, assuring a fair farmgate price for its suppliers. Employment leverage rates mean the enterprise employs a total of 92 people on the co-op’s farms, processing lines and logistics.
General Manager Kara Duncan said: “The support from Farming Together has helped us expand our product portfolio, grow our business and eventually employ more people, while supporting the customers who support us when they choose to buy a multi-award winning locally produced milk.”
Farming Together program director Lorraine Gordon said: “We are delighted to see this expansion by The Berry Rural Co-op. It highlights how Farming Together has worked over two years to support agriculture from the grower upwards. It has helped farmers control their industry.”