Riverina Fresh is celebrating its centenary this year.
During 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 part of the Riverina community.
Riverina Fresh CEO Rob Collier said 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 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,” Mr Collier said.
“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 at a series of events, 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,” Mr Collier said.
“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 in Wagga’s Hammond Ave.
During 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 is a major employer in the Riverina and its milk is sourced from about 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 NSW, 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,” Mr Collier said.