Small NSW processor, Riverina Fresh, has started the year with a national retail award for its fresh milk, and a clutch of awards collected at the Sydney Royal Show.
The Wagga Wagga-based company, which will celebrate its centenary next year, won a Finder retail award for the best rated fresh milk, against 10 other brands, in a consumer survey.
Riverina Fresh chief executive officer Rob Collier said it was recognition for the farmers, employees and partners across the Riverina.
“Riverina Fresh is proud to be 100 per cent Australian owned and every day we strive to make the best milk in Australia,” Mr Collier said.
“We try to make every litre of milk to the same high standard so it's good to get some recognition.”
He said it was also gratifying for the Riverina region to have one of its food producers recognised.
The award was judged on criteria including taste, value, freshness and packaging designs.
The recognition comes after a challenging year.
While seasonal conditions have improved for suppliers in northern Victoria and the Riverina, the COVID-19 lockdowns had impacted on sales of the company's specialty milk used in cafes and restaurants for coffee making.
The company endured a drop in demand during last year but was able to transfer into product that was in higher demand in supermarkets.
“Like most businesses we took a hit, but I would say we are in a far better shape than six to nine months ago,” Mr Collier said.
He said the pandemic created a range of issues for the food producer but the company had been agile enough to work around the changes.
As for suppliers and prices, Mr Collier was reluctant to disclose what the company was paying but said it was at the higher end of the market.
Most suppliers are on exclusive supply contracts with Riverina Fresh.
Riverina Fresh's Lactose free full cream product won the champion white milk category of the 2020 NSW DIAA awards. This was the first time that a lactose free milk has won this award.
Riverina Fresh also took out gold awards in the following categories at the Sydney Royal Show: Champion Cream, white Homogenised Milk, Fresh Full Cream Milk, Modified Milk (Lactose free full cream), skim milk, Chocolate Flavoured Milk, Chocolate Flavoured Milk.In the Finder awards, the company worked with research and insights firm, Kantar, to survey thousands of Australians who had recently purchased products across 150 categories and rate how satisfied they were with their purchase.
Other dairy winners in the Finder survey were:
Best Rated Long Life Milk Brand
Best Rated Yoghurt Brand
Best Rated Butter Brand
Best Rated Cheese Brand