Australia’s largest supermarket has confirmed that Norco branded milk will disappear from the shelves of around 90 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.

Woolworths’ announcement means Norco milk will no longer be available in 90 Metro branded stores.

Metro stores are generally smaller and have a more limited range than full-sized Woolies stores. The sub-brand makes up about one in 10 of Woolworths’ store network.

“Customers are still able to purchase Norco milk in all our supermarkets across the country,” a Woolworths spokesman told 7News.

“However in our Woolworths Metro stores, we are no longer stocking Norco as we continue to tailor our Metro store ranges to local demand.”

Woolworths’ website displays a variety of Norco milk, cream, ice-cream and cheese products.

‘Done with you now’

Norco hasn’t commented on the move. But plenty of people have protested on Woolworths’ social media channels.

“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.”

“Why the hell are you getting rid of a 100 per cent owned company Norco????” said another.

“Why kick another Australian owned and farmed business?” said a third.

“Disgusted you have axed Norco Milk from your shelves!”

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.

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.