Australia’s largest and oldest dairy co-operative, Norco Co-operative, has been recognised as Business of the Year in the 2024 Northern Rivers Business Awards. The co-op also took home the Excellence in Sustainability Award, and CEO, Michael Hampson, received the Outstanding Business Leader Award.
The independent judging panel congratulated Norco for its “outstanding” business practices and “demonstrating excellence” with safeguarding its community of 281 farmer members while continuing to build a robust, fully integrated business with outstanding expertise in food and rural retail operations.
Hampson who was recognised as an “outstanding and inspirational leader” who demonstrated his commitment to Norco, the industry and providing mentorship to others, the judges said.
He became CEO in 2019, leading the co-op through Covid and its recovering from the devastating floods in 2022, including the complete rebuild of its ice cream factory in Lismore.
Hampson commissioned the first of its kind, National Farmer Wellbeing Report, in partnership with the National Farmers’ Federation, to get a better understanding of farmers’ mental health. It revealed declining mental health, fuelled by the impact of natural disasters.
The Australian dairy industry is the fourth largest rural industry and prioritising farmer mental health helps safeguard Norco’s cop-op members and farming communities as well as the industry, the company said. Norco is also one of the largest private employers in the Northern Rivers region.
The co-op also raises funds for the not-for-profit Black Dog Institute to fund research and resources for those in rural and regional areas.
Other initiatives under his leadership include holding the farmgate milk price in line with last financial year paying the highest price per litre in New South Wales and Queensland, and Norco Cow Purchasing Program a program designed to assist Norco farmers in rebuilding their lactating herds post-floods and address industry wide supply issues.
Norco sustainability manager, Antene Seah, said being recognised for Excellence in Sustainability reflected the company’s innovation and commitment to the Northern Rivers community by adopting sustainable business practices that play a vital role in reducing the impact of its operations for the environment across key areas.
“At Norco we are committed to becoming one of the most sustainable dairy manufacturers in Australia from our supply chain operations right through to the production and processing of our milk, and other dairy products.
“Therefore, it is such an honour to be recognised for the sustainability initiatives and projects we have executed at Norco in the past year, and we couldn’t have achieved this without the dedication and commitment from everyone in the co-operative,” Seah said.
Norco will now represent the region at the State Business Awards on 30 October in Sydney.
