A NSW dairy processor that specialises in providing milk to cafes has moved to supplying milk directly to supermarkets as COVID-19 restrictions have hit its business.
The Australian-owned Riverina Fresh is also helping some of its cafe customers switch to supplying items for customer's home pantries.
The company said COVID-19 and subsequent restrictions had hit its business hard.
After 60 per cent of its business is supplying specialty milk to cafes - with its customer base including 5000 cafes in Victoria, NSW and the ACT.
It was forced to seek out alternate sales channels when stage three COVID-19 government restrictions forced the shutdown of thousands of hospitality businesses overnight.
"Panic buying had set in, and so we seized the opportunity to partner with Woolworths and regional Coles and independent retailers to keep quality Australian produce on their shelves," Riverina Fresh chief executive officer Rob Collier said.
Within 72 hours of discussions with supermarkets starting, Riverina Fresh started delivering milk directly to Woolworths stores in NSW, ACT and Victoria, bypassing the backlogged distribution centres in Victoria.
After securing the jobs of its regional workforce and 20 farmer suppliers through this more significant supply contract with Woolworths, it then collaborated with its cafe customers.
It supported them to open retail "pantries" so their customers could buy a two-litre bottle of milk with their takeaway coffee.
"Having been part of the foodservice and specialty coffee industry for almost a decade, this challenge is like nothing else we have faced before," Mr Collier said.
"And while the storm is far from over, it has been uplifting to see how the industry has come together to rally for their staff, their producers and their partners."
The brand is now actively exploring the establishment of a home-delivery channel in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as further partnerships with independent retailers.
