Independent local dairy brand Scenic Rim 4Real Milk has extended its reach into major supermarkets, hitting the shelves of 13 Woolworths stores in south-east Queensland in early July.
4Real Milk is now available in Woolworths Beaudesert, Browns Plains, Browns Plains Westpoint, Karalee, Logan Central, Redbank Plains, Park Ridge, Yamanto, Jimboomba, Greenbank, Fernvale, Springfield and Nerang.
The full cream, unhomogenised milk has been growing in popularity and reach since the Dennis family started bottling it at their small fourth generation dairy farm and processing plant at Tamrookum in 2013.
The Dennis family, who milk about 240 Holstein cows year-round, converted their farm to a robotic dairy in 2010, installing Queensland’s first Lely ‘Astronaut’ robots from the Netherlands.
They cut ties with major processor Parmalat in 2012 to establish Scenic Rim 4Real Milk, and grew their reach to nearly 300 independent retail outlets before also signing with Woolworths this year.
The brand has gained a national profile through outspoken and passionate dairyman Greg Dennis, who has a loyal following on social media as ‘Farmer Gregie’ and won Australian Dairy Farmer of the Year in 2014.
Mr Dennis said adding Woolworths to the 4Real Milk stockist list was a promising move.
“I think Woolworths is quite conscious of supporting local, regionally-based products like ours. We continue to go into all our independent retail outlets, and this opens up a new market to us – the Woolworths shoppers,” he said.
“At this stage we’re just a one-farm operation, but it’s no secret that I want to make a positive impact on the wider dairy community – not just our farm. My vision is that the support of a nation-wide network like Woolworths might open up opportunities for expansion in the future.”
