About Norco Rural
Norco Rural stores are a division of Norco Co-Operative Limited. We commenced operations as a farmer owned business in 1948, and continue to this day to be owned by farmers. Our network of over thirty stores service all the agricultural needs of our customers from Bundaberg to Newcastle with a wide range of quality and technically supported products. Within each store qualified sales staff are eager to provide a high level of technical product support and agronomic advice to assist you with all your requirements.
Our network is made up of over 25 rural stores, a Wholesale Rural Distribution business, Crest Seeds manufacturing and a dedicated carton manufacturing business. Combined these businesses fulfill the agricultural needs of farmers, shareholders, town people, builders, fruit and produce growers and many other rural producers.
We carry a wide range of products from the everyday essentials to highly specialised products catering for your local market. You will find the most respected brand names in the industry in seed, fertiliser, fodder, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, fencing, irrigation supplies, horticultural products, cattle handling equipment, farm hardware and gardening requisites in our stores to meet all your farming needs.
Wal Green - Area Manager, Southern Region
‘During my career with Norco Rural I have seen it grow into a company that is large enough to offer great career opportunities, such as I have experienced, but also remains focused on the values it encourages in its staff.'
Bret Baldwin - Manager Kempsey Rural Store
‘I started with Norco Rural eight years ago as the Kempsey Store Manager. Immediately I noticed that the organisation's culture was flexible, friendly and supportive'.
Ben Sullivan - Agronomist Casino Rural Store
‘As part of the training program adopted by Norco Rural they put me through an Associate Diploma course with a major in Agronomy at the University of Queensland, Gatton campus.'
Community
Norco Rural is involved in the local communities within which it operates. Staff members from each store regularly conduct fund raising activities on a wide range of programmes, as well as providing sponsorship funds, gift vouchers, and merchandise as prizes and support for events and activities.
Norco Co-Operative Limited also supports the local community. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of developing local talent to ensure that regional areas retain skilled and talented people. One example of this is the sponsorship of the Norco Co-Operative Limited Prize for Environmental Science. This is awarded to the graduating student who has achieved the best overall results in an Environmental Science major whilst completing their Bachelor of Applied Science at Southern Cross University.
Our History
Norco Rural formed in 1948 as a division of Norco Co-Operative Limited. Norco Co-Operative is an agricultural co-operative that is based in Northern NSW and has been in operation since 1895, when it formed as the North Coast Fresh Food and Cold Storage Co-Operative Limited in Byron Bay.
Over the first thirty years of operation Norco Co-Operative Limited went through highs and lows that saw them reform as the North Coast Co-Operative Limited after entering voluntary liquidation in 1904. Business operations settled in 1915 and the name Norco was first used as a butter brand. In 1926, the company officially changed it's name to Norco Co-Operative Limited.
Over the years it continued to expand it's milk production business in the Lismore and surrounding regions and in 1962 decided to move its Head Office from Byron Bay to Lismore. Norco Co-Operative Limited has continued to grow over the years after a merger with Casino Dairy Co-operative in 1974, and the acquisition of PDS in 1984.In 1995 Norco Co-Operative Limited celebrated its 100 th Birthday with a Centenary History, Play and Parade at the Lismore Showground which attracted a history breaking crowd. Sales have continued to grow and reached the $200million mark in March 1998.
The modern day Norco Co-Operative is a $344 million (08/09) agricultural business which operates as three distinct business groups - Norco Foods, Norco Agribusiness and Norco Rural Retail.
Norco Rural Retail has mirrored the growth of Norco Co-Operative Limited with strong sales and continued acquisitions. In April 2003 the Featherstone Rural Supplies Store in Woolgoolga joined the Norco Rural chain, and in August 2005 Rural Retail purchased the BGF stores in Coffs Harbour, Macksville, and the BGF Carton Services in Woolgoolga. The most recent acquisition has been Bowdler English and Wehl in Toowoomba in 2007.
Norco Rural is a rapidly growing business with sales in excess $114 million per annum (08/09). It specialises in the sale of agricultural products through more than thirty rural store outlets and a wholesale division in QLD and NSW. There are currently over 190 employees throughout it's stores and support office.
Our Vision
Norco Rural aims to be a world class agricultural retail specialist who you can trust. We offer valuable, convenient and trusted solutions through our expert advice and wide range of quality products. We are members of your local community.
About Us
Norco Rural stores
are a division of Norco Co-Operative Limited.
We commenced operations as a farmer owned business in 1948, and continue
to this day to be owned by farmers.
Our
network of over thirty stores service all the agricultural needs of our
customers from Bundaberg to
Our network is made up of over thirty rural stores, a Wholesale Rural Distribution business, the Norco Nursery and Hardware store and a dedicated carton manufacturing business. Combined these businesses fulfil the agricultural needs of farmers, shareholders, town people, builders, fruit and produce growers and many other rural producers.
We carry a wide
range of products from the everyday essentials to highly specialised products
catering for your local market.
You will
find the most respected brand names in the industry in seed, fertiliser,
fodder, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, fencing, irrigation supplies,
horticultural products, cattle handling equipment, farm hardware and gardening
requisites in our stores to meet all your farming needs.