On Friday Riverina Fresh launched its Border Blend which is aimed at filling the hole left by the demise of Kiewa iced coffee.

Company chief executive Rob Collier said the milk flavour had been developed in Wagga with Border feedback but it was not meant to be identical to Kiewa.

“We’re not looking to ride on the coat-tails of that product, we’re looking to respond to the citizens of Albury-Wodonga who said ‘we missed having our own iced coffee’,” Mr Collier said.

Reaction was largely positive as it hit stores and supermarkets.

Bricklayer Luke Potter, who bought a crate of Kiewa iced coffee in its last days, was immediately sold.

“That’s pretty good, I like that it’s better than Dare (iced coffee),” he said upon tasting Border Blend.

“I will be changing to that at the servo, that’s good.”

Workmate Brad Porter also lauded the fresh product.

“It tastes just like Kiewa to me,” he said.

Tangamablanga General Store owner Phil George witnessed some of the trial tasting and said the feedback was “pretty savage” before the flavour was refined.

“It’s become a lot creamier and little bit stronger coffee taste, there’s definitely a noticeable difference,” Mr George said.

Wodonga’s Wilson Street store owner Steve McLennan said since the demise of Kiewa the most popular brand at his shop was Ice Break.

It had gone from 20 per cent of iced coffee sales to 40 per cent.

Mr Collier said he was pleased with the initial feedback which had prompted the dairy to process a further unscheduled batch on Friday.

The only variation in packaging between Riverina Fresh iced coffee and its Border Blend cousin is a sticker denoting the new variety.

But Mr Collier said it would have its own carton design, which is likely to be on shelves in early 2018.

He said suggestions for the packaging, such as an image of Lake Hume, could be put to the company for consideration.

The perimeter of the sales area for Border Blend includes Benalla, Yarrawonga, Henty, Holbrook, Corryong, Mitta and Myrtleford.