Robert Wiseman announces milk price increase

Robert Wiseman has become the third processor this week to announce an increase in the amount it pays for liquid milk to reflect the strengthening commodity markets.

From 1 August, dairy farmers supplying the dairy will see an increase of 0.71p/litre, bringing the price they receive for a standard litre to 20.22p/litre.

The processor added it would pay 25p/litre for additional milk produced between August and November this year.

The move, in a bid to encourage dairy farmers to produce more milk, will apply to literage above production in the same period last year.

Pete Nicholson, Robert Wiseman’s milk procurement director, said while the increase was good news, it was important “not to lose sight” of competition in the middle market, which accounts for a third of the dairy’s sales.

“We continue to buy milk from producers at a premium in excess of 2.0 ppl over and above certain competitors in this sector,” he said. “We must ensure that we can continue to compete and maintain our share of this important market.”

The increase from Wiseman follows similar increases this week from Dairy Crest and Dairy Farmers of Britain.