Barber’s holds milk price despite coronavirus disruption

Cheesemaker Barber’s has announced it will be holding its milk price for May, despite volatility in the dairy markets.
 
This will be the seventh month in a row that Barber’s has held its standard litre price at 27p/litre (4.1% butterfat and 3.28% protein), which equates to 27.79p/litre when applied to milkprices.com’s manufacturing league table specs (butterfat 4.2% and protein 3.4%).
 
The processor, which has about 150 farmer suppliers, said disruption caused by coronavirus was putting pressure on the global dairy trade with skim milk powder (SMP) and butter prices falling.
 
See also: Freshways first to cut milk price as demand slumps

“Looking at the dairy futures, which reflect the longer-term butter and SMP markets, these have reduced by an equivalent of -6p/litre across the past two months alone,” it said.
 
“Longer term, this indicator is more stable, but as a measure of pure commodity markets, these realisations are looking extremely challenging.
 
“Fortunately, cheddar markets have continued to be more robust as stocks remain reasonably tight.”
 
Positively, the business reports that it has seen a “huge uplift” in demand from national ready-meal business Cook, which has seen demand for its home-delivered ready-meals increase exponentially.

M&S is also stocking cheesy Easter eggs, which have an “egg white” made with Barber’s Farmhouse Cheddar and a Red Leicester “yolk”.