Muller Wiseman freezes milk price for February
© Tim Scrivener Muller Wiseman will not be dropping its milk price further in February.
The company has confirmed its suppliers outside supermarket pools will continue be paid 25.9p/litre.
Muller’s move contrasts more heavy cuts announced by Dairy Crest and First Milk, with the co-op’s headline prices sliding close to 20p/litre.
See also: Dairy Crest farmers promised contracts safe in Muller Wiseman sale
Muller Wiseman Dairies managing director Carl Ravenhall said the business understood it was a tough time for dairy farmers and it was doing everything it could to maintain a leading milk price and add value to milk produced by its 1,200 suppliers.
“We are acting to ensure that our own processing and distribution operations are as efficient as possible and we are placing substantial focus on further developing a diverse range of dairy products for domestic and international markets,” he said.
“Given the further weakening of the value of dairy commodities and continuing global supply and demand outlook, we are unable to rule out further milk price adjustments to reflect the poor returns from cream and butter products and the need for us to remain competitive in a UK and international context.”
Despite the hold, Muller’s farmgate price remains 7.7p/litre lower than in April 2014.