Muller Wiseman producers get phased milk price hike
Milk producers supplying Müller Dairy and Robert Wiseman Dairies will get a phased 1.5p/litre milk price increase to 30.5p/litre between 1 December and 1 February.
The farmgate price will increase from its October level in two stages – by 0.5p/litre to 29.5p/litre from 1 December 2012 and then by 1p/litre to 30.5p/litre from 1 February 2013.
The increase aimed to ensure security of supply at a time when milk production was falling, said the company, and will apply to all producers except those in Tesco and Sainsbury’s groups which have separate milk pricing arrangements.
“We want to return a higher milk price to farmers so that we can ensure security of supply for our customers in an environment where on-farm milk production is dropping,” said Ronald Kers, chief executive officer of Müller UK & Ireland Group.
“Blockades of the kind recently seen in Shropshire risked undermining the progress of these discussions and it is time now to build a relationship that is based not on disruption and ultimatums but on constructive dialogue.”
Roddy Catto, farmer chairman of the Muller Wiseman Milk Partnership Board
“We are determined to be the leading dairy company in the UK and Ireland and the preferred home for milk produced by Britain’s dairy farmers and we will work closely with the farmer board to this end.”
He added that the company refused to be distracted by localised militancy “promoted by people many of whom have no connection with the Group whatsoever”.
Roddy Catto, farmer chairman of the Muller Wiseman Milk Partnership Board said that the increase was a good signal of intent but criticised recent blockades.
“We would ask those behind recent militant activity to respect the fact that we are the elected representatives of all dairy farmers who supply the group.
“Blockades of the kind recently seen in Shropshire risked undermining the progress of these discussions and it is time now to build a relationship that is based not on disruption and ultimatums but on constructive dialogue.”
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