Supermarkets asked to swap fizzy drinks for milk

A local tenant farmer encouraged supermarkets in Devon to sell pint cartons of milk in their sandwich chillers. The response from Tesco has been encouraging, with the retailer considering wider roll out of the scheme.

Last week, NFU Scotland wrote to Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, urging them to consider a similar scheme in Scotland. The union wants retailers to look at fresh ideas to promote and sell milk and dairy products, while guaranteeing a fairer share of the margin for farmers.

Milk committee chairman Graeme Kilpatrick said: “As dairy farmers, we want to see shoppers given the opportunity to choose fresh nutritious milk over sugary soft drinks in supermarket chillers, selling it alongside sandwiches and snacks. That would be a positive development, at little or no inconvenience to supermarkets.

“Through the Union’s ShelfWatch work, we believe there’s ample opportunity to increase the availability of convenient milk products in Scottish stores. Milk is already available in one-pint cartons, which are an ideal size for the convenience shopper, and there’s room for manufacturers and processors to develop new products which can build on the appeal of milk as convenient and nutritious.

“The dairy farming crisis is deepening with the majority of Scottish farmers now receiving less than 19p per litre and, for some, their milk price has sunk as low as 11 or 12p.

"Many hard-working, long-established family dairy farms are under threat and this presents an opportunity to grow the market. If successful, then the key is to ensure the rewards are better shared with as many dairy farmers as possible.”