She writes:
So now we have ASDA working with Arla in launching their ‘Farmers Milk’ initiative - a four-pint bottle with an increased retail price which guarantees that Arla members, the supplying farmers, receive the extra 25p.
There’s been some discussion on whether there should be an apostrophe or not but that’s of little importance in my view. What is important is that retailers and their supplying processors are looking at ways of adding value to the dairy aisles – and in this case the extra value goes back to farm.
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There will be the usual discussion on the fact that this money will be shared between all Arla members across Europe, not just the 3,000 or so in the UK. But this is Arla’s position which its members understand. They are part of a European co-operative and any profits or losses made are shared across the EU business not allocated to individual countries.
So let’s not focus on the negatives, something we’re prone to do in the UK dairy industry. Let’s get behind this initiative. Consumers have continued to support Morrisons’ Milk for Farmers. That shows that consumers will pay more and encourage more to follow suit in adding more value into the whole supply chain so that all parts can benefit, be that through improved branding, farmer messaging, new pack sizes etc.
This campaign isn’t just about the extra 25p though. Arla, the UK’s largest milk buyer and farming co-operative is embarking on a tour of the UK to push positive messages about dairy products and dairy farming. This is something we can all support under the #backbritishfarming message. Yes, Arla is a European co-op, but we all have a role in promoting positive messages on the dairy industry – both to maintain consumption and increase consumption levels and to ensure the general public and consumers continue to support British farming, now and into the future.