UK Dairy Power Shift: Farmers Gain Leverage
A new Kite Consulting report, Decoding Dairy Disruption, reveals a profound shift reshaping the UK milk value chain. With record spring 2025 milk production coinciding with global supply constraints, farmers are finding themselves in a more advantageous position—but only temporarily. Notably, UK farmgate prices remain, on average, 2.3p per litre below European standards. Meanwhile, major…
There’s a buzz about Jersey’s dairy industry now
A dairy farmer who had been thinking about leaving the industry has said fresh government policy changed his mind. Tom Perchard and his family are the second largest milk producers in Jersey, supplying 15% of the island’s milk from La Ferme Farm in St Martin. He said the high cost of importing feed, fertiliser and…
UK Fast-Food Chains Unite for Dairy Carbon Cut Tool
A collective of major UK fast-food companies has launched a standardized carbon reduction tool aimed at slashing emissions across dairy supply chains. Developed as an industry-first initiative, the tool provides a consistent methodology for measuring, reporting, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from dairy suppliers—ranging from farms to processors. This initiative responds to growing pressure…
Sugar tax on fizzy drinks to include milkshakes and others
The government is proposing to extend the sugar tax on fizzy drinks to include milkshakes and similar drinks, impacting both dairy-based and non-dairy alternatives. the move follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement in the autumn budget last year that the government would explore expanding the tax to encompass these beverages. The plans, which remove an exemption for these drinks from the existing…
UK Spot Milk Prices Plunge Amid Growing Oversupply Pressure
The UK dairy market is experiencing significant turmoil as spot milk prices have dramatically fallen due to a surge in milk supply, leaving processors overwhelmed. According to the latest market updates, spot milk prices dropped to as low as 28-30ppl (pence per litre) — a sharp decline from recent levels. This sharp fall is attributed…
Why has the cost of a block of butter risen so much since last year?
HAVE YOU SEEN the price of butter lately? It’s been rising for a few years now, along with other household staples. Central Statistics Office (CSO) this month published figures showing that the average price of a pound of butter in Ireland had gone up by 70 cent since this time last year. But what are the factors…
Dairy production set to rise in 2025 in UK
British milk production is forecast to grow by 1.1% in 2025, according to our latest analysis. The first half of the 2024/25 milk year saw sluggish growth, with wet weather in spring and lower prices leading to reduced yields. However, things started to turn around in September as prices climbed and margins improved. Favourable weather…
UK bans German dairy products after FMD case
Britain has banned imports of German pork, lamb, beef and dairy products to prevent foot-and-mouth disease spreading to the UK after a case of the disease was confirmed last Friday on the outskirts of Berlin. As well as prohibiting imports of ham, bacon, salami and cheese, the measure bans the import of live cattle, sheep…
India eyes ghee for blue cheese in UK trade deal
India is trying to pry open the UK market for ghee in exchange for bringing the latter’s blue cheese to the Indian market, under the proposed free trade pact being negotiated by the two countries, an official aware of the matter said. Trade negotiators have pressed the UK to waive its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)…
Agri-business: UK dairy industry set for export boost
To bolster the UK dairy industry, the Department for Business and Trade unveils the Dairy Export Programme, aimed at expanding agri-food exports in global markets The Dairy Export Programme, a direct outcome of the Prime Minister’s £1 million commitment to the dairy sector, offers agri-businesses a comprehensive support package to tap into new export opportunities and explore…