Müller UK & Ireland Confirms August Milk Price

Müller UK & Ireland has confirmed that it is to change the milk price it offers dairy farmers for the first time in five months.

The company has given dairy farmer suppliers a month's notice that its milk price will reduce by 1.0 ppl to 23.15 ppl from August 1, 2015.

Martin Armstrong, Head of Milk Supply for Müller UK & Ireland said:

"We have worked to maintain a stable milk price to the farmers who supply us throughout the peak milk production period but we must now make this adjustment.

"All around the world, the imbalance between supply of milk from farms and demand for dairy products is weighing heavily on milk prices.

"We cannot buck this market, but we will continue to invest to increase the range of added value dairy products which we supply.

"Our commitment is to continue to offer one of the best non-aligned milk prices available across the UK."

Philip Rowney, Chairman of the Müller Wiseman Milk Group (MWMG) which represents dairy farmers who supply the company said:

"Members of the MWMG have already had to accept significant reductions in their milk price and this news will not be welcomed. It is a reality that the off farm production is far higher than last year and this is affecting the market.

"We will continue to work with the Müller management team to maintain as much stability as possible during what is an extremely volatile and damaging period for the British dairy farming industry."

ENDS

Issued by the Communications team at Müller UK & Ireland.

For further information, please contact Kirsty McLaren at kirsty.mclaren@muller-wiseman.co.uk, or telephone 01355 270605

Müller Wiseman Milk Group

Müller Wiseman Milk Group Dairy members elect a representative farmer board which works with the Müller UK & Ireland to discuss milk supply issues, including the Group's commitment to maintain a competitive milk price and contractual position.

The MWMG comprises more than 1,200 British dairy farmers, all of whom are Red Tractor Farm Assured.

Müller UK & Ireland

Müller UK & Ireland is wholly owned by the Müller Group. It has 19 sites nationwide and employs almost 6,000 people across two business units: Müller Dairy and Müller Wiseman Dairies.

Müller Dairy is the UK's leading branded yogurt manufacturer, with major brands such as Müller Corner, Müllerlight and Müller Rice.

The business makes chilled desserts including Cadbury Bubbles of Joy, Pots of Joy, Layers of Joy and Twin-pot products, produced under license from Mondelez.

Müller Dairy also supplies the UK private label yogurt market from a state of the art yogurt facility in Telford, Shropshire.

Müller Wiseman Dairies is a leading fresh milk, cream and butter business with a network of dairies and depots servicing customers throughout the country.

The business recently commenced butter-making, opening a major facility in Shropshire with the capacity to produce up to 45,000 tonnes of salted, unsalted and lactic butter each year for the manufacturing, food service and retail sectors.

To make its range of dairy products, the Müller UK & Ireland buys milk from more than 1,200 British dairy farmers, all of whom are Red Tractor Farm Assured.

Müller Wiseman Milk Group Dairy members elect a representative farmer board which works with the business to discuss milk supply issues, including the Group's commitment to maintain a competitive milk price and contractual position.