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Jersey Dairy has announced a rise in the wholesale price of milk of 7p per litre to help it meet the cost increases it has faced over the last year.
The company's Managing Director, Eamon Fenlon, has cited increases in packaging, utility and freight charges for 2024, which he stated were "significantly increasing our operational costs”.
The hike of around 5%, which is effective from today (Monday 8th January 2024), comes shortly after increases in water and electricity costs were also introduced at the start of the year.
It marks the latest cost-of-living blow for Islanders, who have been battling stubbornly-high inflation rates – with the most recently published RPI figure standing at 10.1%.
Jersey Dairy Managing Director Eamon Fenlon cited increases in packaging, utility and freight charges that have raised the company's operating costs.
Mr Fenlon said: “We have worked extremely hard to find efficiencies wherever we can throughout the year at Jersey Dairy, as have our farmers on their farms, but like all other businesses, we have continued to experience increased costs over the last year. We are very mindful of the cost-of-living challenges faced by many of our customers and have kept this increase to a minimum.”
During the Jersey Farming Conference in November, Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said that inflation and the rising cost of living had been challenging for the industry "with increasing overheads across the board".
In a statement, Jersey Dairy said: "The Minister has approved the increase saying he recognises that the dairy industry in Jersey has had to absorb significant cost increases over the last year and he is content that the increase is both proportionate and necessary."
Pictured: Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel has previously spoken of the challenges farmers are facing.
Mr Fenlon added that the wholesale price rise would "flow through" to farmers to help the sector continue to grow.
He said: “Sustainability of our farms is paramount to ensure an on-going supply of fresh milk and the future of our iconic Jersey cow in its Island home.
"In addition to their environmental stewardship of our beautiful countryside, our farmers make a significant contribution to local food security with the wide range of products produced from the milk they supply to Jersey Dairy.
“Our price increase is half the latest Jersey RPI inflation figure. We hope our customers understand why we must do this and that they continue to support us."
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