Consumers turning to dairy in pandemic Print
16th February 2021
The consumption of dairy products has boomed during the pandemic with experts cautiously optimistic about the future of the UK dairy market.
Jonathan Dixon, vice-president of foodservice at Arla Food, told the Dairy-Tech Online event that dairy has increased because of consumers looking after themselves more during lockdown and spending increasing time at home.
Dixon added: “Cheese consumption has risen by 15.7% with more people eating cheese at lunch. Yoghurt sales have risen by 4.1% and butter by 16.1%, particularly block butter sales, due to more people home baking.”
Rob Hutchinson, operations director for Muller, said the company had seen strong retail sales during the pandemic. “Cereal consumption is up 8%, which is good for milk sales. The challenge now is to maintain the level of consumption as we come out of lockdown.”
A new statutory Code of Conduct will be developed for the dairy sector Fairness for dairy farmers is the aim of a new statutory code of conduct. The new code of conduct will be developed for the dairy sector to increase fairness in the supply chain and help farmers become more competitive, farming minister Victoria Prentis announced today (Wednesday, February 3). The statutory code will seek to provide a guiding framework, establishing minimum standards but also providing businesses with the flexibility to adapt contracts to their individual circumstances. Speaking at Dairy-Tech Online, Ms Prentis said the government, working in close collaboration with the devolved administrations, will develop a new statutory code of conduct, using section 29 of the Agriculture Act 2020.