Dairy UK Press Release Archive: July-November 2005

november

Milk Strikes Cannot Achieve Their Objectives
posted 23rd November 2005

The chairman of Dairy UK said today (Wednesday) that disruptions to milk supplies over the Christmas period would not lead to higher milk prices for farmers.

David Curry said that everyone working within the dairy supply chain appreciated and sympathised with the frustration felt by many producers, the harsh reality is strikes by farmers could not lead to co-ordinated price increases.

more>>

october

Salt Targets for Various Foodstuffs
posted 25th October 2005

Dairy UK has responded to the Food Standards Agency’s consultation on salt targets.

We have strongly supported the setting of average targets for dairy products, rather than maxima pointing out that sampling of the products in question is difficult, with a certain amount of variability within batches and from batch to batch. In addition the reproducibility of the method needs to be taken into account. If maxima were set rather than averages, the targets would need to be very significantly greater.

more>>

Farmers Powerless in the Face of "Mighty Machines" Says Dairy UK Chairman
posted 19th October 2005

The Chairman of Dairy UK, David Curry told a major farming conference this week that there has never been a time when farmers felt so powerless in the face of “mighty machines”.

Although Foot and Mouth disease brought terrible trauma and personal tragedy to the industry, farmers knew that eventually there would be a way through. However, Mr Curry said they now feel a real sense of oppression and find it virtually impossible to plan ahead with any degree of certainty.

more>>

Dairy UK urges Competition Commission to think again
posted 10th October 2005

Dairy UK, the organisation that represents the dairy industry, today (Monday) stressed trepidation over the completed acquisition by Ardagh International Holdings Limited of Redfearn Glass Limited.

According to Dairy UK, this acquisition will result in a substantial lessening of competition within the UK glass bottling market and dramatically reduce the number of returnable glass milk bottles.

more>>

september

Dairy UK Response on Nutrient Profiling and Children’s Diets
posted 29th September 2005

Dairy UK has responded to the FSA’s consultation on nutrient profiling and children’s diets. This consultation aims at using a nutrient model to classify foods as being suitable or not for children. Subsequently the model would be used by Ofcom to regulate the advertising and promotion of foods that are high in fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar.

Dairy UK was particularly concerned that the model places cheese in the high fat category, and therefore unsuitable for children. In order to put pressure on the Food Standards Agency, Dairy UK contacted “Mail on Sunday” to brief them on various anomalies in the model, including the surprising finding that breast milk comes out as unsuitable for children.

Dairy UK also pointed out that milk shakes and cola drinks have the same score with both being unsuitable for children. This completely ignores the nutritional benefits of the milkshake. Although all milks come out as being suitable for children, so does diet cola, and the model implies that skimmed milk is healthier than whole milk for children.

The “Mail on Sunday” devoted a whole page to the story.

Click here for Dairy UK's response

Government Must Understand Dairy Industry Pressure, says Dairy UK Chairman
posted 21st September 2005

Following Lord Bach's speech at the Dairy Event at Stoneleigh today, David Curry, chairman of Dairy UK, said: "Lord Bach's speech is both highly encouraging and a realistic assessment of the choices the industry faces. His key message that elements of the supply chain need to work more closely and constructively is entirely in accord with the policies of Dairy UK and what we are trying to achieve as a cross-industry organisation. There are tough decisions to be taken by the industry but unless we address them together we will not get very far. We look forward to working with Lord Bach to ensure the future of the UK dairy industry is modern, profitable and efficient.

more>>

Lord Bach's speech to the Dairy Event 21/09/05 (pdf, 98KB)

Dairy UK Chairman Urges OFT not to Thwart Dairy Industry Development
posted 14th September 2005

The chairman of Dairy UK today (Wednesday 14) urged the Office of Fair Trading not to stand in the way of development and consolidation in the dairy industry which may bring stability to the sector.

The Rt. Hon David Curry, MP, told an audience of 250 industry representatives at Dairy UK’s annual dinner in London that the future of the dairy sector would be jeopardised if competition authorities prevented the development of a more powerful supply chain.

more>>

Dairy UK Committed to "Common Goals" with NFUS and Scottish Executive
posted 14th September 2005

Dairy UK, the cross-industry body representing the dairy sector, said today (Tuesday, September 13) it shared common goals for the industry with NFUS and the Scottish Executive.

Dairy UK chairman David Curry, Director General, Jim Begg, Scottish chairman Peter Nicholson and Scottish director Kirk Hunter met Ross Finnie, Rural Development Minister, and NFUS President, John Kinnaird, in Edinburgh this week.

more>>

Dairy UK to Study MDC Report
posted 9th September 2005

Following publication today of the Milk Development Council's report on raw milk contracts, Jim Begg, director general of Dairy UK said:

"The report covers issues of immense importance and any analysis which improves understanding is to be welcomed. Dairy UK will certainly study the areas covered in the report. We support improvements that will benefit the industry and will improve the efficiency of the market place. Our members operate in fiercely competitive markets and the challenge for the industry is to work constructively within that competitive environment. As the body that represents both producers and processors, we are committed to exploring ideas that will improve relationships between the two groups."

more>>

Dairy UK Says NFU Vision Report Will Generate Debate
posted 9th September 2005

Following publication today of the National Farmers' Union 'Vision for the Dairy Industry', Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK, said:

"The document will rightly generate a debate and the more open the debate the better. In the industry we have to talk openly and frankly if we are to make progress. This is a tough and in some areas controversial document.

"Many of the recommendations validate the policies being devised and implemented by Dairy UK. We are working across the supply chain towards the creation of an industry strategy and the NFU document will be examined thoroughly as part of this process."

more>>

Dairy UK response to MDC report
posted 7th September 2005

Jim Begg, Director General, Dairy UK said: “The report reveals there are many positive and encouraging developments within the UK dairy industry, particularly in relation to added-value products. Equally, the report also confirms that the UK dairy market is ferociously competitive. The issue of industry costs is fundamental to the competitiveness of those involved in the supply chain and we must continue to focus on this. However, in the long-term real and sustainable progress will be made when we can take the debate on to the level of how to improve the position of the industry in the competitive market place in which we operate.”

more>>

New Dairy UK Guide to Availability of Grants for Innovation
posted 15th August 2005

In order for companies to stay competitive and keep pace with constantly changing consumer demands and new markets, it is vital that innovation is used as a key part of a co-ordinated business plan. To simplify the process of finding out which government support schemes for innovation are available to the industry, Dairy UK has produced a new guide which summarises schemes that can help members who are either looking at refining existing products or developing new ones.

These schemes might offer support by providing grants or helping to establish collaboration with other companies, academic establishments or research bodies. The guide highlights the schemes that are available on a UK-wide basis, as well as those that are running in individual UK countries, and also covers those that can be used by companies who wish to enter collaborations with one or more countries overseas.

Download the Guide now (pdf, 157KB)

Marketing Manager Wins Dairy UK/MDC Scholarship to Vancouver
posted 8th August 2005

Marketing Manger for Robert Wiseman Dairies, Joanne Rae has won the Dairy UK and Milk Development Council (MDC) Scholarship for 2005, which aims to bring fresh ideas and best practice from elsewhere in the global dairy industry back to the UK.

Joanne’s prize will be to travel to the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Vancouver in September. She will then share her experiences with the UK industry in a number of events planned for later in the year.

more>>