Milk price wars are threatening the livelihoods of dairy farmers, with a pint at a seven-year low and now working out cheaper than some bottled waters.
Industry bible The Grocer has blasted Asda for cutting the cost of a four-pinter to 89p this week.
It is also 89p at Aldi, Lidl and Iceland while at Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s it is £1.
Supermarkets insist farmers are not paid less as discounts are carved out of profit margins. But farmers argue milk has been devalued as a commodity.
Dairy expert Ian Potter called the price war “devastating” while National Farmers’ Union dairy board chairman Rob Harrison said cuts had left the body “incredibly angry and frustrated” and have “a continued detrimental impact”.
James Hole of protest group Farmers for Action warned stores: “The industry is in crisis.”
The Grocer said: “Supermarket price wars have pushed the price of four-pinter milk below that of some bottled waters.
It said that the magazine’s research showed that based on price per litre across the big four supermarkets, fresh own-label milk sold in four-pint bottles has become cheaper than the average price of larger packs and multipacks of bottled water.
“Four-pinters have been a key weapon in the price war and suppliers fear another raft of retailer cuts “ said The Grocer.
