The new agreement, which will see the Group move to a dedicated milk supply scheme, follows The Co-operative’s successful integration of the Somerfield supermarket chain.
About 350 British dairy farmers are expected to benefit from the new dedicated supply scheme, by receiving a premium for supplying some 363m litres of milk a year to around 4,000 Co-operative food stores from August onwards.
By moving to dedicated supply, The Co-operative is also committed to setting clear standards in animal welfare, minimising environmental impact and encouraging biodiversity on the farms selected for the scheme.
Tim Hurrell, chief executive of The Co-operative Group’s food business, said: “We’re delighted to be fulfilling the commitment we made to farmers at the height of the Somerfield integration. In partnership with our processor, we will set up a dedicated group of dairy farmers from the Wiseman Milk Partnership, and we will develop long-term, transparent relationships. The foundation for this will be our Food Ethical Policy and the Defra ‘dairy roadmap’, with the focus on animal welfare, environmental stewardship and carbon footprint reduction.”
Source: The Co-operative Group
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