Data out this week shows sales of $1 per litre milk in supermarkets have fallen from 65 per cent of all milk sold to 50 per cent.
Australians appear to be buying branded milk in a bid to help struggling dairy farmers, and Choice’s figure of $113.7 million is based on current spending patterns.
Choice’s Tom Godfrey said consumers were paying an extra 90 per cent per litre with but processors had not committed to pass the extra profits on to farmers.
«While it’s OK if processors are getting more money, a lot of consumers are paying more for milk under the belief that by buying branded milk the farmers are going to get more,» Mr Godfrey told the ABC.
«We’ve written to all those milk processors asking them to confirm what additional profits are being made from this de facto consumer boycott that is currently underway.»
Mr Godfrey said consumers should buy Australian dairy products to support farmers, but the boycott, of Coles and Woolworths-style private label milk, was a little bit «misguided».
«Buy branded milk products if your budget allows, but if not then private label milk is absolutely fine as well,» he said.
«You can also buy directly from local processors, or even better buy from your local farmers’ market.»
Source: ABC
Link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-17/is-the-1-dollar-per-litre-milk-boycott-helping-farmers/7759492