The price of milk has increased more in the past 12 months than it has done in the past dozen years, a retailer has claimed. 

Ballymena newsagent Eugene Diamond made the comment after his milk supplier, Dale Farm, notified him last week of a 20p price rise from 15 May taking a 2l carton from £1.40 to £1.60. 

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He told Better Retailing: “This is the fourth time in 12 months my milk has gone up. I have never sold milk as a loss leader, but I think retailers have to now.” 

The rise follows months of price hikes in all parts of the UK. Last month, leading supplier Freshways increased its milk pricing by 12p per litre, while Medina Dairy raised prices by 3p per litre to stores. 

“No one is being optimistic there won’t be more,” he added. “My milk sales haven’t gone down, but milk is a staple and the situation is getting dire.” 

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