A SUPERMARKET giant is to extend its financial support for dairy farmers who produce milk for its own-label cheddar cheese products.
Six months ago Tesco announced its winter support payments scheme would run until the end of this month.
However, yesterday the company said through the work of the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group and partnerships with dairy farmers, the scheme would be extended to April 17, to help farmers through uncertain times caused by severe weather. Its commercial director for fresh foods and commodities, Matt Simister, said: “Helping to create a sustainable dairy industry is integral to how we partner with British agriculture. Tesco has a long history of supporting dairy farmers.
“We recognise that it is a particularly challenging and uncertain time in the global dairy market, which is why over the past six months, we have provided additional financial support to help our First Milk farmers.
“With the effects of the winter still being felt across the country, we are delighted to announce we have extended the supplement.”
Mike Gallacher, CEO of First Milk, welcomed the extension, and added: “Consumers clearly want their retailers to pay sustainable prices for British dairy products and Tesco, under Dave Lewis, have taken a leadership position
.”
Dairy farmers across the UK will receive a further boost, with the move to 100 per cent British milk for all Tesco own-label standard yoghurts from March.
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