Why Does Milk Cost So Much More........

[Barsel]

when you only want to buy a pint?
If I bought 6 pints of milk from Tesco it would cost £1.48, so I would expect to pay 24/25p for a pint, but no, a pint of milk would cost .49p which is double. I can't understand why as the packaging is smaller and there must be so many people who only want to buy a pint if they don't use that much milk. Ok, I'll get down off my soap box now I've had my rant. :-)

[bednobs]

ok, but the wider debate you asked about is how would charging more benefit farmers, when it doesn't benefit your friend. You brought up your friend, and her situation of buying 6 pints per day so you can't really complain of people comment about it? (in my opinion anyway)

[-Talbot-]

To make it fair X the 1 pint price by 6 for the 6 pint price.

There sorted!

[Barsel]

I'm not going to get into an argument with you ummmm. If I had said disabled son I'm sure someone would have asked why I mentioned that as it had nothing to do with the price of milk. If you feel you were not being unfair then that's fine. Let's just leave it at that please.

[Barsel]

Wish I hadn't asked now.

[Prudie]

That's what I said Talbot

[PankySmooch]

You can't say *** nowadays without putting someone's nose out of joint and the thread turning sour

[Barsel]

I've just realised that PankySmooch. x

[factor-fiction]

The main point is that the price charged for a pint is the realistic price based on the costs of production and normal profit margins of the retailer. But the supermarkets are using the giant milk cartons as a loss leader or are not making their normal profit because they want you to choose their store and buy other goods.
As for the pressure being put on farmers then part of me just says that's the way markets work and if farmers can't supply at that price they should pull out . But I also wonder why we have fair trade chocolate etc but not Fair Trade milk

[237SJ]

"if the farmers can`t supply at that price they should pull out". That is probably what they`ll do and then everyone will be complaining that their milk comes from overseas. Farmer`s don`t have much choice about who they supply to these days. The supermarkets have got them in a stranglehold. It`s not just supplying milk, it`s insurance, vet costs, cost of TB testing (in some areas), not to mention the amount of land involved - you can`t keep cattle in just one field, you need alternative land. A lot of the problem is ignorance among shoppers (and I don`t mean the OP). People just care about the price they pay and can`t see beyond the supermarket. Cattle are starting to be factory farmed now which is cruel but that`s what happens when people are charmed by low prices.

[Prudie]

Because chocolate ingredients come from abroad and milk doesn't; we don't seem to care so much about destroying our own. The equivalent of fair trade used to be covered by the milk marketing board. I think the consequences of letting farmers pull out because they can't work to the required price would be terrible.

[Barsel]

Thanks for that factor-fiction. Fair Trade milk might be something we would get in the future but if I'm not mistaken, isn't that to help other countries and not ours?I could be completely wrong of course.

[Barsel]

A lot of the problem is ignorance among shoppers (and I don`t mean the OP).

Glad you added that bit at the end 237SJ. :-)

[factor-fiction]

But someone could introduce it, maybe under a different name. It's a bit like free range eggs- those who want to pay more can do.
But the main factor is that we generally want a bargain. We know farmers are struggling but do we worry about the impacts of cheaper salad/veg prices or the low prices Aldi& Lidl charge?

[factor-fiction]

^ sorry, I meant the source of the cheaper items

[Barsel]

If I thought it would help our farmers if we paid more for our milk then I'm ok with that.I just thought it was disproportionate, the difference paid for the amount we buy.

[Old_Geezer]

As you point out it is one heck of a percentage mark up for the additional packaging etc.. But there will be additional costs plus the single person is always an easy target to get to pay more. Have you seen the mark up on tins of baked beans ? I used to buy the small size but eventually I decided when I did have beans I could have beans two days following.

[woofgang]

baked beans are another example, the tiny tins are shockingly expensive. i buy cravendale filtered milk because it lasts much lomger than ordinary milk.

[Gavmacp]

If you start scrutinising prices you will find some bizarre anomalies. One supermarkets value range was more expensive than the best make.

[whiskeryron]

I don't know about marketing details but I'm just wondering if farmers could somehow group together & sell their milk at an economic price to the public & cut out the supermarkets.