Asda milk now at "2001 prices"

[paulham]

In an effort to beat increasing inflation, Asda has said that it will lower the price of two pints of milk to 50p this weekend.

The supermarket stated that the drink has seen some of the largest price rises as a result of the credit crunch and the cut will be a positive one for consumers, as this is the lowest price since 2001.

Moreover, Asda said that four pints will cost £1 as part of the promotion, down from £1.44, while six pints can be purchased for £1.50, a change from £2.12.

Trading director at Asda Darren Blackhurst commented that it is "important" families get access to cheaper deals when bills are growing.

"Customers are telling us this is the time of the month they're really starting to feel the pinch and that's why we're investing in price cuts where they really count, on everyday essentials like milk, bread & butter, meat & veg," he said.

In addition to the milk price changes, Asda announced that it is lowering the cost of bread, vegetables, butter, meat and eggs.

Almost ten million pints of own-brand milk as sold on a typical weekend, Asda claimed, meaning that £1 million will be saved by shoppers.
http://www.talkingretail.com/news/10500/Asda-milk-now-at-2001-prices.ehtml

This is all very well but what of the dairy farmer who will now have no profit margin whatsoever?

[paulham]

Tesco has said that it will cut the prices of 18,000 products this week as it attempts to offer consumers new deals.
And the supermarket said that it will additionally give its customers £100m worth of Clubcard vouchers in the next seven days.

Various products are due to be included in the promotion, such as peaches, school uniforms, organic items and homeware goods.

Richard Brasher, Tesco commercial director, stated that the move is a reaction to the economic conditions that are impacting upon people everywhere.

"Despite clear inflation in some food products we have worked hard to cut our prices week after week and negotiated some fantastic deals with our suppliers to bring shopping bills down," he said.

Tesco also said that a family consisting of four people may also be fed for less than five pounds a day if they eat its value range.

[Forth Bridges]

I never trusted Tesco and asda is stil cheaper!

[loulou]

I feel sorry for the milkman.

[oldspice]

We still have milk delivered by the milkman. There are only two people in our street who have it delivered.

[smurfboy]

My parents have just stopped having milk delivered. It's 55p a pint from the milkman now so I can't say I blame them.

[paulham]

I hope you you can all live with milk imported from Europe.

[smurfboy]

To be blunt, my first concern has to be my own pocket. I don't earn enough to justify paying extra to prop up certain industries, in the same way that I'll choose Tesco over an independent shop every time.

[paulham]

The thing is Smurfy, that the big dairies such as Arla, Wisemans, etc are bleeding the little dairy farms dry. In my area there are only 1/3 of the farms that were around 10 years ago.
When they go due to cheap imported milk just watch the prices rise!

[goldencup]

Well I'm with you Paulham (for once!) and do try to support independent shops and markets, although not as much as I should and it doesn't quite extend to using the milkman.  That's more because the milk used to be go off on the doorstep by the time I got home from work, rather than the price.  Strangely, my grandfather used to come out with the 'watch the prices rises' theory many many moons ago, and it's starting to happen.  I avoid Tesco if I possibly can - I'd rather support Lidl and Aldi if I want something cheap.

[loulou]

My milkman charges 61p a pint but it is on the doorstep at 6am every morning.

[oldspice]

My milkman delivers at about 3.30am so it's always there when I get up.  I think he charges 58p. We get two pints on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. (he doesn't deliver everyday - he does another round on the other days). If we need any more than that, my husband gets some from the supermarket. There's only three of us at home now so we don't use much.  It works well for me because I am unable to drive, so carrying heavy milk is a bit of an inconvenience and in any case, there are not shops on my journey to and from work or anywhere nearby.

The trouble with supermarkets is that they cut prices to the bone, making it harder for small shops and doostep deliverers to compete. It's fine when you are young and fit and able to drive to the shops for a big shop, but when you get older and infirm, it's not so easy to get about and you can't carry heavy shopping.  As a non-driver with slight disabilities myself, I find it a real nuisance that we have no shops within comfortable walking distance (if you've got to carry shopping). A shopping trip for me nearly always means a trip to town on the bus. Having a milkman who will deliver milk, bread, eggs, potatoes, yoghurt, juice etc is a bonus. Yes, it costs more but then you don't spend anything on impulse purchases and it doesn't cost you anything in the way of petrol or bus fares.

[loulou]

Oldspice do you think milk tastes much nicer from a bottle than a plastic carton?

[oldspice]

Well, I do actually! Even though I have skimmed milk, it does seem to be nicer from the bottle!

[goldencup]

When I move house (hopefully in the next few weeks) I think I'll start having milk from the milkman again, if I can find one.  That's as long as he/she can guarantee delivery before 8 am.