Island dairy farmers and organisers of the ‘I love Isle of Wight Milk’ are preparing to celebrate their newly branded milk, which is produced, processed and packaged on the Island – from cow to cup! The official launch will be at the Cowes branch of the Southern Co-operative in Terminus Road at 11.00am on Tuesday 6th November.
The milk will be available in Tesco stores and the Southern Co-operative Stores in Cowes and Freshwater. Depending on public demand it is planned that it will be rolled out to other Co-op stores. The milk will also soon start appearing on the shelves of a number of smaller stores across the Island.
The campaign was launched by Island dairy farmers and Island MP Andrew Turner at the Garlic Festival in August. It aims to ensure Island dairy farmers are paid a fair price for the milk they produce and cut out unnecessary transport and costs. A public petition supporting the plans has attracted well over 4,000 signatures with more names being added daily.
Louise Hart, secretary of the Island Dairy Farmers Group, said:
“Working closely with Rew Valley Dairies we are looking forward to rolling out our new brand featuring our distinctive logo across the Island; we expect that to take a few weeks. Most milk is sold through supermarkets so we are working hard to get them on board, although there are lots of hoops to jump through. Tesco have sold Isle of Wight milk for many years and we are very pleased that this week the two largest Southern Co-op stores will join them. We are still in negotiation with other supermarkets and expect to make further announcements in the coming weeks. Our milk will also be stocked in a number of smaller shops and convenience stores across the Island – and we are really grateful for their support.
“To mark the new agreement with the Southern Co-op we will be taking Cows to Cowes – so you can meet a couple of our beautiful dairy cows outside the supermarket and we will also be providing free milk tastings.
“Local catering suppliers Medina Valley Foods will also be offering our milk to their extensive customer base on the Island which will make it easier for some of the larger milk users to use the new brand.”
Mr Turner added :
“This is an easy way for anyone to support our Island economy. Buying this milk will support Island cows, Island farmers and help to protect our beautiful countryside – so I hope people will look out for it.
“I have been heartened by the support of so many people with this campaign – many simply didn’t realise that the milk they have been buying for years wasn’t locally produced. There has been a lot of hard work to get this far – but this is an exciting development and seeing the new milk brand out on shop shelves across the Island will make it all worthwhile.”
Any retailer who would like to stock the new milk or large user who would like to purchase it should call 01983 865555 or 07872 835353. The on-line version of the petition supporting local milk can be signed at www.thewightstuff.org
ENDS:
Attached : List of Isle of Wight milk stockists.
Contacts :
Andrew Turner’s Office on 01983 530808
Louise Hart, Secretary of Isle of Wight Dairy Farmers on 07872 835353
Justin Birch, Chairman of Isle of Wight Dairy Farmers on 07977 012796.
‘I love Isle of Wight Milk’ stockists – from 6th November
Arreton
Arreton Post Office
Farmer Jacks
Bembridge
Warburtons
Binstead
Binstead Post Office
Brading
Brading Food Market
Brighstone
Brighstone Post Office
Brighstone Stores
Chale
Chale Green Stores
Colwell
The Shop at Brambles
Cowes
Co-op
Rashleys
Rowleys
East Cowes
Blakes News
C Jays
Halls Newsagents
Pickle ‘n’ Pepper Deli
Websters
Freshwater
Co-op
Elliotts
Godshill
Sandford Garage
Lake
Lake Post Office
Newport
Farnsworth Newsagent
H & M Off Licence & Grocer
Ultra Stores
Niton
Norris Family Grocer
Northwood
Northwood Stores
Ryde
AB News
Allens
Duffetts
Greenhams
Monkton Street Stores
Oakfield Stores
Tesco Extra
West Stores
St Lawrence
St Lawrence Post Office
Sandown
Broadway Stores
P & J News
Shalfleet
Shalfleet Stores
The Dairy Deli Farm Shop
Shanklin
Gly Morgan Newsagent
Totland
Londis
Ventnor
SLV News
Whippingham
Whippingham Post Office
Wootton
Harwoods
Tesco Express
Yarmouth
Harveys
Catering Wholesalers
Medina Valley Foods
Local milk (under different brands) can also be purchased at :
Briddlesford Lodge Farm, Briddlesford Road, Wootton Bridge
Queen Bower Dairies, Alverstone Road, Sandown
