Sainsbury's is set to work with two additional processors from July 2017 to deliver its supply of milk, the retailer has announced.
Through its group of around 270 farmers, their supply is currently processed by Arla and Muiller Milk but from next year, it will also be processed through Tomlinson and Medina.
"The changes to the milk processors come as part of a supplier tender, which is a standard process across retail to ensure customers are offered the best quality and value.
"Whilst changes will be introduced from next year and run until 2020, the retailer will continue to source from the same group of farmers and remains committed to the long-term sustainability of the Sainsbury’s Dairy Development Group.
"The two additional processors are family owned businesses.
"Tomlinson’s Dairies, a processor based in Wrexham, Wales will take on milk distributed to stores in Wales and parts of England and Medina Dairy will supply a number of stores in the South of England," the supermarket said.
Sainsbury’s has more than 270 dairy farmers in the Sainsbury’s Dairy Development Group (SDDG) which was established in 2007.
"In 2012 our cost of production model (COP) was voted for by the majority of our farmers, this model is unique to the SDDG and is used to set a price for the milk our farmers produce across England, Wales and Scotland.
"The price is reviewed every three months to ensure our farmers receive a fair price that builds in a profit and rewards them for environmental and animal welfare standards."
