THE Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative (OMSCo) has signed new members to meet demand growth from its premium export business, increasing its milk pool by nearly 30 per cent over the next two years.
Nicholas Saphir, OMSCo's executive chairman, explained how the co-operative has achieved growth over the last few years despite a relatively static UK market: "Global organic dairy market growth is currently outstripping that of the UK and our market diversification strategy has led us to spread risk and take advantage of this by developing premium, specialist organic dairy ingredients for sale worldwide."
Since gaining USDA organic accreditation and Chinese certification the cooperative's export business has gone from strength-to-strength. "We've now built long-term relationships with leading market players on a global manufacturing and distribution scale, and as a result, last financial year our exports grew by 58 per cent to 20 per cent of our total revenue," said Mr Saphir.
"However, we've spent almost an entire year supply-constrained. We prioritised our UK sales and this has limited our potential export developments. Supplying the home market is a priority to ensure that it doesn't weaken again, but we think that in the medium term there's enough milk coming forward to meet limited growth in UK demand and this will be supplied by the natural expansion of the existing organic dairy supply base in the UK.
"The additional recruitment has enabled us to supply new contracts with global partners, as well as to further balance UK market fluctuations," he added.
Market round-up
United Auctions sold 535 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 243.4p per kg and an average of 215p (-10.5p on the week), while 1105 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 279.4p and levelled at 223.4p (-7.4p). Eighty-seven store, B&W bullocks sold to 155.2p and averaged 140p (-9.7p), while 47 store bulls peaked at 237.7p and levelled at 201.1p (no comparison).
In the rough ring 175 beef cows sold to 186.7p and averaged 131.5p (-6.8p), while 25 dairy cows peaked at 121.4p and levelled at 95.8p (-2.2p).
C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 3 prime heifers in Dumfries on Wednesday to a top of 222p and an average of 214.8p.
In the rough ring 26 beef cows sold to 155p and averaged 125.9p, while 47 dairy cows peaked at 133p and levelled at 103.6p.
The firm also sold 405 prime hoggs to a top of £88.50 per head and 180p per kg to average 158.2p (-8.9p).
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1013 prime hoggs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £85 and 185.7p to average 160.3p (-2.2p).
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