FARMERS can look forward to a belated Christmas present when their milk price increases in January.

Meadow Foods has announced a 0.3ppl price rise from January 1st, taking the standard litre price to 32.55ppl.

Simon Chantler, executive chairman at Meadow Foods, said: “I am sure this increase will be welcomed by our producers and we hope this move will continue the forward momentum in the market place in the new year.”

The price increase will be added to the flat rate element of Meadow’s pricing, ensuring all producers receive the full benefit of the increase.

“We continue to successfully recruit new producers because of our simple price schedules where producers can achieve the headline prices,” added Mr Chantler.

Meadow Foods is the UK’s largest independently-owned dairy group and currently handles more than 560 million litres of milk from more than 600 farmer suppliers from the north west, midlands and north and west Wales.

It was recently named dairy company of the year at the Farm Business Cream Awards.