Dairy considering amnesty to get its milk crates back
MILK CRATE thefts this year will cost Guernsey Dairy around £23,000 as the problem escalates.
The Dairy ordered 2,000 plastic crates used to transport milk orders to retailers in July and already 1,500 of them have gone missing.
Production manager Dave Domaille said it looked possible some large deliveries would have to be made in quantities of loose cartons, which would be a ‘nightmare’.
‘We’ve been using these crates to deliver to restaurants, hotels and supermarkets for over 30 years. It’s got worse over the last 10 years. We used to order a new batch every 18 months and now it has to be every six to seven months.
‘I don’t think people realise they cost about £13 each from a manufacturer in France. Actually that price has gone down over the years, which is unusual.
‘People are taking them from outside supermarkets where they are left out to be collected. Places like the Co-op have easier access, it’s not the supermarket’s fault.
‘We’re actually the only business who can’t use them as a stool to stand on because of health and safety.
‘They’re the perfect height for plasterers to stand on, for example.
‘I’ve even seen someone who’s attached a pair of boots to one. I’ve even seen one of them in London,’ he said.
Despite the cost of replacing the crates there are no plans to raise the price of milk as it stands, but the Dairy would like the public to be made aware of the cumulative cost of the missing crates.
Guernsey Dairy has yet to place the order with its supplier but has considered alternatives including a crate ‘amnesty’.
‘If anyone would like to drop off their crates they can leave them out by the loading bay,’ said Mr Domaille.
‘We are open to ideas because being environmentally friendly is also on our list of priorities.’
