Delivery problems result in Dairy using back-up cartons
AFTER nearly a decade in storage, Guernsey Dairy’s contingency supply of milk cartons is being pressed into service after the usual supplies were delayed in France.
The latest order has been delayed due to the St Malo-based shipping company closing over the festive period.
They were due to arrive earlier this week, but were delayed again due to bad weather.
The Dairy has sufficient back-up supplies to maintain production, but these cartons carry
an unusual message as they were only intended to be used if the island had to import milk due to a disruption in local supplies.
The information on the side reads: ‘This carton contains locally produced milk that has been blended with imported milk to supplement local production, which is currently reduced’.
However, that is not the case, as all of the contents have come from local farms.
Dairy production manager Dave Domaille said the cartons were not originally intended for this purpose, but as a contingency in case of a shortfall in local milk supplies. However, they have provided a welcome solution to the current situation.
‘We would like to reassure all our customers that the contents remain 100% Guernsey produced milk, with all the great taste and goodness,’ he said.
‘This is very much a short-term solution. As well as the cartons that have been stuck in France, we also have an order due to arrive this week from another supplier.
‘Having dual suppliers enables us to benchmark prices and mitigates the risk of an interruption to supplies, but in this case the combination of the Christmas period and the subsequent poor weather has conspired against us.’
The cartons currently being used were produced in 2013 and have been stored safely since then.
Checks have been undertaken to ensure the original wrapping has remained intact, and they have also undergone additional testing prior to use.
The replacement cartons were first used on Monday and should have started appearing on shelves yesterday.
It is believed the usual cartons are now on-island, but are unlikely to reappear in shops until Monday.
