Demand for full cream milk is growing, having been in seemingly inexorable decline since lower-fat options became available.
Sales have gone up by more than 30% since 2019, part of a shift away from highly processed foods, said the Dairy.
Channel Islands milk was mentioned in The Times last week, in an article about the increase in demand for full-fat milk thanks to TikTok trends and health conscious consumers.
It said that young people in the UK were leading the trend to ditching semi-skimmed milk for ‘Jersey Milk’, which Tesco said it sold three million more litres of last year than it did in 2023.
Andrew Tabel, operations director at Guernsey Dairy, said UK media interest reflected local trends.
‘We have seen a significant increase in demand for full cream milk. Since 2019, sales have grown more than 30%, rising from approximately 568,000 litres to just over 750,000 litres in 2025,’ he said.
‘By contrast, low fat milk, which still accounts for the majority of our sales, has declined gradually, while skimmed milk has seen a more noticeable reduction, falling around 23% since 2019.
‘This pattern is similar to the trend seen in the UK, where some consumers are moving back to more natural and minimally processed foods – especially younger people. Many people now recognise that a sensible consumption of natural dairy fats can form part of a balanced diet.’
Guernsey Milk is locally produced, 100% natural, free from homogenisation and ultra-filtration to retain its full nutritional profile and travels minimal food miles. Mr Tabel said it was highly valued among health conscious consumers.
‘As we all know, Guernsey milk itself is also distinctive. It is famed for its naturally higher butterfat and protein content, as well as its golden colour and rich flavour. It is full of nutrients that support vision, immune function and skin health. Scientific studies have also shown that Guernsey milk contains higher levels of beneficial Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids,’ said Mr Tabel.
‘While low fat milk continues to make up the majority of our sales, the steady growth in full cream milk over several years suggests some consumers are rediscovering the taste, natural qualities and nutritional benefits of Guernsey Dairy full cream milk.’
It’s ‘red milk’ all the way for town baristas
Young people might be latching on to the secret that baristas have long known – that whole, full-fat, full cream or ‘red milk’ is the superior choice, both for taste and health.
At Cafe Emilia in town, co-owner Evija Abreu said that red-cartoned milk was probably the most popular of its dairy offerings, though oat and almond alternatives were still frequently requested.
‘For a truly good coffee, it needs to be full-fat milk,’ she said.
‘It makes such a difference to the overall creaminess and flavour, you really notice it.’
And the positive news is that the less ultra-processed contents of the red carton seems to also be a healthier option.
Indra Orbidane, store manager of Costa in the Lower Pollet, said that more often than not, locals requested semi-skimmed or skimmed or oat milks in their coffee – mistakenly thinking that they are the ‘skinnier’ choice.
‘The best for making coffee is definitely red,’ she said, ‘and the healthiest is also red.
‘The “skinny” ones actually have the most sugar inside – they think they’re healthy, but they’re not. And oat milk in the morning really spikes your sugar levels, and there’s so many seed oils in these other options. It’s not good. For me it’s red all the way, definitely.’
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