Cornish clotted cream producer Rodda’s has moved to strengthen its links with the local farming community by introducing direct milk supply contracts.
The 125-year-old producer currently buys all of its milk through 151 local farms contracted to Arla. It is aiming for half of its supply (about 25 million litres per year) to be derived from the new contractual arrangement by the first half of 2017, with 100% of its supply coming from direct suppliers by the start of 2018.
The starting farmgate price paid by Rodda’s would be 24.54 pence per litre, said MD Nicholas Rodda, who added that the processor planned to recruit between 50 to 60 selected dairy farmers located within a 30-mile radius of its creamery in Redruth.
“We are looking to work with farmers who can deliver level supply and high-quality milk with high fat and excellent hygiene levels - these levels are all-important for the making of Cornish clotted cream,” Rodda added. “We will give additional security [to farmers] with a price promise which guarantees we always pay the same or more than the average of three local major purchases with published milk prices.”
The success of the processor relied on its milk supply, Rodda insisted. “In order to make our world-famous Cornish clotted cream, our milk has to be of the highest quality, and what better way to guarantee this than to work closely with our farmers through direct-supply contracts, [and] rewarding them for their best possible milk.”
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