Irish farmers’ body lambasted over ‘partitionist’ approach to milk sales

Weekend newspaper adverts placed by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) accused Lidl and Aldi of “misleading” customers – and urged shoppers “to be sure your milk is from the Republic of Ireland.”

The IFA claims the use of “phantom” producers, such as Clonbawn Irish Dairy and Coolree Creamery, on milk packaging is a “strategy designed to drive down the price” paid to producers.

In a statement to accompany the ad campaign, IFA president Tim Cullinan accused Lidl and Aldi of operating in a “sleight-of-hand” manner.

“If it continues unchecked, there is a risk of a shortage of milk on shop shelves over the winter months,” Mr Cullinan said.

“Using these phantom local-sounding dairies and creameries is a marketing sleight-of-hand aimed at convincing consumers that they are buying local”.

In the same statement, another IFA spokesman said the National Dairy Council (NDC) logo “is the only guarantee consumers have that the milk they are buying is produced and processed in the Republic of Ireland.”

On Twitter, Irish Independent columnist Martina Devlin said: “This ad neglects to mention that @Aldi_Ireland milk is produced in Northern Ireland. What’s wrong with buying milk from dairies there? Same grass. Shame on @IFAmedia for othering the North.”

One social media comment said: “What a disgusting, partitionist tweet,” while another said: “All milk farmed and bottled on the island of Ireland are Irish. @IFAmedia this campaign is a disgrace!”

A spokesperson for Lidl said: “Lidl is disappointed to see such a misleading and possibly defamatory advertisement carried in the Sunday Independent on March 14. All of our milk comes from farmers in the Republic of Ireland, a fact well known to the IFA. This issue is being examined by our legal team so we have no further comment at this time.”

Replying to a query on social media, Lidl Ireland said: “Unfortunately this is a very misleading ad. 100% of our milk comes from ROI farms. Our 1L carries the NDC mark but since our 2&3L milk is packed in Omagh it cannot carry the NDC mark. Coolree Creamery is a brand under which we sell our own label milk.”

It is estimated that one in four litres of milk sold in the Republic of Ireland is produced in Northern Ireland.

In response to Lidl’s claim that the IFA advert is potentially “defamatory,” the IFA issued a statement to Agriland.ie on Monday saying: “Everything in the advert is 100% accurate. Lidl have a label saying ‘Coolree Creamery’ on their milk. There is no such creamery.

“Instead of threats and bluster, Lidl and Aldi should give an immediate commitment to discontinue this labelling strategy and display the names of the actual dairies that supply them on their label.”

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