Customers across the Isle of Wight have been left shocked and saddened by the sudden news that Four Winds Dairy has ceased trading with immediate effect – with no explanation given.
The business has been delivering milk and other household essentials to doorsteps across the Isle of Wight since 1987 when it was run by now-retired Clive Hayles. The business was sold to Paul Bentley from Banbury, Oxfordshire in 2019 and has grown in size ever since.
The milk delivery service has expanded to include a whole range of other items, from quail eggs to cheese, picking up a swathe of new customers as a result – no doubt assisted by the COVID pandemic. It’s understood that in recent months additional staff members have been employed to help with the growing operation.
However, an email was sent out last night stating that Four Winds Dairy IOW has now ceased trading. Customers are being directed to simply place empty milk bottles in the recycling bin.
The business’ Facebook page has been removed.
No explanation as to why the business has closed or mention of alternative supply has been given, however Island Echo understands that a statement will be issued later this morning.
The news comes just 8 months after Milk and More (formerly Dairy Crest and Unigate) ceased their operations on the Isle of Wight.
Probably because most people now buy milk at the supermarkets instead.
Globalisation, the big boys get bigger, the smaller companies can’t compete or survive? Soon everything will be under one roof, with self service to maximize profits. Way the worlds turning, money greed and control outways peoples essentials
It’s just a milk man going bust and you have to go all Blade Runner
Building homes to house the worlds breeders is where the money for the rich is made, not having a few tiny businesses. You are right Pablo.
As an ex milkman with over 25 years experience, I was lucky enough to deliver in the heydays of the 60’s and 70’s when EVERYBODY had their milk delivered. Unigate had over 100 rounds on the island over 4 depots. There were only 7 when Milk & More gave up last year. We were part of the community. Our industry was also “green” long before it became a global issue. We delivered milk in returnable glass bottles and drove electric milk floats. Unfortunately, as the 80’s progressed, supermarkets were replaced by out-of-town hypermarkets and the power of the “Big 4” pushed down the price of milk to farmers forcing many to cease milk production.
When I was a kid it was Stainer’s Dairy in Ryde delivered the milk, I remember a little green pattern on the bottles, I think there were cows heads somewhere in the design, I remember something looking like horns that i assumed were on cows heads. I wish Stainer’s dairy was still there, used to be in the High Street, then I suppose they got taken over or moved, because they ended up in West Street and it wasn’t the same anymore, but still not too bad, now though everything is just terrible.
Stainers milk had a taste of it’s own too, so nice, not like the milk today.
I think the old Stainers dairy sat behind a shop at the top of the High Street, which is now Stainers Close. off Well St. United Dairies/Unigate swallowed them and moved them into their depot in West St where Dairy Mews is now
Yes, they had a little office at the front of the dairy in the High Street where we used to go to pay the milk bill once a week. A while ago, I noticed some building work going on down there turning it into flats or something and it looked so sad to see the old building being demolished with the words “Stainers Dairies” in the brickwork at the side. Shame they can’t at least save those old names which were created by bricks embedded in the wall. That seemed to be a thing they did in the old days. I think Colenuts may have been another one I saw with the name built into a wall on the corner of Green Street.