Milk & More have been delivering fresh milk and produce to households across the Isle of Wight for decades, but that is all due to come to an end on Christmas Eve when the local milkmen make their last rounds.
Isle of Wight customers have been informed via letter that their service will cease to operate from 24th December this year.
The expiry of the company’s lease on a building at Riverway in Newport has been blamed for the move. No suitable alternative premises that are cost-effective to operate have been found.
The rattling of milk bottles during the early hours has been a feature of Island life for decades. Depots used to be found in Newport, Ryde and Sandown back in the Unigate days, but over the years the demand has fallen. Unigate transformed to Dairy Crest and more recently Milk & More.
Bottles delivered in the run up to Christmas will be collected by New Year’s Eve.
Very few independent milkmen now operate on the Isle of Wight. One alternative is Four Winds Diary, details of which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Four-Winds-Dairy-IOW-420590555202165/.
UPDATE – A spokesperson for Milk & More has told Island Echo:
“The lease at our Newport distribution centre on the Isle of Wight expires in 2021 and we have been unable to find a suitable alternative location. Following a detailed review, we have reluctantly concluded that it is no longer cost effective to operate on the island and we will close the site by the end of December 2020.
Article continues below this advertisement “We will do everything we can to minimise the impact to customers and will offer suggestions for alternative delivery options”.
This is a tragedy,Peter has delivered to us for years. He has looked after the elderly and been a lifeline for many
Sad end to an era and yet more reliable and helpful staff sadly out of a job, with the big stores once again rubbing their hands at the loss. I hope a local group will fill the gap.
Another nail in the coffin for British Culture, sad how supermarkets have contributed too dead high streets along with online shopping.
But that’s the world we now live in, as consumers we are all to blame so we can hardly complain.
Good luck to all those who will loose their jobs…
Wight Milk at Havenstreet do home deliveries to lots of towns and villages. I get my milk, eggs and butter delivered to my door, local company and fab service.
You will get a much better service from independent milk companies. Milk and More are ruthless and treat their employees like robots. they are only interested in making large profits, hence their extortionate prices
Very sad. I used this service for 39 years, even though it was cheaper to use the supermarket. But when I was told I had to pay by direct debit it was one step too far. None of the milkman used to give me a bill so there was no way to check. A near neighbour gave up at the same time maybe for the same reason……..
I understand, I too stopped using the service for the same reason, I personally think most customers were older customers that didn’t like to change a tradition..
Spot on. I and a neighbour stopped using the service when they insisted on direct debit. An article in the Guardian said that Muller had turned Milk & More, sour.
I have not had a letter. If I go to their website I see no notification about this.
They have been a god send for me during this year as I have been shielding. I can’t “pop to the shops” for some milk and the supermarkets demand £4.50 for delivery and a surcharge if your order is less than £20. By using the milkman I have kept my shopping to once a month.
Very sad. The council should step in and help.
It is a sad day, but it’s not a local company, it’s owned by Muller who are a German firm. Surely they have the resources to find a new premises?
Maybe it’s another Brexit casualty?
nothing to do with Brexit. They are in it to make money nothing else.
Hmm, was the only way I knew of to get milk in glass bottles rather than plastic which really affects the taste. A sad loss. Will definitely be contacting Havenstreet though.
Briddlesford milk is excellent, try them.
Not a great Christmas for the delivery men is it? Typical big remote company run by accountants. I’m sure there is a deal to be done over the lease, its not as if we’re in an economic boom and premises are in short supply is it. but, the leaseholder is probably also a remote big company run by accountants, not understanding that empty premises mean no income….
All the NIMBY’s are responsible for this. By blocking any and all developments they prevent the island from growing. As a result the price of commercial units goes up as demand outstrips supply.