Milk deliveries in comeback
A friendly face from a bygone era may be returning to a street near you. The milkman is making a comeback thanks to young affluent families rediscovering joys of doorstep delivery and taking advantage of new services offered.
West Midlands dairies are branching out and including organic vegetable boxes, bread and eggs in their product lists.
In Wolverhampton, family business Johal Dairies, operating for more than 30 years has recently specialised in this new craze for home delivery with yogurts, fruit juices and cheeses.
Initially the business only dealt with retail custom but the recent diversification is reaping great rewards - the firm is currently enjoying a turnover of £10 million.
A spokesman said: "We have many customers who want home delivered products such as milk, bread, yogurts and fruit juices. Retail custom is still our main focus but the home delivery service is a popular sideline."
Dairy Crest's sales of non-milk products rose by 29 per cent in the first half of 2006. The firm says its average customer is a middle aged, well-educated professional and it delivers to more than 1.6 million households across England and Wales every week.
In the late eighties about 85 per cent of households had home milk deliveries but this has dropped to about 12 per cent of households, says Dairy UK, representing milk producers, processors and distributors.
Scott Mitchell, assistant manager at Dairy Farmers of Britain's Stafford depot, said they trialled new deliveries in December and customer feedback was positive. "The milkmen carried some vegetable hampers before Christmas and it seemed popular but I don't know whether there are plans to extend this.
"We will carry anything - we don't mind - but the decision will probably be made at national level.
"There has been a drop in the number of people wanting doorstep deliveries in past years but demand is fairly steady at the moment."
In Sandwell Chris Munn, Dairy Crest marketing controller, said: "Whilst milkmen are still delivering 'pints' to older customers it is the younger consumers who are increasingly relying on their local milkman to deliver milk and so much more.
"Our depot in West Bromwich is delivering everything from milk, bread and eggs to potatoes. The milkman of today is seen as very much part of the community and with the increased range on offer this really is a service for now and the future."
Picture: Milkman Anthony Baker from Dairy Crest's depot in Stourbridge who is more than happy to help any of his customers who might get into trouble
