Canadian dairy prices go up yet again

TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) announced today the price of industrial milk used to make cheese, yogurt, butter and ice cream will rise 0.9% effective April 1. Although this is the second-lowest increase in 15 years, it will cost the restaurant industry $23 million.

"We recognize that this may appear as a modest increase, but we're disappointed that dairy prices are still going up," says Garth Whyte, President and CEO of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA). "Canadian dairy is already among the most expensive in the world, and any increase at all will drive up costs for our members that use dairy products in their menu items."

CRFA has long argued for lower dairy prices, and a special class of cheese pricing for the restaurant industry. Currently, restaurateurs pay 30 per cent more than frozen pizza makers for cheese, which creates an uneven playing field.

"Our restaurants are a key dairy customer, buying $2.6 billion in dairy products annually, and it's high time they got some relief," says Whyte. "The continued upward pressure on dairy prices is hard to justify in these uncertain economic times. CRFA will keep pushing for lower dairy prices and a special class of pricing that makes cheese more affordable for restaurateurs."

CRFA is one of Canada's largest business associations, with more than 30,000 members representing restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and other foodservice providers. Canada's restaurant industry employs more than one million people in communities across the country.

SOURCE: Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association

CONTACT:  Prasanthi Vasanthakumar, 1-800-387-5649, ext. 4254 or [email protected].