Dairy Price Dynamics: Unpacking Retail Trends 2023-2025

Join us for an in-depth look at the shifting landscape of dairy retail prices, drawing on economic indicators prepared by MPO economist Jade Smith. This episode dives into the comprehensive monitoring of average retail prices for fresh milk, long-life milk, and Cheddar cheese across various brands from January to May over 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Key insights you'll discover:

Fresh Milk Analysis:

We compare Clover 2 L fresh full-cream milk prices, noting a R2,25 increase in May 2024 compared to May 2023, contrasting with a R3,00 downward shift in May 2025 compared to the previous year. You'll also learn how 2025 prices for Clover milk were roughly in line with 2023 levels, unlike the 3,7% decline observed in 2024 for the same period.

Explore Douglasdale 2 L fresh full-cream milk prices, which in both April and May 2025, held the position as the highest-priced brand among Clover and the Department's Own Brand (DOB). We reveal that in May 2025, Douglasdale's price was 4,5% higher compared to the same month in both 2023 and 2024.

Discover the trends for the Department's Own Brand (DOB) 2 L fresh full-cream milk, which was the only brand among Clover and Douglasdale to record an average price below R35,00 during the first five months of 2025. We highlight that DOB was the cheapest option in May 2025 at R34,68, significantly lower than Clover (R35,17) and Douglasdale (R36,32).

Long-Life Milk Overview: Unpack the pricing of Clover 1 L long-life milk, which experienced the smallest price variation of 46 cents during the first five months of 2025 compared to Parmalat (49 cents) and Crystal Valley (56 cents). Learn about its price decrease in May 2025 compared to 2023 and 2024.

Examine Parmalat 1 L long-life milk prices, noting it was the most expensive brand to purchase in the first five months of 2025 with prices consistently above R21,00. We also delve into its price increase in May 2025 compared to May 2023, followed by a decrease relative to May 2024. Find out why Crystal Valley 1 L long-life milk stands out as the most affordable option, consistently recording prices below R20,00. While affordable, the first three months of 2025 saw its highest price levels, averaging around R18,00.

Cheddar Cheese Market Watch:

Investigate Lancewood Cheddar cheese prices per kilogram, observing a significant downward movement of R17,26 from April 2024 to May 2025. Despite this, in May 2025, its price slightly increased by 0,7% compared to May 2023, in contrast to a 10% decrease over the same period in 2024.

Explore Parmalat Cheddar cheese prices per kilogram, which remained the most expensive cheese brand relative to Lancewood, Clover, and Elite Cheddar. Its price in May 2025 increased by 16% and 5% compared to May 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Discover the affordability of Clover Cheddar cheese per kilogram, which was the most affordable brand to purchase during the first five months of 2025. In May 2025, Clover Cheddar was significantly cheaper than Lancewood, Parmalat, and Elite Cheddar.

Understand the trends for Elite Cheddar cheese per kilogram, where prices began to stabilise from February to May 2025, a departure from significant fluctuations in prior years. Elite Cheddar recorded the largest year-on-year increase of 26% in May 2025 compared to May 2023, and 17% compared to May 2024.

This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in dairy market trends and consumer pricing. All data is based on information compiled by the MPO economist, Jade Smith, using data from BMI as supplied by Agri Inspec.