Lakeland Dairies has said it is continuing to review the legal judgement which found against the co-op in a case taken by Northern Irish dairy farmers.

The civil case against Lakeland Dairies was taken by two dairy farmers who supplied the co-op in the past, but then left to supply other processors.

It is understood that the two are part of a larger group of suppliers who left the co-op and who have grievances over milk payment deductions.

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After putting in their notice to leave, Lakeland had effectively applied penalties by holding back 13th payments which had been made to other suppliers to the co-op.

The two legal cases were brought at the end of 2024 and a decree was issued by District Judge Claire Harmer in Lisburn Civil Court, Co Antrim, on Thursday, 10 September, in favour of both farmers.

One was awarded £4,355.16 and the other £3,380.15, with “full costs to follow”.

Regulations

During 2024, the UK-wide Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations came into force, which requires written contracts to be in place and states that once a notice to terminate has been given, a processor cannot “alter the pricing method or price per unit of milk”.