Dairygold holds private talks on contracts

With about 30% of Dairygold Co-op milk suppliers believed to have signed supply agreement contracts, controversy over the new contracts has moved behind closed doors.

Following detailed correspondence with suppliers, 25 information meetings, and six area meetings, the co-op has moved to one-to-one meetings where co-op staff can advise based on the circumstances of each supplier.

Some suppliers are unhappy at being required to buy extra co-op shares relative to their milk supply, being disallowed from supplying other processors without Dairygold’s written consent, and the threat of a 2 cent per litre penalty if they don’t sign contracts by April.