Dairy retail performance - 18 April 2026

Cows’ milk

Cows’ milk saw a 1.4% decline in litres purchased year-on-year¹, while increasing average prices rose by 7.5%.

Declines were seen for semi-skimmed, skimmed and other cows’ milk. Whole milk continued to see volume growth, with a 2.7% increase year-on-year, due to more buyers and an increase in volumes purchased per buyer. Plant-based milk also saw volume growth.

Cows’ cheese

Cows’ cheese remained in volume growth, seeing a 1.4% increase year-on-year¹. Spend grew by 1.9% during this period, primarily due to volume increases but also due to a 0.5% increase in average prices.

Growth in cheese was driven by other cow cheese, snacking, and specialty and continental varieties. The top three growing subcategories within cows' cheese were cottage cheese (+1,335K kg), soft white cheese (+587K kg) and kids snacking (+531K kg).

While Cheddar is the most popular cheese purchased in Britain, it saw a 0.6% volume decline this period due to a reduction in buyers. Processed saw the greatest actual decline in volumes (-319K kg), and British regionals (-218K kg) and Stilton and British blue (-103K kg) also saw reduced demand.

Cows’ butter

Cows’ butter saw a 0.6% decrease in volumes purchased year-on-year¹. Spend on butter continued to decline this period, down 0.8%, as average prices paid began to decline (-0.2%).

There is a significant correlation between movements in wholesale price and the retail price, and it appears that recent decreases in wholesale price is now feeding through to shoppers as we predicted back in December.

Block butter continues to see volume growth (+7.4%). While consumer trends for wanting less ultra-processed foods and more natural foods will have played a part in this increased demand, average prices for block butter also fell into decline this period, down 2.2%. However, increased demand for block butter was not enough to offset the decline in cow butter spread volumes (-4.2%).

Cows’ yogurt, yogurt drinks and fromage frais

Volumes continue to see growth (+5.5%), with spend increasing 7.6% year-on-year¹. Average prices also increased by 1.9%. 

Cows’ standard plain yogurt saw the fastest growth, up 25.2% year-on-year, while cows’ fat-free yogurt saw the greatest actual growth, with an additional 3,935K kg purchased year-on-year (+9.4%).

Cows’ cream

Cows’ cream volumes remained in slight growth, up 0.1% year-on-year, with an 6.0% increase in spend primarily driven by a 5.9% increase in average prices paid¹.

The majority of growth is through clotted cream (+18.8%) with an additional 103K litres due to increased volumes purchased per shopping trip. Single, double and other cow cream also saw gains, possibly due to Easter demand.

¹ NIQ Homescan POD, Total GB, 18 April 2026

Sign up to receive the latest information from AHDB.

While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.

All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk  © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.