By Rachel Tiffen
A new round of price increases for dairy products, with the exception of fresh milk, appears to be on the way.
Goodman Fielder has told retail customers it is putting up the prices of its products, because Fonterra is charging more for the milk from which its dairy products are made.
The company is increasing the price of cheese and butter by nine percent, while yoghurt will increase six percent and spreads will rise by five percent.
Goodman Fielder would not return calls from 3 News, but statements from the two owners of New Zealand's largest supermarket chains indicate price rises are in store for dairy products other than fresh milk.
Foodstuffs, which operates New World and Pak 'n Save supermarkets, say the pricing for non-milk dairy products such as butter, cheese and yoghurt are continuously under review. And Progressive Enterprises, which owns Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown, say any price increases to a supplier will ultimately be passed on to the New Zealand consumer.
The price for cheese at the supermarket is now almost as high as it was at the previous height of the dairy boom three years ago, while the cost of butter has never been so high.
The Commerce Commission is to decide within two months if it should have a formal inquiry into milk pricing and in coming to that decision it will also look at supermarket pricing.
3 News