Asda and Arla have generated more than £7 million in additional returns for dairy farmers through their Farmers Milk range, as the partnership marks its 10th anniversary.

The initiative, launched in 2016, gives shoppers the option to pay a premium for milk, with an extra 25p from every bottle sold returned to Arla Foods’ farmer-owned cooperative.

Over the past decade, the scheme has generated the equivalent of more than 28 million bottle sales, providing an additional source of income for Arla’s farmer owners.

The range was originally introduced in response to pressure on dairy farmers’ incomes, with Asda becoming one of the first major supermarkets to offer shoppers a direct way to support producers through their everyday purchases.

At launch, the four-pint Farmers Milk bottles were priced at £1.20, compared with 95p for Asda’s standard own-label equivalent.

The range remains exclusive to Asda, with whole and semi-skimmed four-pint varieties currently listed at £1.90.

Asda chilled business unit director Rebecca Stanton said: “Thanks to the support of our customers, the partnership has returned more than £7 million to Arla farmers, demonstrating the positive impact long-term partnerships can have on British dairy farming.”

The anniversary comes as UK farmgate milk prices have started to recover following a period of volatility.

According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the average UK farmgate milk price reached 36.89p per litre in August, up 4 per cent on the previous month.

Arla Foods UK senior vice president of sales Jonathan Dixon said the scheme had demonstrated the value of cooperation between farmers, supermarkets and shoppers.

“As a farmer-owned cooperative, creating value for our farmer owners is at the heart of everything we do,” he said.

The milestone also comes as Asda continues to refresh its stores, including the wider rollout of its 1990s mascot Daisy the Cow, which returned earlier this year as part of efforts to improve the in-store shopping experience.

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