MOO-VING UP

Higher butter sales relieved pressure on thousands of dairy farmers last year. Industry giant Arla saw UK revenues grow 8% to £1.94billion in 2017. Sales of Arla’s Lurpak and Anchor butter brands rose 9% and 16% respectively, with demand up for its Cravendale milk, plugged in quirky Moonicow TV adverts. The increase helped fund a 27% rise in the milk price paid to Arla’s 11,500 dairy farmers, including 2,500 in Britain. However, it comes after a fall in prices paid to farmers in 2016, with values down again this year.