Dairy retail performance - 12 July 2025

Cows' milk volumes continued to decrease, seeing a 2.6% year-on-year decline (NIQ, 52 w/e 12 July 2025). Spend also saw a decline (-0.7%), despite seeing a 2.0% increase in average prices paid. Plant based and other animal sourced milk also saw volume declines this period, with plant based seeing steeper average price increases (+3.3%).  Whole milk was the only category to see volume growth, up 2.4% (27.4 million litres), driven by an increase in buyers during the period.

Cows' cheese remained in volume growth, up 2.1% year-on-year, with spend during the period increasing by 2.9% (NIQ, 52 w/e 12 July 2025). Cheddar, which represents 41.5% of all cow cheese volumes, saw a 2.6% (3.7 million kilos) increase in volumes purchased, and combined with strong performance seen by specialty and continental (2.2%) snacking (+0.9%), and other cow cheese (which include cottage cheese, quark and soft white) (+5.8%), offset declines seen by processed, British regionals and stilton and British blue. Overall, cow cheese benefitted from an increase in volumes purchased per shopper, as well as an increase in shopper numbers during the period.

Cows' butter, at a total level, experienced a 2.6% decline in volume but a 7.0% increase in spend, which was driven by 10.0% increase in average price paid (NIQ, 52 w/e 12 July 2025). Despite this, block butter continued to see volume increases of 5.5% (+3.6 million kilos), driven by an increase in shopper numbers and an increase in shopper frequency of purchase. 

Cows' yoghurt, yoghurt drinks and fromage frais volumes continue to see growth (+6.3%), with spend increasing by 10.0% (NIQ, 52 w/e 12 July 2025), with an increase in buyers and frequency of purchase driving this performance. All products saw volume growth during the period, apart from fromage frais (-9.9%) and standard flavoured yogurts (-3.0%). Cows' fat free yoghurt saw the greatest actual growth with an additional 14.2 million kilos purchased year-on-year (+9.4%), while cows' standard plain yoghurt saw the fastest growth of 24.3% year-on-year.

Cows' cream volumes experienced a 1.4% increase year-on-year and combined with a 6.4% increase in average prices paid, resulted in a 7.8% increase in spend (NIQ, 52 w/e 12 July 2025). Cows' cream performance was driven by an increase in shopper numbers, as well as an increase in volumes purchased per shopper. Double (+3.4%, equivalent to +1.2 million litres) and sour cream (+4.4%, equivalent to +371 thousand litres) drove the overall category performance, but aerosol (+0.8%) and clotted (+2.8%) also contributed to volume growth.

See the full data and these insights visualised on our GB household dairy purchases retail dashboard. 

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.