Dairy retail performance – 16 May 2026

Cows' milk

Cows’ milk volumes declined by 0.9% year-on-year¹, while spend saw a 5.9% increase, driven by an 6.8% increase in average prices paid.

Declines were seen for semi-skimmed, skimmed, and other cows’ milk. Whole milk continued to see volume growth, with a 2.6% increase year-on-year, this is due to increased occasions per buyer.

Cows' cheese

Cows’ cheese remained in volume growth, seeing a 2.0% increase year-on-year.¹ Spend grew by 2.1% during this period, primarily driven by volume gains as average prices only increased by 0.1% due to an increase in promotional activity during the period.

Cheddar, which represents a majority (44.5%) of all cow cheese volumes continued to see decline with a 0.5% decrease, due to a reduction in buyers. Other cows’ cheese (+9.5%), snacking (+6.7%), and speciality and continental (+3.0%) saw growth. These categories have seen growth due to consumers wanting a healthier option that is high in protein.

This is particularly driven by cottage cheese (+1.4m kg) and kids snacking (+0.6m kg). This growth offset declines in processed, British regionals and Stilton and British blue.

Cows' butter

Cows’ butter saw a 0.1% decrease in volumes purchased year-on-year¹. Spend saw a 1.3% decrease, mainly driven by average price reductions of 1.2% year-on-year, with decreases in wholesale price feeding through to shoppers, as we predicted back in December.

Block butter continues to be the only subcategory to see volume growth (+7.6%), this growth is due to consumers wanting less ultra processed and more natural foods. However, this growth was not enough to offset the decline in cow butter spread volumes (-3.6%).

Cows’ yogurt, yogurt drinks and fromage frais

Cows’ yogurt, yogurt drinks and fromage frais volumes continue to see growth (+6.0%), with spend increasing 8.5% year-on-year¹. This growth is due to increased volumes per buyer. Averages prices paid grew 2.3%.

Cows’ standard plain yogurt saw the fastest growth of 25.0% year-on-year, while cows’ fat-free yogurt saw the greatest actual growth, with an additional 3.6m kg purchased year-on-year (+8.5%).

Cows' cream

Cows’ cream volumes saw a 1.6% decrease year-on-year¹, with an 5.2% increase in average prices paid, and an 3.5% increase in spend.

Aerosol (-17.5%) saw the largest volume decrease, this could be due to consumers turning away from ultra processed foods. Double (+0.2%) and other cream (+4.5%) were the only categories to see growth.

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

¹ NIQ Homescan POD, Total GB, 12 w/e 16 May 2026

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