This move ensures the livelihood of dairy farmers forming part of the Granada, dairy cooperative, Alba Ganaderos, explained a spokesperson for the supermarket chain.

The deal was struck between representatives of Lidl and the agricultural unions, UPA (Unión de Pequeños Agricultores y Ganaderos) and COAG (Coordinadora de Organizaciones de Agricultores y Ganaderos).

“Milk is produced, collected and packaged in Andalucía and will be sold exclusively in the 120 Lidl supermarkets across Andalucía in three different categories: full cream, semi-skimmed and skimmed,” the spokesperson said.

The project is sustainable from a social viewpoint as it supports local production and the development of rural Andalucía as it guarantees the economic viability of dairy-farming families by setting a minimum price per litre [but above production costs].

The Director General of the Purchasing Department for Lidl in Spain, Miguel Paradela, explained that this deal is along the lines with the one struck with AOVE (traditional olive-oil farming) that is to say, backing local producers.

(News: Granada, Andalucia)