Raglan Dairy has won back the contract to supply milk and dairy products to Monmouthshire County Council services, including all the county’s schools following a retender towards the end of last year.

In March 2024, many residents reacted angrily to news that the Labour-run council had ended the contract with Raglan Dairy in favour of a national company based over 100 miles away. The contract had been agreed in 2018 and meant that all council services were using local milk, provided in reusable glass bottles and all sourced from Monmouthshire farms.

Research from Monmouthshire Conservative councillors revealed that the new provider, Totally Welsh, was using a distribution centre in Cardiff that had been condemned by food hygiene inspectors for major non-compliance with food safety laws and given a score of just 1 out of 5 compared to Raglan Dairy, which had the highest possible score of 5.

A major refurbishment was taking place at the premises at the time, but was still being used to receive, store and deliver food, despite there being ‘no food safety management system to ensure that food was being kept safe’ for human consumption.

Cllr Richard John said, “I’m delighted that Raglan Dairy has won back the council contract for providing milk and other dairy products to schools, care homes and leisure centres across Monmouthshire.

“This has only happened because of the public outcry at the council’s earlier decision to source milk from Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire and transport it over a hundred miles to replace milk from local Monmouthshire farms.

“Our research revealed that when the council awarded the contract to a national supplier, its distribution centre in Cardiff had a hygiene score of 1 out of 5, having been condemned for storing food on the depot floor next to building materials.

“Monmouthshire residents greatly value locally sourced produce, so I’m pleased that children, the elderly and others can now enjoy Monmouthshire milk from nearby farms.

“I congratulate James and the great team at Raglan Dairy on winning the contract back. I know he will continue to provide an exemplary service for the council, just as he does for residents all over Monmouthshire.”

In a statement issued last year MCC explained its position on the tendering process saying that its desire to buy locally wherever possible had been superseded by contract law.

“The Food Framework is a collaborative approach with 20 other Welsh public bodies, which was recently re-tendered, and the bids were evaluated against 30 per cent price and 70 per cent quality. Monmouthshire has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Raglan Dairy, who were appointed through the Welsh Public Sector Collaborative Food Framework, and we thank them for the level of service during this period,” said a council spokesman.

“Raglan Dairy submitted bid and was awarded secondary supplier status. The supplier who came first, and was awarded primary supplier status, was Totally Welsh, a dairy based in West Wales. Totally Welsh sought to agree an approach with Raglan Dairy, however an agreement was not reached.”