Asda legal warning for protesting dairy farmers
ASDA has sent letters warning Farmers For Action members that it will take legal action if the campaign group’s planned protests cause the retailer problems.
FFA warned earlier in the week that it planned to stage protests at the retailer’s depots on Wednesday and Thursday (15 and 16 Dec).
The group said the protests were because Asda was heavily discounting four-pint bottles of milk putting downward pressure on farmgate prices.
In response, the supermarket has written to FFA chairman David Handley and other FFA coordinators asking them to agree to four conditions if they protest.
The letter asks for assurances that protest will not obstruct Asda premises, will not involve trespass on Asda property, protesters will fully co-operate with the police and Asda’s security officers and instructions to this effect will be published on the FFA’s website.
The letter concludes: “We will rely on any failure to provide undertakings in the terms sought…as giving rise to the inference that Farmers For Action intends to cause or participate in unlawful inference with our legitimate business activities.
“We confirm that it is our intention to apply to court without further notice to you for such orders as may be appropriate, which are likely to include orders preventing any unlawful conduct which disrupts the activities of any Asda property.”
The letter rejected claims by FFA that Asda had recently entered into a short-term milk promotion.
“Our retailer prices for milk have in fact not altered since July 2010. Since July we have also increased the price paid to our farmers for their milk.
“We are firmly committed to continuing to pay the farmers who supply us a fair price.”
Mr Handley told Farmers Weekly that the letter would not stop the planned protests. “We will go ahead,” he said.
At the time of writing four pint bottles of semi-skimmed milk were being promoted on Asda’s website at £1.25 each or two for £2.00.
Tesco was also advertising two bottles for £2.00 or one for £1.55, while Sainsbury’s was marketing own-brand semi-skimmed milk at £1.55 for a bottle.
A statement released by Asda said: “Throughout the period of Farmers for Action’s activities we have listened to the concerns of farmers about milk prices which we are told prompted this protest and have endeavoured to address those concerns.
“Asda is well-known for the partnership approach we have adopted with British farmers, particularly in the dairy sector, over recent years.
“All of our fresh milk is supplied via an exclusive relationship with a group of Arla farmers within the Asda-dedicated supply chain, and in doing so we pay a significant premium for our milk.”