Coles has pushed a large price rise onto consumers for its private label milk products, the largest lift since the inception of its $1-litre pricing in 2011. Coles own-branded 1-litre fresh milk has jumped 25 cents from $1.35 to $1.60 a litre while the 2-litre bottles increased to $3.10 from $2.60. Coles says “increases in sourcing, transportation and packaging costs, including a substantial rise in farmgate prices paid to dairy farmers” have caused the price rise.

Woolworths quickly followed and matched the prices announced by Coles.