Last week Parliament's commerce committee, chaired by Rotorua MP Todd McClay, said it would resume an inquiry into the price of milk that began under the last Government. It would look at every step in the chain from farm to retailer to find why costs have risen so much in two years.
According to Statistics New Zealand, the average nationwide price of a standard two litres of milk in December was $3.67 - up 1.7 per cent on the previous December but 15.4 per cent higher than in the same month in 2009.
The Daily Post yesterday surveyed a random mix of milk-sellers in Rotorua and found the most common cheap deal was two two-litre bottles of Cow and Gate milk (green, light blue or blue) for $6.
Shaminder Singh of Fresho Fruit & Vege said the deal was attracting more customers to the store, who would usually end up buying more than just milk.
"They have to go through the whole shop to get to the milk."
Hardeep Singh of Fruit Monster said his store had been running the same deal for the past few months and he hoped it would continue as it was good for business.
"Some people come in just for the milk," he said.
A Fruit Monster customer said she used to buy her milk from Pak'n Save but she wouldn't do so again. She said the price of two bottles at the fruit and vege store was not much more than the price of one at supermarkets.
The sign outside Springfield Superette said "Milk 2 for $6". Staff said they had noticed a lot more people buying two bottles at once since they started the special about four weeks ago. One Cow and Gate two-litre bottle sells for $3.99 and Meadow Fresh for $5.30.
For those that prefer their milk full fat, The Daily Post found Fordlands Four Square selling two two-litre bottles of blue Budget milk for $5.79 - the day's best bargain. It was advertised as a "manager's special" but manager Arif Ahmed said it was an ongoing price with no limit on the number of bottles a customer could buy.
Of the three supermarkets visited none was running any significant milk specials. A two-litre bottle of green Anchor ranged from $4.25 at Pak'n Save to $4.74 at Countdown. Their Own brands were cheaper but still could not compete with the $3 bottles offered when buying two elsewhere.
Of course, not everyone needs four litres of milk at once and those spoken to by The Daily Post said they simply froze the excess until it was needed so they could make the most of the "two for" deals.
Unfortunately there is no sign that the aggressive price-cutting by stores such as Nosh has prompted supermarkets to join in a "price war". For now at least it seems Rotorua customers just have to shop around.
DAIRY BARGAINS
Best deals for two-litre bottles of milk yesterday (green unless stated)
Countdown: Signature Range - $4.09
New World, Old Taupo Rd: Cow and Gate - $3.55
Pak'n Save, Amohau St: Pams - $3.80
Mobil, Old Taupo Rd: Dairy Dale - two for $6.69
BP, Fairy Springs Rd: Dairy Dale - two for $6.70
Gull, Lake Rd: Cow and Gate - two for $6.80
Caltex, Ranolf St: Dairy Dale - two for $7.80
Springfield Superette: Cow and Gate - two for $6.00
Mad Butcher: Cow and Gate - two for $6.00
Fordlands Four Square: Pams - $3.99 or Budget Full Fat - two for $5.79
Fresho Fruit & Vege, Fairy Springs Rd: Cow and Gate - two for $6.00
Fruit Monster: Cow and Gate - two for $6.00
Ngapuna Dairy: Dairy Dale - two for $7.50
