Dairy wars declared over milk portion formats

A struggle for the hearts and minds of hot drinks customers has broken out between suppliers of single-portion cream and milk, with two formats fighting for supremacy.

The choice for pubs is between the new 'milk in a stick' format and the more familiar portion pot, technically known as a 'jigger'.

Single Source, the largest manufacturer of single-serve portions in the foodservice market, has taken a 50 per cent stake in Dairystix, the company which created the stick format. Dairystix is already producing 2.3 million portions per week

Neil Goodwin, commercial director of Single Source, said: "This unique product offers both commercial and environmental advantages over the traditional jigger packaging that it is designed to replace. The stick format is stylish, modern, convenient, easy to use and space saving, with less packaging waste."

However, dairy firm Pritchitts has hit back with a robust defence of the jigger. The company, which supplies the Millac Maid and Cafe Maid brands in the jigger format, insists the traditional portion pot is an iconic design which customers trust.

Simon Muschamp, head of marketing at Pritchitts, said: "When we asked for opinions on other delivery formats, the general consensus was that they were worried the milk had gone off, they were awkward, impractical to open and use, and subject to easy spillage."

He added: "Nearly 50 years old, with albeit a few design improvements, the jigger is stil doing what it was designed to do, and the research shows that its design and practicality stilll make it a firm favourite with consumers."