Latvian dairy farmers clash with Rimi over local milk sourcing policies

A debate has emerged between dairy farmers and Rimi Latvia over the use of local milk in supermarkets. Yanis Sholks, Chairman of the Central Union of Dairy Farmers, has challenged the retailer’s reasons for sourcing less Latvian milk. The discussion highlights broader trends in how major store chains use locally produced goods. Major Latvian supermarket chains rely heavily on local suppliers for many products. Over half of their stock comes from Latvian producers. Fresh products lead the way, with 70% of these items in Rimi stores sourced locally.

Cheese, butter, margarine, and cottage cheese also show strong local representation. More than 50% of these products in Rimi come from Latvia. However, milk stands out as an exception, with only 31% of milk in Rimi stores being of Latvian origin.

Rimi Latvia explains the low local milk supply by pointing to competitive pricing from neighbouring Baltic countries. Sholks disagrees with this reasoning. He argues that the retailer’s approach to local manufacturers plays a bigger role in increasing supply.

Other Latvian agricultural products also see varying levels of supermarket use. About half of the chicken produced in Latvia is bought by the largest chains. A third of the country’s milk goes to these retailers. For flour and onions, the figure is less than half. The dispute centres on Rimi’s sourcing of Latvian milk. Sholks insists that retailer attitudes, not pricing, are key to boosting local supply. The data shows that while many products in Rimi stores are locally sourced, milk remains a notable exception.