"Please return our crates"

Thursday 03 September 2020

Guernsey Dairy is now missing so many of its milk crates that it has experienced a shortage in the last week.

In June this year, the Dairy put out a public appeal for individuals and businesses to return any milk crates they had held onto during lockdown.

That plea has resulted in over 1,000 being returned to the Dairy, however the disappearance of crates has proven to be an ongoing problem, according to Production Manager Dave Domaille. 

“Since the appeal earlier this year around 1,200 to 1,300 have been returned but just lately they seem to be disappearing again."

Pictured: Anyone who has any of the missing milk crates is being asked to return them to the Dairy. 

Sometime over the Bank Holiday weekend, one of the Dairy's crates ended up on top of a lamp post outside Trafalgar House.

“Perhaps this could be a gentle reminder to the community that if you see any milk crates around the island, please can you notify us and we will come and collect them or instead return them to the Dairy,” said Mr Domaille.

“Milk crates remain a vital part of our distribution process. If we had to replace those that are missing the cost would be extremely high - an expense we can ill afford.”

Pictured: The crates are often used by distributors to deliver milk to restaurants, hotels and supermarkets. 

The familiar orange and blue crates costs the Dairy around £13 each to buy, and are used to make up orders for milk distributors.

However, Mr Domaille said they still belong to the Dairy and should be returned as soon as possible by anyone who uses them.

“We are not looking to prosecute anyone," Mr Domaille assured. "We just need our crates returned.  If they can do this as soon as possible that would help us enormously."

People can return crates by leaving them at the motorbike park just to the left of the Guernsey Dairy entrance. 

Pictured: A milk crate is currently precariously balanced atop a lamp post in Town.