Robert Wiseman Dairies has announced price increases which will take effect on a retrospective basis from March 1.

The move increases Wiseman's farm gate milk price for a standard litre to 19.18p per litre (+0.43ppl) in March, and 19.38ppl (+0.63ppl) in April.

According to a company spokesman this puts the April price offered by Wiseman at least 1.48ppl ahead of major competitors and 2.37ppl ahead of Dairy Farmers of Britain, with which the company competes in the middle market.

Pete Nicholson, Wiseman's director of milk procurement, said: "With the support we have received, we are able to ensure that the April milk cheque for a typical Wiseman farmer, producing one million litres per annum, will be £1216 higher than an equivalent producer supplying Arla Foods, £1011 more than a farmer supplying Dairy Crest and £1948 more than a farmer contracted to Dairy Farmers of Britain."