This was posted 13 years 10 months 27 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Coles Own Brand Milk - 2L Lite and Full Fat - $2

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Coles own brand lite and full fat 2 litre milk now only $2. Think that's a 49c and 99c saving respectively.

As far as I can tell, this is as good as a permanent price reduction gets…

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  • -2

    yeah but its watery stuff. milk is the most overpriced thing in supermarket

    • +3

      What's a better form of milk then? Under-diluted milk powder? :)

      • +1

        A2 milk is nice & creamy, a bit pricey but worth it IMHO!

        I really like the Devondale UHT stuff to keep on hand as well; semi-skim & smart milk are really creamy tasting but low fat!

        Now, if you can get your hands on some non-homogenized stuff like Peel Valley (Tamworth area) or another local dairy, that stuff is da shiz!!! :D

        • Ultra-pasteurized milk – a 'deader than dead' product.
          UHT milk processing kills off the enzymes present in milk NEEDED to digest the casein; the casein itself is altered to the point of being INdigestible! Convenient, but bad stuff!
          Raw Milk- http://nourishedkitchen.com/10-reasons-drink-raw-milk/

        • +1

          @gamgo5, thanks for the link but that sounds like a load of new-age fluff to me…post me a link to an actual scientific study though & I'm all ears! ;)

        • ok StewBalls, here it is-
          http://www.raw-milk-facts.com/scientific_refs.html
          http://www.realmilk.com/abc-news-raw-milk-story.html
          http://www.drrons.com/raw-milk-history-health-benefits-disto…

          Besides all the studies, think real life: Your ancestors grew up- & thrived-on this stuff.
          Many consumers no longer have allergies, excema, & many other ailments that come from processed milk. Try it, & see!

        • +1

          How far back are we talking about in terms of ancestors? The ones who died in childbirth and lay on their deathbed every time they rode their horse in the rain? Or the ones who speared any sizable animal that moved?

          Perhaps find some peer-reviewed journal articles for us while I drink my half-priced Oak flavoured milk (for this week).

    • +3

      Dunno why you're getting negged for that, it's bloody true! Most milk sold in supermarkets now is watery slop, you've really gotta look hard to find something that's decent nowadays!

    • +2

      … except for water itself.

  • -4

    This is just another multi national screwing over a primary producer.

    • +1

      Coles is a multinational? When did that happen? FYI Wesfarmers is an Australian company.

      • +1

        Multinational with operations in NZ.

        • +5

          nz is a state of Australia isn't it?

        • +4

          Like Australia is part of the USA?

        • +2

          I thought it was a external territory, like Christmas Island.

        • and yet we're all under the british

        • … and soon we could all be under Charles.

          hmmm .. there's a thought :)

  • …….WHAT!!!!!!!!!!

    $2????????????

    You might be inclined to not abuse me if you read the line below this…

    I was paying $2.10-2.20 per litre in 1992-1993! 17 years ago and it's CHEAPER now…go figure?


    Also, Coles might be using this as a loss leader to say 'Hey, we have cheaper milk than sheepworthless'

    • +5

      Milk was also a lot better 17 years ago, the water content has been creeping up for years now…man, you guys should've tasted milk 40 years ago, oh the cream children, the cream!!! :)

  • +5

    17 years ago(?), milk prices were set by the government. Farmers received far more for fresh milk than for milk made into butter/cheese etc. Fresh milk prices came down with deregulation.
    Now the free market has ended, and the Coles/Woolworths duopoly set the prices somewhat. They still compete with the export market.

  • +2

    This is probably done due to the fact that the 2L Coles milk has just recently switched from being made by National to Parmalat. The strange thing is 3L is still made by National, so there could be a taste difference between the 2L and 3L.

    Woolworths is also $2 now.

    • Could be a good move for consumers, the stuff Coles got from National was terrible, as nubzy said watery slop; I had some Parmalat branded milk the other day & it was quite nice, hopefully they won't water that down too much for generic sales! ;)

      • +1

        .random note

        When Parmalat absorbed Sandhurst (unhomogenised, organic milk) the quality fell dramatically… including becoming more watery.

        Perhaps they're better than National, though.


        .random rant

        I wish they'd sell those 600ml bottles. Households are getting smaller, and portions larger - so waste potential is far greater; such inefficiencies place a greater load upon our resources unnecessarily.

        I tire of the profitability of waste in consumerism. In fact, I'm tired of the persistent myth that consumerism provides people with what they want - this only holds if you want what you're told to want; something that will never satisfy freethinking people.

    • Can anyone else confirm Woolworths has followed suit?

      I just bought a 3L Woolworths milk and it was $3.29, cheaper than previous but not as good as buying 4L for $2…

    • Thanks for the information. What is your source, if you don't mind me asking?

      • +1

        I'm on the Coles payroll.

    • In w.a coles branded milk is made by brownes. Is national a milk company over east?

      • National Foods: they make Pura, Dairy Farmers, Big M, Yoplait just to name a few.

  • +4

    As a father of two young children, this reduction in milk price is up there with an interest rate cut as far as putting money back in my pocket!!

    • Yep, I agree! My toddler could drink milk all day if I let her! Very pleased to see the price drop, although I do wonder about the quality/ nutritional value of the Coles milk compared to the more expensive brands…?

      • I thought basic milk was the same, except for the labels (being a government regulated staple … my very fussy milk-loving 11 year old certainly thinks so … on "blind testing" (when we run out of the normal stuff) he'll reject UHT every time but drinks all the others, whether an 'own label' or fancy brand.

      • -5

        I do wonder about the quality/ nutritional value of the Coles milk

        I can't say about the nutritional value but after trying Coles milk a few times a couple of years ago, i was very dissapointed… It had a funny smell to it and tasted different… I thought it might have been just that bottle but after trying a few over several weeks, i switched back to Pura… Now i mainly buy A2 milk and I'm happy to pay the extra $ for something that clearly tastes better…

    • We've been with Coles "SmartBuy" milk for the past year. Nutritional value is exactly the same as other brands, and my 2 kids are growing happily with this brand :)

  • +2

    First time the fat twins ;) have gone under Aldi's $2.09 ($3.09 for 3l).

    Wonder if they will price match? ;)

    • -1

      Aldi's UHT 1L has been at $0.99 for a while. Perhaps there'll be pressure for that to move down too.

  • notice Coles Smart Buy Milk is labeled as "homogenized Milk" but the new one is labeled "full cream" does it mean it is not watery stuff?

    Also, the Smart Buy milk 2 liter bottle is selling at local Coles for $.99, Devondale one liter pack is on special this week for $1. I bought a box of 10. They taste a lot better than the watery stuff.

    • +1

      Its all homogenised. That means no cream floating on top. I miss that :(
      (Just don't miss shaking the bottle and having the foil cap fly off.)

      Full-cream means it has not been skimmed. I don't know why people buy semi-skim when you could just water-down full cream and save 50% ;-)

  • +2

    They told us at work last night that they are getting rid of smart buy and making 2L for $2 and 3L for $3 of the normal coles brand

    • +1

      Thats just common sense, as their coles brand and smart buy were the same thing.

  • +1

    Parmalat actually make pauls and smarter white, whereas national make pura, hope that clears some things up. also, if the servos can sell milk for 2 for $5 then surely the price per bottle is less than $2, so i cant see that it would be a loss leader, especially given the bulk that they buy in, they must have just re-negotiated a contract im assuming.

  • +4

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/26/3122080.htm

    Dairy farmers are furious at plans by supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths to reduce the price of their milk.

    A two-litre carton of the supermarkets' own-brand milk will be slashed by about a third, to about $2.

    The lobby group, Australian Dairy Farmers, says despite assurances from the retailers, it believes the reduction will be passed onto producers.

    Spokesman Chris Griffin says the move could destroy the local dairy industry, as other producers struggle to compete.

    "In the longer term, we believe it is a threat to the industry and to do it on Australia day, it's not what you'd call the Australian thing to do, as far as we're concerned," he said.

    "They're saying that its going to be absorbed by them but I think in the longer term, they can't sustain it for any length of time so it will flow down to the dairy farmers."

    Coles spokesman, John Durkan, is adamant farmers who supply milk to the retailer will not be left out of pocket.

    "We are making sure that the farmers get paid exactly the same price for their milk," he said.

    "We have structured our milk contracts to ensure that.

    "Whatever the farm gate price is, Coles will pay, and we'll make sure farmers are looked after in the middle of that."

    • +2

      Translation: Coles are going to screw the dairy company, skimming off the cream of its earnings.

      • +3

        Yeah, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

        • +4

          Everyone's crying over spilt milk

      • +2

        I suggest this has been milked enough.

    • +2

      Someone isn't telling the truth here. According to the latest News Limited article, dairy farmers are selling milk below the cost of production.

      "Opposition agriculture spokesman John Cobb said it was shameful that the supermarket giants were able to cut milk's price tag by a third, while farmers are forced to sell below the cost of production."

      If that is true, who in their right mind is producing milk at a loss? Stop selling the milk. That will cause a shortage in the marketplace and force higher prices. If farmers are selling milk at a loss they will be forced to sell up or give up sooner or later anyway.

      • Exactly. Destroy the local dairy industry? The only way that'll happen is if the farmers screw themselves by producing milk at a loss. I don't believe that milk is something that is easily imported, so there's no threat like what the other farmers are experiencing.

  • I have struggled to find standard 2L bottles of milk at Coles since they seem to run out on Saturdays on Coles.
    Will have to get it early!

  • +1

    Woolworths has been selling 3l own brand for $3.09 for at least a year then put it up to $3.39 for last week and now are boasting about going down to $3.00 - a TRUE drop of $0.09 - Wow :)

    We bought 3l this morning at Aldi for $2.89 and were told they sourced it from the same company as Woolworths. It is their new regular price :)

  • Just to let everyone know the coles brand milk ( not smart buy) is made by brownes in w.a, i dont know it eastern states have brownes but if you do then it will also apply 2 u guys.

  • +1

    i wub coles milk more than woolworths milk

  • -1

    Whatever price the milk, you can be sure it will still be put in the most inconvenient corner of the shop, to make you walk past all the crap.
    Meanwhile, the lollies and cigarettes will be in the most convenient location by the checkout.
    And more shelf space is devoted to potato chips, than to all the milk, cheese, butter and yogurt combined.
    Not because the chips are so popular, but because the makers pay per metre.

    Are there any supermarkets left in Australia that consider the customer?

    • +1

      Are there any supermarkets that ever considered the customer?

      I think you'll find you are comparing supermarkets to a time before you were born.

      • +1

        I think you’ll find you are comparing supermarkets to a time before you were born.

        Hey, I'm the same guy who was reminiscing about glass milk bottles with foil tops, and cream on top.
        Did I say delivered to your door? And I even had free milk every day at school for a couple of years. (In a glass bottle, or course.
        Those were the days. Now I live off UHT half the time :-(

        • +3

          I remember the glass milk bottles with the cream tops too, i was very young then and always thought it was cool how it was delivered to our door.

          UHT is horrible, I think its made from leftovers on adult movie sets X_X

  • smart buy has been taken off the coles range from now on, and it's only the 'coles brand' milk that is left…. hence the drop in price. the smart buy was always cheaper than the coles brand (yes they ran the two side by side), but now that one has been removed theyve dropped the price of the other. both coles and woolworths chains are making a serious play to milk…. similar to petrol. sell for close to or at cost to eliminate the competition, and then control prices in a duopoly.

    i buy A2 Milk anyway. More gentle on my 'digestive system' ;).

    • But remember Coles are not trying to eliminate Woolworths or Aldi, as both could sell their milk for $1 if they wanted to.

      This is just going to hurt IGA and other smaller shops that already have to sell higher then these supermarkets.

      • exactly…. just squeezing out the little guys, and also the other milk suppliers within their own store! Dairy Farmers still flogging 2L for $4+

        • Dairy Farmers is now owned by National Foods

  • -3

    Why not jus go small independent stores selling tried n trusted dairy farmers 2L $2.99??

    • +1

      Because I don't want to pay 99 cents more for a product that is government regulated meaning they are all identical?

      Most of the milk you buy comes from the same place.

  • are these "hormone-free"?

  • the home brand one at woolworths was $2.07, so only 7c off.

  • Meanwhile, dairy farmers are going broke and selling their farms to Chinese buyers. http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/selling-the-farm/part1/. This doesn't bode well…

  • -8

    Us consumers maybe getting a good deal. But is our Australian farmers getting their fair share? They are already struggling with the drought and now they are get the raw deal of what we call "bargain". How are they supposed to put food an their own tables? Shame on you "Coles", profit..profit..profit..!!

    • +8

      Can you please explain how your post makes any sense.

      And how does reducing the selling (to customers) price of something effect what the buying price (from suppliers/farmers) is?

      I don't see how ignorance can be a valid reason for a negative vote.

      And, why are you blaming Coles?

      Your using stupid logic, you should be saying, "Shame on you Coles, Woolworths, Aldi"

      But then your basing this on a selling price, without knowing who is paying the lowest buy price, you won't know who to blame.

      Coles could be buying it for $1.99, Woolworths could be buying it for $1.50. Which means Coles it giving more money to Farmers.

      Just showing you how complaining about something using made up facts is just pointless.

    • +3

      wow u negged liek the most basic deal ever. its coles milk on sale and you managed to neg that. that is just sad.

  • -1

    It amazes me how many people don't agree with what snickers74 says. You will all complain one day how Coles and Woolies charge a ransom for milk when normal Aussie farmers are put out of business by companies like Coles, Aldi etc that will take a loss on one product out of thousands just to put competition out of business

    And no farmers aren't being paid a fair share by Coles or Woolies. Farmers aren't happy read on

    http://www.theage.com.au/national/farmers-froth-over-2-milk-…

    • +1

      hahahahaha

      Please tell me, how will farmers go out of business?

      Lets just say all the farmers died tomorrow, that means the supermarkets won't have any milk to sell.

      Milk suppliers could charge A LOT more for their milk before supermarkets even think about importing from overseas. The problem is that if one supplier puts up the buy price for their milk, another supplier will be VERY HAPPY to sell it to the supermarket at their regular price, and enjoy the benefits of being the only milk supplier in Australia.

      This is just people complaining that competition from other suppliers means they don't make much profit. Welcome to the world of business!


      I'm not sure how hard it is for you to comprehend, but Woolworths/Coles/Aldi ALREADY have undercut:

      Convenience Stores
      Fruit Shops
      Butchers
      Small Supermarkets
      IGA
      Wholesale to public shops

      Please explain how milk will be the death of these smaller shops, when they are already outdone on EVERY SINGLE PRODUCT THEY SELL.

      • Is it really that hard for you to grasp that Coles and Woolies are not absorbing any loss? Heres a little something you might have missed "companies lie". Seriously they have 10,000 items in stock other than milk, up each of those items by a 1/4 of a cent and the loss if any actually existed on what miserable amount they already pay farmers is already made up.

        The fact is yes farmers are under the pump and the pressure would be terrible. How can they compete when the companies they sell their product to (this includes all the companies you listed) can sell an item at a loss. Farmers dont have 10,000 items they can sell under their own brands to compensate for the loss on one item, they sell cheese, milk, and a few other items.

        Its not complaining, its Australians getting over the fact that companies like Woolies and Coles and the others you listed all undercut each other without caring about the people that supply them the product they sell, they dont give a toss, they will just put farmers into ruin and buy milk cheaper overseas and sell an inferior product to moron Australians that will moan how the local product is no longer available.

        • +1

          Wow, its like my post went over your head.

          I'll try to make it really simple and it really big letters

          WHY WOULD A FARMER SELL HIS PRODUCTS AT A LOSS, WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO GAIN FROM IT.

          Farmers can charge $10 a litre if they wanted, the only problem is at that price, importing becomes viable (if supermarkets are allowed to even do this and if customers would even buy milk made from overseas)

          I have an awesome idea

          1. Register ABN
          2. Sell milk for $1 for 2L
          3. Send farmers bankrupt because the magical gods have forced them to sell it at a price that is viable to me.
          4. ????
          5. PROFIT!

          I never knew we had so many weirdos on ozbargain.

    • +4

      Coles has announced it is absorbing the cost of the price reduction. How long that remains so is another question however. It's quite possible for Coles and Woolworths to run milk as a loss leader because it's a staple almost everyone buys (hello vegans and lactose intolerants). Milk is an easy benchmark to compare store prices.

      Still, in all of this I do wonder. Has anyone ever heard of a happy farmer? It's either droughts, floods, or being gouged on price by the supermarket duopoly.

  • +4

    Won't anyone think of the cows!

    • The Bulls ?

  • +1

    I wish one really knew just how much the farmers were getting. I'm sure it was quoted at only 5% of purchase price some time back.

    For some, yes every cent saved at the shops counts.
    Personally, I wouldn't mind paying more to know it was really going to the producer.

    If we could just stop importing so much sh!t unecessarily then perhaps our local producers and manufacturers, and the community at large would be better off.

  • I hate skim/lite milk, so happy to see the full cream milk hit the fridge at work.
    The Coles full cream milk UHT tastes so much better than the watery Dairy Farmers one!

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