Stewart's Shops Lowers Its Milk Prices

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Stewart's Shops Corp. is making it easier for customers to get enough dairy in their diet by decreasing the price of milk at its stores starting Monday, reported the Watertown Daily Times.

Record milk production combined with declining demand is responsible for lower milk prices overall, according to the Northeast Dairy Foods Association.

At Stewart's Shops, the price for a gallon of milk will drop by an average of 30 cents, while the price of a half-gallon will drop by an average of 16 cents.

"Typically when we change our prices, it's within a 10-cent range. With this being such a dramatic change in milk prices, we felt this was a good piece of news that we wanted to share," Stewart's spokesperson Maria D'Amelia stated. "I think it's an opportunity to celebrate."

The Saratoga Springs-based convenience store chain last offered milk below this price in October 2013. Milk prices in 2014 peaked in May at $4.14 per gallon.

Stewart's typically offers milk at lower prices than its competitors due to its vertically integrated distribution model, according to the retailer.

"We take out the middle man because we pick up milk from farms that are local, process it at our plant and take it back to dairies for the customer," D'Amelia said. "Milk prices don't have to be increased because we do much of the transportation ourselves."