Butter’s up, but don't blame the processors – or the supermarkets

The state of the butter section at the Costco megastore in West Auckland recently shows how precious the product has become. (Image: BusinessDesk)

Riley Kennedy

Fri, 11 Jul 2025

“Butter blowout: The $12 block hitting your wallet.”“Who’s to blame for soaring butter prices?”“Here’s how much butter prices might still have to rise.”Stories and headlines like these lamenting the high cost of butter on our supermarket shelves have been the gift that keeps on giving in recent times.The dairy aisle appears to have become a lightning rod of frustration about the cost of living.Stats NZ figures last month showed the average price for two litres of milk was $4.57, up 15.1% over the...

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