Baby milks product availability

Can't see this email? Click here to view it in your browser. Unsubscribe and close my account Dear Teething Runny, Update on milks products availability I wrote to you a few weeks ago to give you my perspective on the issues that were causing inconsistent availability of some of our products in shops. You may remember the media coverage at the time which highlighted the fact that unofficial export traders were purchasing large quantities from stores which, in some parts of the country, was causing an issue for UK mums when they went to buy formula for their young ones. Although the situation seems to have eased a little, I know that some of you are still finding it difficult to find your preferred brand without shopping around. I completely understand the stress that this causes and we’ve been working hard to improve the situation. It is the No1 priority for me and my team. We have increased our production and we’re now producing more milk formula than ever before. In fact we’re now supplying way in excess of the needs of UK families. We have worked closely with the retailers to ensure that this additional stock gets to UK babies and not to the unofficial traders who send it overseas. The retailers have successfully implemented a cap of 2 packs per purchase to limit the product being bought, in bulk, for commercial purposes outside the UK. We believe that these restrictions are a sensible precaution and will likely remain in place for the foreseeable future. Throughout this period we have been making decisions to prioritise our production in favour of baby milks for young babies up to 12 months. This is because, for mums who cannot breastfeed, or choose not to, infant formula is the only nutritionally appropriate and safe alternative. So, to free up more production capacity, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend production of our powdered Growing Up Milk 2 for toddlers aged 2-3 years. The production time that would have been given to Growing Up Milk 2 will now be dedicated to baby milks for babies under 12 months. This is a short term measure that I believe is in the best interests of babies and parents. In making this decision we sought the views of expert bodies, who have agreed that bottle-fed babies under 12 months must be our priority. I very much regret that circumstances outside our control have dictated this decision but feel that it is the best course of action for us to take in the short term, in the interests of young babies. As a consequence of this decision, stocks of powdered Growing Up Milk 2 for toddlers aged 2-3 years will decline from May onwards. I fully understand that this may cause problems for families with toddlers between 2 and 3 years old, and would encourage you to call our Careline where my colleagues will help you with a number of alternative suggestions. To be clear, this decision only affects our products made for toddlers aged 2-3 years and all other products are NOT affected by this decision. The reality is that this will allow us to manufacture increased volumes of our other products in an effort to further improve in store availability on shelf. It is clear that the situation has eased a little over the last few weeks, but we remain vigilant and committed to doing everything we can to ensure that UK families can find the products they need. I invite you to get in touch with us if you are having difficulties finding your preferred brand or if you have any questions on this or any other topic – we are here to help by free phone, 24/7 on 0800 977 4000, email or live chat. John Sykes Managing Director, Danone Baby Nutrition UK Unsubscribe and close my account cowandgate.co.uk Update my details This information is being sent to you in response to your individual request for information by email from Cow & Gate. If any of your details have changed, such as your postal or email address, your due date or baby's date of birth, please update your details. This will help us give you the most relevant advice for your stage. You can also unsubscribe & close your account at any time. Breastfeeding is best for babies and provides many benefits. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, you eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast and bottle feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of your own breastmilk, and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. The social and financial implications of using an infant milk should be considered. Improper use of an infant milk or inappropriate foods or feeding methods may present a health hazard. If you use an infant milk, you should follow manufacturer’s instructions for use carefully – failure to follow the instructions may make your baby ill. Always consult your doctor, midwife or health visitor for advice about feeding your baby. This email has been sent on behalf of Nutricia Ltd; registered company number 00275552, registered address Newmarket Avenue, White Horse Business Park, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 0XQ.