Back in the 1980s most milk was delivered to the doorstep by our local milkmen. Figures suggest that nearly 80% of our daily pints arrived on the back of a milk float. Today, that figure has dropped to nearer 13% and has looked like it is in terminal decline in some parts of the country. Milk delivery in London, you would expect, has pretty much ceased to exist, but surprisingly there has been something of a comeback in recent years and this could well be set to continue.

Price wars

Supermarkets are well known for their lethal affects on High Streets around the country - London being no exception. Our shopping habits have changed with the rise of these cut-price giants. With the power of bulk purchase behind them the price of supermarket shopping has been one of the key reasons it has been so popular. The 21st century saw the rise of another threat to the traditional milk delivery services in London and other UK cities. The internet - specifically internet grocery shopping - has had a slow start but is making headway. More and more people are willing to purchase daily essentials online and have them delivered directly to their door. Weekly and monthly shops are well suited to this, but all the little shops in between are still necessary and it's in this area that the milkmen of old have been able to find a niche that may well save their industry.

Changing needs

Another trend that has seen consumers more interested in the services of smaller delivery services has been the increasing focus on green living. Supermarkets have tried to cater for this, but like all large companies with massive supply systems in place, they are unable to react quickly. Veg box schemes and locally sourced produce have been the buzz words of the last few years - and milk delivery services in London have seen an opportunity ripe for the picking. Providing additional products for delivery was the obvious route for the dairies - everyday essentials that all households run out of from time to time. Milk, eggs, cheese, tea, coffee, bread, toilet roll and tin foil; the list goes on - in the case of some dairies it goes on by around 250 products.

Big advantages with small services

The real advantage to milk delivery in London - or any UK city - is that with established rounds the dairies don't add a delivery charge. Considering the fact that you can order just one or two items and expect delivery bright and early the next morning, this service is unique. The milkmen are usually delivering before the supermarket's delivery men and women have clocked on for the day - and with an ordering facility that allows you to place an order up to nine pm, this has to be the most efficient grocery delivery going. Milk delivery in London may have been on the decline for many years but that now seems set to change - a fact that will please many consumers as much as it will the milkmen themselves.