Montenegro’s leading domestic dairies plan to raise wholesale prices for yoghurt, sour milk and cream by an average of 8.5% from November 9, the Montenegrin dairy producers’ association disclosed on November 7. The change will test how supermarket chains respond to higher supplier prices, while the effect on consumers will depend on retailers’ decisions.
The association, which includes Lazine, Nika and Srna, said this would be the first price increase for the affected fermented dairy products since 2022. Producers attributed the move to accumulated production-cost increases over the preceding four years and said the planned rise would recover only part of their additional costs.
They cited cumulative inflation of approximately 18.42% between the previous price adjustment and September 2026. Prices for pasteurised milk will remain unchanged, the producers said.
Major supermarket chains had informed domestic food manufacturers that they would not accept certain increases in procurement prices. The restrictions have become a source of tension between retailers and suppliers in Montenegro’s dairy, meat and bakery industries. Producers said they sent retailers revised price lists approximately three weeks before implementation.
The producers rejected suggestions that the increase was directly caused by the government’s proposed Euro Model wage reforms, which had not yet taken effect. They said their decision reflected costs already incurred.
Retailers could pass the full wholesale increase on to customers, absorb some of it through lower margins or renegotiate supply terms. A higher wholesale price does not necessarily mean an identical percentage increase on store shelves. Accepting higher supplier prices would add pressure to household food costs amid heightened public concern over inflation.
Producers said maintaining margins was important to cover raw milk procurement, electricity, packaging, labour and distribution expenses. The planned increase could indicate how pricing power is distributed between large retail chains and domestic food manufacturers. The next test is whether the new price lists take effect on November 9 and how quickly any changes appear in consumer prices.
