A quiet suburban driveway Subjects: The "Glass Bottle Era" (1996) vs. The "App-Based Revival" (2021) Part I: 1996 – The Golden Sunset
By 2018, Arthur was the sole remaining milkman covering a district that once required three full-time vans. He worked seven days a week. Christmas Day was the only day off. Interview With A Milkman -1996- -2021-
We sat down with John, a milkman who has been delivering milk to households for over 25 years, to talk about his experiences, changes in the industry, and his thoughts on the future. A quiet suburban driveway Subjects: The "Glass Bottle
People still want the glass bottles? Arthur: It’s the ritual. The sound of the crate, the silver foil tops. People like knowing that while they’re dreaming, the milk fairy has been. Plus, you can’t beat that cream at the top. Supermarkets? They sell white water in plastic. It’s got no soul. Christmas Day was the only day off
That’s the thing about milk. It doesn't turn sour all at once. It does it slowly, degree by degree. The first big crack was around 2004. That’s when the discounters—Aldi, Lidl—started selling four pints for less than a quid. Cost of production. It didn't make sense. But the customer? They saw the price sticker and forgot the service.