The founder of Shiraki and Chairman of the Georgian Dairy Association, Nikoloz Beniaidze, announced that the company does not plan to increase prices for milk or dairy products until at least autumn 2026. According to him, the prices of Shiraki’s products remain stable, and no price hikes were recorded during the recent New Year period.
“Nothing has changed in my company yet. Prices were not increased before the New Year. Only if something unusual happens on the market, such as a rise in cashback programs affecting everyone, might we consider it. For now, there is no need to raise prices. If nothing extraordinary occurs, prices will remain unchanged until at least autumn 2026,” Beniaidze said.
Beniaidze also highlighted product falsification as a major challenge for the dairy sector. Low-quality powdered milk and fats are being used to produce cheaper, counterfeit products, while the country faces a shortage of raw milk, which further encourages such practices. He noted that communication between the state and sector representatives has intensified, and measures such as stricter labeling and clear differentiation between real milk products and those made with powders or fats are expected.
Additionally, Beniaidze emphasized the need for additional support for farmers importing livestock, noting that costs have risen sharply. “Previously, high-yield dairy cattle cost €2,000–2,200. Now prices are at least €1,000 higher. Importing livestock now costs around 10,000 GEL. And there is no guarantee that the animals will produce milk, they may get sick or die. The risks are especially high in the first few months,” he explained.
