Table of Contents
Overview
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- What you need to know
- Issues covered in this Report
Executive Summary
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- The market
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- Figure 1: Estimated retail sales of cheese, RoI and NI, 2012-17
- Figure 2: Estimated value of the RoI specialty cheese market vs. all other cheese, RoI, 2017
- Forecast
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- Figure 3: Indexed estimated retail sales of cheese, RoI and NI, 2012-22
- Market factors
- Cheese prices increase in NI, but continue to fall in RoI
- Failure to achieve Brexit deal could see cheese tariffs
- RoI consumers more confident about their economic future
- Full-fat cheese does not increase heart attack risk
- Very strong increase in cheese products with protein claims
- Companies and innovations
- The consumer
- Four in five consumers bought cheddar
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- Figure 4: Types of cheese that consumers have bought for themselves or others in the last three months, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Sandwiches and toast key cheese occasions
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- Figure 5: Ways that consumers have used/ eaten cheese in the last three months, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Consumers see cheese as protein source
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- Figure 6: Agreement with statements related to cheese, NI and RoI, February 2017
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Cheese market grows in 2017 despite Brexit setback
- Cheese prices decline in RoI, but increase in NI/UK
- Failure to achieve Brexit deal could see cheese tariffs
- RoI consumers more confident about their economic future
- Full-fat cheese may not be so bad for you
- Protein continuing to be a key trend
Market Size and Forecast
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- Brexit referendum stalls growth in NI
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- Figure 7: Estimated retail sales of cheese, IoI, RoI and NI, 2012-22
- RoI sees strong year-on-year growth in cheese value
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- Figure 8: Indexed estimated retail sales of cheese, RoI and NI, 2012-22
- Specialty cheese continues to grow in value
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- Figure 9: Estimated value of the RoI specialty cheese market, RoI, 2012-17
Market Drivers
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- RoI cheese prices continue to decline
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- Figure 10: Consumer price indices of cheese and curd, RoI, March 2012-April 2017
- Q1 sees cheese prices in UK/NI increase
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- Figure 11: Consumer price indices of cheese and curd, UK (including NI), Q1 2015 -Q1 2017
- Brexit could affect dairy market on both sides of the border
- Higher economic confidence in RoI could be beneficial to cheese sales
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- Figure 12: How consumers think the general economic condition of the country will change over the next 12 months, NI and RoI, April 2017
- Figure 13: How consumers think their own personal financial situation will change over the next 12 months, NI and RoI, April 2017
- Delis ideal channel for targeting specialist cheese at RoI consumers
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- Figure 14: Selected types of food specialists/artisan retailers visited in the last three months, NI and RoI, April 2016
- Consumers told full-fat cheese does not increase heart attack risk
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- Figure 15: Agreement with the statement ‘Low-fat cheese tastes as good as full-fat cheese’, NI and RoI, February 2017
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- Figure 16: Agreement with statements relating to diet foods, NI and RoI, August 2016
- Protein power could help drive cheese consumption
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- Figure 17: Indexed growth of all food products vs. cheese products launched claiming to be high protein, UK and Ireland, 2012-16
- Figure 18: Perceived benefits of eating or drinking high-protein food and drinks, NI and RoI, February 2017
Key Players and Innovations – What You Need to Know
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- ‘Vegetarian’ cheese dominates new product launches
- Fivemiletown continues to produce despite financial hardship
- Brexit presents major difficulties for Irish dairy
- Glanbia Co-operative striving for a better deal for farmers
- Cashel Farmhouse produce claims World Cheese awards
Who’s Innovating?
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- Free-from cheeses
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- Figure 19: New product launches in Irish cheese market with free-from claims, 2012-17*
- Fat-free cheese
- Vegan-friendly cheese
- Cheese with high-protein claims
- New cheese product launches in Ireland
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- Figure 20: New product launches in the Irish cheese market, by claims, 2012-16
Companies and Brands
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- Arla Foods
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Dale Farm
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- The Carbery Group
- http://www.greenislefoods.ie/Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Dairygold
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Fivemiletown Creamery
- Key Facts
- Product portfolio
- Glanbia Plc.
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Kerry Group
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Mondelēz International
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- Cheese eating almost universal in Ireland
- Cheese sees high usage in sandwiches
- Cheese seen as a good source of protein
Types of Cheese Purchased
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- Four in five consumers bought cheddar
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- Figure 21: Types of cheese that consumers have bought for themselves or others in the last three months, NI and RoI, February 2017
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- Figure 22: Cheese products launched claiming to be L/N/R lactose, UK and Ireland, 2012-17*
- Cheddar most likely to be bought by women and 35-44-year-olds
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- Figure 23: Consumers who have bought cheddar for themselves or others in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Figure 24: Responsibility for the main grocery shop in household, by gender, NI and RoI, November 2016
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- Figure 25: Consumers who have bought cheddar for themselves or others in the last three months, NI and RoI, 2016 and 2017
- RoI consumers much more likely to buy low-fat cheese
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- Figure 26: Consumers who have bought low/reduced fat cheese for themselves or others in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Figure 27: Consumers who describe their current body type/weight as overweight, by gender and age, NI and RoI, August 2016
- Cream cheese sees greater usage than spreadable cheese
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- Figure 28: Consumers who have bought cream cheese vs spreadable cheese for themselves or others in the last three months, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Meal occasions key driver for cream/ spreadable cheese, but snacking occasions increasingly important
Usage of Cheese
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- As part of a sandwich remains top usage of cheese
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- Figure 29: Ways that consumers have used/ eaten cheese in the last three months, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Cheese in sandwiches has broad appeal
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- Figure 30: Usage of cheese in a sandwich in the last three months, by age, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Figure 31: Agreement with selected statements relating to bread and baked products, NI and RoI, February 2016
- Cheese on crackers popular with ABC1 consumers
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- Figure 32: Usage of cheese with savoury biscuits (eg cracker) in the last three months, by gender and social class, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Cheese key for cooking
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- Figure 33: Usage of cheese when cooking in the last three months, by daily internet usage, NI and RoI, February 2017
Attitudes towards Cheese
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- Cheese seen as a good source of protein
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- Figure 34: Agreement with statements related to cheese, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Interest in high-quality packaging closures
- Mature consumers more likely to see cheese as a protein source
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- Figure 35: Agreement with the statement ‘Eating cheese is a good way to get protein in my diet’, by age, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Seven in 10 interested in trying cheese from around the world
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- Figure 36: Agreement with the statements ‘I am interested in trying new cheeses from around the world’ and ‘I would like more continental-style cheeses made with Irish dairy’, NI and RoI, February 2017
- Over half of consumers would pay more for fair prices for farmers
- Younger consumers prefer mild flavours, mature flavours for the old
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- Figure 37: Agreement with the statement ‘I prefer the flavour of milder-tasting cheese to stronger-tasting cheese’, by age, NI and RoI, February 2017
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- Figure 38: Actual and projected population (%) for RoI and NI, by age, 2011 and 2026
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Definition
- Market size rationale
- Data sources
- Generational Cohorts
- Abbreviations
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