The cheese market has experienced high-velocity growth in the past five years and will continue the growth trajectory as the fastest-growing dairy category.

Thanks to more cheese offerings as an ingredient in other snack categories and foodservice, consumers are starting to accept the unique flavours but remain conflicted on the nutritional value of cheese. Cheese snacks are still more strongly associated with being sweet, and most offerings are targeted at children.

To reach more consumption occasions and convince consumers that it is also suitable for adults, brands may use foodservice as touchpoints to educate consumers on different ways of eating or using cheese. Brands may also use new technologies to process cheese into more snack formats and compete in the widening scope of the snack market instead of against other dairy products.

This Report covers hard/extra hard (eg parmesan, Emmental), semi-hard (eg Prato, gouda), soft (eg brie, mozzarella), spreadable/processed cheese (eg cream cheese, cheese lollipops). Market size comprises packaged and unpackaged sales through all retail channels, including direct to consumer.

Cottage cheese, fromage frais/quark/curd/paneer and cheese dips.