This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Dairy Foods logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Dairy Foods logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Print Edition
    • Digital Edition
    • Dairy Product Innovations Newsletter
    • Columnists
    • Archives
    • Dairy 100
    • State of the Industry Report
    • Supplier News
    • Processor News
    • Featured Product Advertisement
  • Products
    • Best of ...
    • Butter
    • Cheese
    • Cultured Dairy
    • Frozen Desserts
    • Ice Cream/Novelties
    • Milk
    • New Products
    • Non-Dairy Beverages
    • Sales Data
    • Whey, Milk Powder
    • Dairy Alternatives
    • Submit Your Product
  • Ingredients
    • Cocoa
    • Colors/Flavors
    • Cultures/Enzymes
    • Fiber
    • Inclusions
    • Omegas/Lipids
    • Prebiotics
    • Probiotics
    • Sweeteners
    • Texturants
    • Other
  • Operations
    • Equipment
    • Processing
    • Packaging
    • Food Safety
  • Web Exclusives
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Blogs
    • Case Studies
    • Dairy Foods TV
    • Digital Brochures
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Directories
    • Buyers Guide
    • Dairy Plants USA
    • Take a Tour
  • Awards
    • Breakthrough Award
    • Exporter of the Year
    • Plant of the Year Award
  • More
    • Associations
    • Calendar of Events
    • Classifieds
    • Market Research
    • Dairy Foods Store
    • FISA Distributor Guide
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Tradeshow and Events
    • Dairy Facts & Stats
    • eBooks
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
    • Dairy Product Innovations eNewsletter
    • Online Registration
    • Subscription Customer Service
    • Connect with Dairy Foods
Home » Dairy Market Trends: Making a Comeback
Dairy Foods & BeveragesCheeseSales DataNew Dairy Products

Dairy Market Trends: Making a Comeback

December 1, 2010
Marina Mayer
KEYWORDS cheese / market share / sales / symphonyiri
Reprints
No Comments
For 2009 and 2010, a grim economy has presented some bleak numbers in terms of new product launches, according to a survey conducted by Chicago-based Mintel. While consumers were pinching pennies, cheesemakers were clamping down on innovations for fear of spreading too thin.

For 2009 and 2010, a grim economy has presented some bleak numbers in terms of new product launches, according to a survey conducted by Chicago-based Mintel. While consumers were pinching pennies, cheesemakers were clamping down on innovations for fear of spreading too thin.

In fact, Mintel reports only 298 new product introductions last year, which is 248 and 328 fewer launches since 2007 and 2008, respectively.

For instance, last year, the category experienced 207 fewer introductions of unflavored/plain cheese products since 2008 and a whopping 107 fewer new products in the other segment, Mintel data show. Other varieties, such as jalapeño pepper and chipotle, undertook nine and five fewer product launches, respectively.

On the other hand, pepper cheeses blossomed from zero to seven new products while garlic and herb- and bacon-flavored cheeses remained steady at six and three new products, respectively, according to the Mintel survey.

Despite 2009’s lackluster figures, the cheese category displays a thriving comeback in 2010 with 448 total new product launches for the year (through Oct. 27), Mintel says. Although these numbers don’t meet the surge of new products launched in 2008, the increase provides some hope that the economy is turning around and consumers are hitting up the cheese aisle.

In fact, cheese consumption would appear to be on the rise, which coupled with sales numbers, suggests that consumers are seeking out deals where possible, according to Mintel.

For example, the unflavored/plain cheese segment saw 319 new products, up 106 from last year but 101 new products shy from 2008. Meanwhile, the “other” segment jumped 22 new products to 88, garlic and herb doubled from six to 12, smoked cheese rose from two to 10, pepper soared by three to reach 10 and vegetable increased from one to three new product launches, the Mintel survey says.

New chipotle cheese products remained stable at one new product launch a year, but that’s five less than 2007 and 2008. And bacon-flavored cheeses even dropped by one new product launch since last year.

According to Mintel, “popular” cheeses are eaten most (88%), followed by American cheese (77%). Among the “popular” cheeses, Cheddar is eaten by a full 92% of respondents, followed closely by Mozzarella.

Meanwhile, fat (43%) and calorie (41%) content are top-of-mind for cheese eaters, particularly for women.

And, regardless of the flavor, price point or portability option, shoppers are still not lured into purchasing “cheap” cheese, even if it means buying into a lower price bracket, the Mintel study outlines.

Cheese as a snack has myriad competitors, ranging from salted chips to fruits and nuts and yes, even yogurt. In addition, more than half of all cheese-eating respondents buy individually wrapped cheese for snack and lunchbox purposes, the study says.

Whatever the purpose or occasion, the cheese category will continue to make a comeback thanks to an increase in new product launches.

For more about cheese, see Dairy Foods’ Annual Cheese Outlook (October 2010) and “Slicing up the Competition” in Dairy Foods’ State of the Industry report (November 2010).

subscribe to dairy foods

Recent Articles by Marina Mayer

Baby boomers want better beverages

All Good Things Come to an End

Marina Mayer's Marketing Musings

Marina Mayer's Marketing Musings

Dairy Foods Trend Forecast for 2012

Marina-headshot

Marina Mayer is the former executive editor of Dairy Foods. She wrote the popular Marketing Musings blog. Beginning April 2012, Marina became the editor-in-chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods magazine, like Dairy Foods, published by BNP Media.

Related Articles

Dairy Market Trends: Cultured Comeback

Dairy Market Trends - 2/1/2011

State of the Industry 2017: Ice cream makes a comeback

Non-dairy Beverage Trends

Related Events

Cheese: The Latest in Trends and Technology

Related Directories

Belgioioso Cheese Inc. (Denmark, WI)

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • Dairy Product Innovations eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Connect with Dairy Foods

More Videos

Popular Stories

Saputo Inc. is our Processor of the Year

2019 Processor of the Year: Saputo Inc., a giant in more ways than one

2019 State of the Industry: Ice cream and frozen novelties are hot and cold

2019 State of the Industry: Ice cream and frozen novelties are hot and cold

2019 State of the Industry: Butter wins a combination ticket

2019 State of the Industry: Butter wins a combination ticket

Borden premium eggnog

Houston residents start petition to bring back Borden’s Premium eggnog

best new dairy products 2019

It’s time to vote for your favorite new dairy products!

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

ESL Technologies

Dairy beverage producers: Where does your company stand when it comes to extended-shelf-life (ESL) technologies?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Tharp & Young on Ice Cream: An Encyclopedic Guide to Ice Cream Science and Technology

Tharp & Young on Ice Cream: An Encyclopedic Guide to Ice Cream Science and Technology

An at once an all-inclusive guide to the meaning of hundreds of technical terms and ideas needed for ice cream manufacturing, as well as a practical introduction to the ingredients, freezing methods, flavoring, and packaging of ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, gelato, frozen yogurts, novelties and many other kinds of frozen desserts.

See More Products

best new dairy products 2019

Dairy Foods Magazine

dairy foods december 2019

2019 December

Check out the December issue of Dairy Foods, including our profile of our Processor of the Year: Saputo.
View More Create Account
  • More
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Staff
    • Order Reprints
    • List Rental
    • Food & Beverage Brands
    • Newsletter
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Want More?
    • Privacy Policy
    • Survey And Sample
  • Helpful Links
    • Dairy 100 List
    • Dairy Plants USA Database
    • Dairy Prices
    • Interstate Milk Shippers List
    • Milk Pasteurization: The Effects of Time and Temperature
    • National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments
    • Pasteurized Milk Ordinance
    • Standards of Identity for Dairy Products
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Galleries
    • Periodic Table of Dairy Foods
    • Monthly Poll Question
    • Dairy Facts & Stats
  • Exclusives
    • Best of 2014
    • Best of 2013
    • First Half Favorites: 2013
    • Best of 2012
    • 2016 Dairy 100
    • 2015 Dairy 100
    • 2014 Dairy 100
    • 2013 Dairy 100
    • Dairy 100 Articles
    • 2016 State of the Industry Report
    • 2015 State of the Industry Report
    • 2014 State of the Industry Report
    • 2013 State of the Industry Report
  • Advertise
    • Monthly Promos

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing