Americans’ love affair with cheese is defying gravity. According to Chicago-based market research firm IRI, over the 52 weeks ending Sept. 6, 2020, natural cheese retail sales were swinging high through the air. Dollar sales jumped 15.8% to $15,291.0 million, while unit sales catapulted 9.0% to 4,356.4 million.
Even the once-struggling processed cheese category was performing handsprings. It saw a 13.5% gain in retail dollar sales (to $3,175.1 million) and a 6.8% increase in unit sales (to 776.4 million).