Consumer demand for cheese as one of the favorite snacks globally has risen following the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced snacking trends that have led to heightened demand for comfort foods, ease of convenience, and healthy snacks. (1) A significant portion of the global population (52%) is shifting towards consuming snacks which have increased during the pandemic (88%). (2) This has influenced innovation in the cheese sector, with key innovations in cheese pointing toward natural, healthy, highly nutritious, transparency in the ingredients and processing, clean label, and sustainability. (3) Although Western Europe, at 36%, is the largest consumer of cheese, followed by North America in 2020, the trend is shifting toward Australasia and China. (8)
The global cheese-snacking market enjoyed a share of $64 billion in 2021 and sales are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% by 2030. (2) Snacking cheese is preferred by most of the population due to its nutrient properties, portability, and unique taste. (4) With the emergence of new brands and food startups, cheese snacks are gaining more momentum. This has led to snack manufacturers producing more cheese snacks. (2) The inclusion of a variety of cheese flavors in salty snacks has fostered an emotional attachment to cheese snack brands. When it comes to flavor, Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Parmesan are North America and Europe's most popular cheese snack flavors. Additionally, dairy flavors such as milk and cream play a central role in savory snack flavors in Asian countries. One trend that has remained consistent in the cheese industry is the onslaught of new flavors such as nettle-infused, international inspiration, upscale and exotic. (5)