Cheese continues its run as perhaps the strongest segment of the dairy industry. For the year ending Jan. 28, there were very few kinks in its armor.

According to Chicago-based market research firm Circana, most subcategories enjoyed year-over-year (YoY) dollar sales and unit gains for the 52-week period.

It is hard to find something better than cheese at a party, and the “party” for cheese sales starts with overall natural cheese dollar sales, which reached $18.5 billion for the period ending Jan. 28, a 3% YoY gain. Unit sales increased by 2% YoY to 4.78 billion.

Under the natural cheese category, natural cheese-shredded also enjoyed a strong year, with dollar sales jumping 3% YoY to $6.95 billion, and unit sales lifting 2% to 1.9 billion. Private label provides a majority of these sales. Its sales figures basically tracked that of the entire subcategory, with dollar sales and unit sales rising 3% to $4.8 billion and $1.343 billion, respectively, Circana states.

Among the top 10 manufacturers in the natural cheese-shredded subcategory, four enjoyed both YoY dollar sales and unit sales gains. These achievements belong to Tillamook County Creamery Association (dollar sales up 11% to $191 million; unit sales up 10% to 46.6 million); Kansas City, Kan.-based Dairy Farmers of America’s Borden (dollar sales up 17% to $74 million; unit sales up 9% to 24 million); Marietta, Ga.-based V&V Supremo (dollar sales up 12% to $53 million; unit sales rising 16% to 5.5 million); and Montréal-based Saputo’s Frigo (dollar sales up 17% to $51 million; unit sales rising 15% to 13 million).

Natural cheese-chunks had an even slightly better year. According to Circana, this subcategory’s dollar sales rose 4% YoY to $4.8 billion, paired with a unit sales gain of 3% to 1.1 billion. Private label also leads this category, which produced a 6% increase in both dollar sales and unit sales to $1.8 billion and 529 million, respectively.

In this subcategory, Perth Amboy-based Tropical Cheese was the sole double-digit gainer, with dollar sales jumping 19% to nearly $90 million, paired nicely with a 15% unit sales rise to 13.6 million.

Natural cheese-slices was a third subcategory producing solid YoY results. Its dollar sales and unit sales both improved by 3% YoY to $3.3 billion and 977 million, respectively, Circana reveals. Private label was again the top seller, with dollar sales and unit sales both up 5% to $1.77 billion and 597 million, respectively. 

Tillamook, the No. 3 seller, enjoyed one of the strongest years in the natural cheese-slices subcategory. The Tillamook, Ore.-based company’s dollar sales increased 13% YoY to $169 million. Unit sales rocketed higher by 16% to 38.7 million.

Yet another subcategory with a strong year was natural cheese-crumbled. Its dollar sales jumped 7% YoY to $607 million, along with a 4% unit sales gain to 135 million. Private label didn’t lead in dollar sales but was No. 2. Placing first on the list was Stoughton, Wis.-based Emmi Roth’s Athenos, whose dollar sales increased by 9% to $158 million, while unit sales rose 7% to 29 million, Circana states.

In the natural cheese-crumbled subcategory, there were four big winners.  Enjoying double-digit YoY increases were Wisconsin Cheese Group’s La Morenita (dollar sales up 27% to $37 million; unit sales up 14% to 4.9 million), San Jose, Calif.-based Marquez Brothers’ El Mexicano (dollar sales up 27% to $34 million; unit sales up 28% to 9.5 million); Frigo (dollar sales up 36% to $24.3 million; unit sales up 24% to 7.8 million) and Norcross, Ga.-based Ole Mexican Foods’ Verole (dollar sales up 56% to $13.6 million; unit sales up a whopping 101% to 3.14 million).

Refrigerated grated cheese had a fantastic year ending Jan. 28. Its dollar sales skyrocketed by 14% YoY to $169 million, along with a unit sales pop of 7% to 34 million. Private label led this category in terms of sales, but produced mixed results. Its dollar sales rose 4% to $60 million, but unit sales dropped 7% to 12.5 million, as per Circana data.

However, many other manufacturers in this subcategory produced both dollar sales and unit sales gains. These companies include Green Bay, Wis.-based Belgioioso (dollar sales up 23% to $34 million; unit sales up 18% to 7 million); Plymouth, Wis.-based Sartori (dollar sales up 17% to $14 million; unit sales rising 11% to 2.5 million); Darlington, Wis.-based Mexican Cheese Producers’ La Chona (dollar sales up 19% to nearly $12 million; unit sales up 17% to 2.17 million); Chicago-based Lactalis Heritage Dairy’s Kraft (dollar sales up 21% to $6 million; unit sales up 18% to 1.6 million); and Sarasota, Fla.-based Boars Head (dollar sales up 40% to $4.6 million; unit sales up 30% to 617,409). 

Under the natural cheese category, one subcategory exhibited mixed results: natural cheese-slices, whose dollar sales increased 3% YoY to $3.3 billion, but unit sales dipped by 3% to 977 million. Private label led this subcategory, accounting for $1.78 billion in dollar sales, good for a 5% YoY increase to $1.77 billion, as well as a 5% jump in unit sales to 597 million, reports Circana.

Tillamook was again a standout in this subcategory, enjoying a 13% YoY dollar sales increase to $169 million, bettered by a 16% unit sales gain to 38.7 million.

Although many cheese subcategories had tremendous 52-week periods, processed cheese produced more mixed results. Its dollar sales declined a miniscule 0.1% to $3.5 billion, and unit sales dipped by 3% to 740 million, states Circana.

The processed/imitation cheese-slices subcategory eked out a 1% YoY dollar sales gain to $2 billion, but unit sales dropped 2% to 461 million. Kraft Heinz Co.’s Kraft led the way in terms of sales. The Pittsburgh-based company’s dollar sales dropped by 1% YoY to $1.1 billion, while its unit sales dipped by a more pronounced 7% to 191 million.

Borden was a star in the processed/imitation cheese-slices subcategory, enjoying a dollar sales rise of 21% YoY to $90 million; unit sales jumped 16% to 29 million, Circana notes.

Cheese spreads/balls saw dollar sales and unit sales decline YoY. However, the dollar sales decline was small, to the tune of 0.4% YoY to $605 million. Unit sales dropped 4% to 124 million. Topping this category in terms of sales for the 52 weeks ending Jan. 28 was Chicago-based Bel Brands USA’s The Laughing Cow, whose dollar sales dropped 5% YoY to $103 million, as well as an 11% unit sales decline to 25 million. 

The biggest standout in this category was another Bel Brands USA product, Boursin. No. 2 in sales in the cheese spreads/balls subcategory, its sales rocketed higher by 22% to $80 million, pairing nicely with a 19% unit sales gain to 13 million.