Cheese Market Report

“The cheese market value was US$ 96.32 billion in 2024 and is likely to grow at impressive CAGR of 3.8%, in the long run, to reach US$ 120.48 billion in 2030.”

Market Dynamics

Introduction

Cheese is a familiar kind of dairy product that is obtained by coagulation of milk. Milk turns thick when the constituting element known as casein which is a milk protein starts to cluster together. This often occurs naturally in milk when it turns sour, but it occurs at a much faster rate when rennet, an enzyme in the stomachs of newborn animals is added. The curds are then separated from the liquid whey that is leftover liquid after the cheese-making process. The curd is molded in shapes and then ripened which may last from several days to several years. This process of aging gives the cheese its gourmet taste and also makes it have a distinctive surface.

Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions:

A huge number of strategic alliances including M&As, JVs, etc. have been performed over the past few years:

• In November 2022, the Sargento Foods company have recently issued a statement regarding the intention to acquire Baker Cheese Factory, Inc. based in Wisconsin on merging with Sargento Foods, Baker Cheese Factory, Inc. from St. Cloud Wis. will become a part of the company having the same visions and values as Sargento which aims to be an innovative and the most beloved real live company.
• In May 2022, Kraft Heinz and NotCo signed a strategic partnership that would see the two companies collaborate in producing plant-based cheese products with a co-branding of both parties at scale. Explorations between both companies have led to the formation of a joint partnership called The Kraft Heinz Not Company LLC, which will be spearheaded by Kraft Heinz and headed by NotCo North America’s current CEO, Lucho Lopez-May.
• In February 2022, FrieslandCampina and Domτυ jointly established a new firm to export and market cheap cheese products to the markets in Africa and the Middle East in Egypt. Arabian Food Industries Vice CEO Mohamed Damaty commented on the decision, saying, “We have been planning this venture for quite some time now and think that our current range of products would perfectly complement the African market.” He continued to note that partnering with FrieslandCampina would definitely help the business and the two should expect growth in the future.
• In September 2021, Saputo Inc., a Canadian company specializing in the production of cheese and other dairy products, said that it reached an agreement to buy the assets of two dairy companies that were previously owned by AmeriQual Group Holdings, LLC: Carolina Aseptic and Carolina Dairy. The purchase of these businesses has placed them under Saputo’s Dairy Division USA, and they remain at two locations in North Carolina and provide employment to around 230 people.

Recent Product Development:

• In November 2023, Kraft Heinz Not Company LLC released KRAFT® NotMac&Cheese, an attempt to create the first plant-based KRAFT Mac & Cheese in the United States. This product is the third product that Kraft Heinz and NotCo have launched this year as the companies’ partnership seeks to bring good-tasting plant-based foods to everyone.
• In April 2023, to complement its dairy-free cheese block range, Daiya Foods added new variants of plant-based cheese namely- ‘Smoked Gouda’ and ‘Havarti’.
• In March 2023, New Zealand’s largest exporting firm Fonterra introduced Whai Ora, a brand of organic cheeses for the Asia-Pacific concerned consumers.
• In January 2023, Glanbia came up with a new line of “Pro Performance Cheese” targeted at athletes and people who keep fit and build muscles in the gym among other individuals in need of high-protein snacks.
• In May 2023, Mini Babybel is a brand under the Bel Brands and this plant-based cheese snacking product was launched in the United States in White Cheddar flavor.
• In November 2022, FrieslandCampina launched the “Milner cheese slices” product which came in environmentally friendly packaging.

Market Segments' Analysis

By Product Type

“Cheddar holds the largest share of product segment of the cheese market during the forecast period.”

• The cheese market is segmented into Cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan, American Cheese, Blue Cheese, and Other Product Types.
• Cheddar offers unmatched versatility. It can be consumed fresh and still slightly moist, or after coming to a firm, shaving-able rind and a sharp, crumbly texture. This range enables cheddar to meet a variety of tastes in the mouth since it tastes differently depending on the amount is used. Also, the fact that cheddar cheese has nice melting characteristics makes it to be used in a number of meals in snapshots, macaroni cheese, pizzas, and other casserole recipes.
• Cheddar has no age limit and is taken by people of all ages. It is not too sharp or pungent to be unappetizing to first-time cheese consumers whilst it has the ability to become as diverse and flavorsome as consumers with refined palates would want. This occasionally caused cheddar to be cheaper than other types of cheese and remained easily accessible for the many enthusiasts who consumed it.

By Application Type

“Sauces, Dressings, Dips, and Condiments segment is said to be dominating in the market for cheese market”.

• The market is segmented into Sauces, Dressings, Dips, and Condiments, Sweet & Savory Snacks, Bakery & Confectionery, Ready Meals, and Other Applications.
• Cheese appears to be quite versatile in its application to these products. Cheese can be tender with a creaminess that helps in enhancing delicious sauces or hard with the ability to add much-needed tang to dips.
• Thus, the continuously increasing consumer interest in the convenience and taste of the products is well captured by this segment. Due to the use of these ready-to-use sauces, dips, and condiments when adding cheese flavor to meals their sales and consequently the sale of cheese are boosted.

By Nature Type

“Conventional segment will hold the larger share of the cheese market during the forecast period.”

• The market is segmented into Conventional and Organic.
• Conventional cheese has a long-term existence in the market and consumers always favor this kind of product. Cheese consumers have a taste and a texture expectation of what the traditional cheese has to offer.
• Cheese is one of the products that comes from animal milk and is mostly produced using traditional methods, meaning that it has established structures as opposed to the modern ones; hence the market for cheese is probably more developed and accessible to more people than that of the modern cheese.

By Type

“Cheese Products segment will hold the larger share of the cheese market during the forecast period”.

• The market is segmented into Cheese Products (Solid, Semi-Liquid) and Cheese Powder.
• Consumers, regarding actual cheese, prefer the sensory aspects of the product. Cheese products let one relish all the aspects of a tasty cheese in terms of taste and texture which cannot be the same in the case of powders. They are useful when eating cheese plain or in recipes where the ability of cheese to melt or stretch, the stringiness, or appearance are critical.
• Cheese products also have more functions, these functions can be said to be infinitely approaching each cheese product. They are mostly available in a myriad of flavors, from, smooth and creamy to harsh and dark, and from weak to intense. This makes them suitable to be incorporated in various dishes right from the starters to the desserts. Cheese powders, for their part, have a rather restrictive use that is mainly employed in the enhancement of quickly processed foods and cheese snacks.

By Distribution Channel Type

“Retail segment will hold the largest share of the cheese market during the forecast period.”

• The market is segmented into Retail, Foodservice, and Food Manufacturers.
• Supermarkets and hypermarkets especially in the United States are the main sources where large varieties of cheese are available at reasonable prices. This is beneficial to a wide range of customers and since you are likely to be tempted to go for an impulse purchase then the overall consumption is likely to go up.
• Accessibility is another major factor; we attribute this to the fact that retail stores make it easier to access just what one needs. As can be expected from most convenience foods, cheese is something that consumers can purchase during their regular shopping excursions, further establishing cheese as a staple item in daily meals.

By Source Type

“Animal segment will hold the larger share of the cheese market during the forecast period.”

• The market is segmented into Animal and Plant.
• The animal segment will hold the largest share of the cheese market during the forecast period.
• Consumers primarily influence the process of purchase by opting for this or that product. Some beers are familiar conventional products, which are produced from animal milk and other materials. Consumers across the globe appreciate the smooth and creamy consistency as well as the variety of tastes these cheeses have.
• Cheesemaking that is done around the world mostly involves the use of animal milk. One cannot help but relate many of the outstanding regional cheeses with their specific association with cow, goat, or sheep milk as a fundamental cultural component. All these factors go hand in hand to cement animal-based cheese as the market champ.

Regional Analysis

“Europe is the largest, Whereas Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing market for cheese during the forecast period.”

• In terms of regions, Europe is the largest, Whereas Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market for cheese during the forecast period.
• Europeans have been enjoying cheese intake for hundreds of years. The Europeans have a very strong tradition of making cheese and there is a very large number of regional types of cheese. This makes for a mature market where consumption patterns are firmly set into people’s habits.
• Consumption of cheese has only elevated in the Asia-Pacific countries at a later point in time. Fuelled by increased economic prosperity, change in diet preferences towards a more westernized diet, and people’s inclination towards the consumption of convenient foods filled with cheese, the region has witnessed an increase in cheese consumption. Thus, it reflects the intense interest in the future development of this dynamic market.

Key Players

The market is mildly Fragmented across the region. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors including price, service offerings, regional presence, etc. The following are the key players in the cheese market:

Here is the list of the Top Players (Based on Dominance)

• Arla Foods Group
• Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd.
• Glanbia Plc
• The Kraft Heinz Company
• Saputo Cheese USA Inc.
• BEL Group
• FrieslandCampina
• Daiya Foods, Inc.
• Kite Hill
• Lactalis International
• Sargento Foods Inc

Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players of the market.

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Report Features

This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.

The global cheese market is segmented into the following categories. 

Cheese Market, by Product Type

• Cheddar (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Mozzarella (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Parmesan (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• American Cheese (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Blue Cheese (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Other Product Types (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)

Cheese Market, by Application Type

• Sauces, Dressings, Dips, And Condiments (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Sweet & Savory Snacks (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Bakery & Confectionery (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Ready Meals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Other Applications (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)

Cheese Market, by Nature Type

• Conventional (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Organic (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)

Cheese Market, by Type

• Cheese Products (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
  • Solid (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
  • Semi-Liquid (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Cheese Powder (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)

Cheese Market, by Distribution Channel Type

• Retail (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Foodservice (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Food Manufacturers (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)

Cheese Market, by Source Type

• Animal (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
• Plant (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)

Cheese Market, by Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Others)

Research Methodology

• This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s cheese market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. 
• The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market.
• The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
• This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.
• More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.
• We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Customization Options

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Service portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances

Custom Research: Stratview Research offers custom research services across sectors. In case of any custom research requirement related to market assessment, competitive benchmarking, sourcing and procurement, target screening, and others, please send your inquiry to sales@stratviewresearch.com