Dairy Processing - June 2021 - 26

FORMULATIONS
A creative
APPROACH
T
Cheese manufacturers used shifting consumer habits as an opportunity to be innovative.
by Donna Berry | donnaberry@dairy-food.com
he COVID-19 pandemic shifted a significant amount of
cheese consumption from foodservice, where about
one-third of all cheese is consumed in the US, to athome
consumption. While retailers benefitted, commodity
cheese manufacturers found themselves in a challenging
position this past year, with excess supplies of the basics that
go on burgers, pizzas and tacos. Some cheese marketers quickly
pivoted to become more competitive in the retail sector, this
included getting creative with milks, flavors and formats.
" In 2020, the dairy department grew from being a $54
billion business to generating more than $61 billion, " said
Abrielle Backhaus, research coordinator, International Dairy
Deli Bakery Association, Madison, Wis. " Milk and natural
cheese remained the two sales powerhouses all year long. "
Retail natural cheese dollar sales were up $2 billion in
2020, as compared to the previous year, which is reflective of
a 19.6% increase, ending the year at $11.9 billion, according to
data from IRI, Chicago. Processed cheese-everything from
American slices to cold-pack spreads--reached $2.5 billion,
which is a 16.4% increase from the previous year.
With more consumers eating breakfast at home, including
the popular bagel and cream cheese, this cultured dairy
spread experienced a 17.5% increase in dollar sales, reaching a
value of $2.1 billion at retail.
Marketers are staying busy rolling out new products
to keep the momentum going. Suppliers are assisting with
ingredient technologies to keep product consistent, fresh and
economically feasible.
FOUR FUNDAMENTAL INGREDIENTS
All " real " cheeses are made from some type of milk, most
notably from a cow, but goat and sheep are gaining traction.
With the help of just three additional ingredients-cultures,
enzymes and salt-that milk is converted into more than
300 varieties of cheese in the US. Most commodity cheeses
26 JUN 2021 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
-- American, cheddar, mozzarella and even pepper Jack --are
produced in closed, automated systems that require little to
no human interaction. It's the cheeses that are made in small
batches, and often hand cut, manually seasoned and possibly
formed into unique shapes, that garnered attention during the
pandemic, providing permission to consumers suffering from
food fatigue to dip into their pockets and splurge.
Aldi Inc., Batavia, Ill., has been a leader in offering limitededition,
seasonal cheeses even before the pandemic. The
private-label retailer stepped-up its efforts this past year and
continues to do so, with its most recent innovation being
wax-coated 5.3-oz Mother's Day cheeses. The pink tulipshaped
offering, which included messaging of " Who needs
flowers when you can have cheese? Happy Mother's Day, " was
Wensleydale cheese with strawberries and prosecco. The red
heart variety was a mature cheddar with whimsical scripting
of " Mom, you're really grate' and showed a cheese grater.
Organic Valley, La Farge, Wis., saw an opportunity to
develop a clean label version of the familiar pasteurized
processed American cheese slices that come individually
wrapped in cellophane. New Organic Valley American Cheese
Premium Pasteurized Prepared Cheese delivers all the melt
and flavor consumers want. The slices are made with seven
ingredients, including butter from pasture-raised cows. With no
preservatives or added hormones, the combination of butter
and cheddar creates a meltier cheese with a mom-approved
clean ingredient list. The slices debuted in yellow and white
varieties, with each 5-oz pack containing eight slices.
Cheese wraps became a thing the past few years,
with more stores now stocking them. Intended to be a
tortilla or flatbread replacement, cheese wraps contain
no carbohydrates, making them Atkins and keto friendly.
Crystal Farms, Lake Mills, Wis., recently added a cheddar and
Monterey Jack blend to its lineup. The 1-oz cheese slices are
sold in six packs in a convenient resealable tray.
http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Dairy Processing - June 2021

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