Dairy Processing - June 2021 - 34

PACKAGING
A CUT ABOVE
Sliced cheese innovations and improvements
accompany new product development.
by Lynn Petrak | lpetrak@sosland.com
T
he best thing since sliced bread? With strong demand
for cheese and products that make preparing and
enjoying it that much easier, sliced cheeses are growing
in form and variety.
More people working and learning at home over the past
year has translated into a lot of meals and snacks featuring
sliced cheeses. According to the latest " What's in Store " report
from the Madison, Wis.-based International Dairy Deli Bakery
Association (IDDBA), sales of deli grab-and-go cheeses
climbed 21.2%, while sales of deli pre-sliced cheese rose 10.5%.
Top varieties of resliced deli cheeses include mainstays of
Swiss, American and cheddar/cheddar blends.
Even stalwart products are getting a bit of a makeover.
This spring, Organic Valley, La Farge, Wis., introduced a new
line of sliced American cheeses sold in a 6-oz. package with
eight slices.
One of Sargento's newest products is a premium Reserve
Cheese line, with slices of cheese aged for full flavor and
texture and made with no antibiotics, no artificial flavors or
growth hormones. The cheeses from the Plymouth, Wis.headquartered
brand are sold shingle style in a resealable
pack with 10 slices and vivid billboard graphics.
In addition to classic sliced cheeses for sandwiches and
other traditional recipes, cheese slices are taking new forms
and sizes as consumers' tastes evolve. Smaller sliced cheese
34 JUN 2021 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
portions are starring in at-home charcuterie boards, one
of the biggest trends of the past year. Columbus Meats, a
subsidary of Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., introduced
a Charcuterie Tasting Board that includes sliced meats,
sliced white cheddar cheese and other snacks. For elevated
snacking, the Hillshire Farm brand from Tyson Foods Inc.,
now offers a packaged small plate charcuterie board with
Gouda and cheddar squares that complement the cured meats.
Meanwhile, as keto, paleo, gluten-free and high protein
diets remain popular, a replacement for tortillas and breads
comes in the form of cheese. Lotito Foods of Edison, NJ
developed a Folios line of cheese wraps made from parmesan,
cheddar cheese or low-carb, keto-friendly spin on the
traditional wrap that is 100% made from all natural lightly
baked sheets of Jarlsberg cheese. The product comes with
four " slightly baked " circular sheets of cheese.
Not all cheese that is sliced in a cheese production facility
is thin. Pre-sliced wedges are also getting a new look with
products like Cello Cheese Flights from Fairfield, NJ-based
Schuman Cheese. A trio of sliced portions of cheeses is
packaged in a refrigerated, ready-to-use tray.
EQUIPPED FOR EVOLVING NEEDS
As consumers look for convenience while enjoying sliced
cheeses at home, manufacturers are working with their
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Dairy Processing - June 2021

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