U.S. Retail Cheese Sales Grow to $17 Billion

American's longstanding love for cheese spurred growth in the natural and specialty cheese market to sales of $17 billion in 2015, according to a recent report by market research publisher Packaged Facts. 

Since 2011, this mature food industry segment has enjoyed a modest compound annual growth rate of 4 percent. America's aforementioned love of cheese, combined with snacking trends and wider availability of quality cheese at more affordable prices, have been the primary catalysts for the uptick, according to Cheese: Natural and Specialty Cheeses in the U.S. and Global Markets, 6th Edition.

"The cheese market is appropriately ripe and the impact of the recession on sales is still being felt. But there are real opportunities to grow sales. Marketers are capitalizing, for instance, by positioning cheese as a kid-friendly snack and through the increased availability of indulgent gourmet and artisan cheese varieties," said David Sprinkle, research director, Packaged Facts.

Marketers have continued to promote cheese as fundamentally nutritious and good tasting, despite its high fat content. Fat content as well as sodium are challenges to growth in the market, and marketers have been addressing consumer health and diet concerns with better tasting reduced salt and fat cheeses, as well as organic cheeses and cheeses made from healthier milk. 

Cheese sales likewise continue to benefit significantly from the snacking trend, with parents in particular driving sales of convenient forms given to their kids. Healthy alternatives like yogurt, fruit snacks and others have challenged cheese in the snacking arena. 

Further driving growth is the continued expansion of mass retailers' own private label brands to include natural and specialty cheeses. Private label store brands are a major market driver, accounting for more than 40 percent of dollar sales. 

Many retailers have also upgraded their cheese departments to attract consumers who want cheese-shop quality products in the supermarket, supercenter or club store. 

Cheese: Natural and Specialty Cheeses in the U.S. and Global Markets, 6th Edition presents a detailed analysis of the U.S. consumer market for natural and specialty cheese sold directly to consumers through retail outlets including "bricks and mortar" stores as well as catalogs, Internet sites and others. It outlines key issues and trends affecting the overall market and analyzes all product categories and segments of natural and specialty cheeses. 

The report also discusses major players and brands, and analyzes their key activities and performance. Market size data are provided for 2011–2015 and projections for 2015–2020.