Cheese, cheese and more

Most people eat cheese as part of their everyday diet, and there are some who truly love it. There are hundreds of different types of cheese. Although it has been traditionally a food more associated with western diets, it is rapidly making it’s way into the fridges and homes of people across the whole world.

Brazil is an example of this growing market. Since 2009, the consumption per person of cheese in Brazil has risen from 3.4 kg to 5.4kg in 2014. It is expected that if that growth continues, the consumption per person will be near 8.6kg per person by 2019, according to Canadean Research.

Interestingly, there are five big brands of cheese in the world, and they only hold less than 10% of the total market. Cheese is ideally suited to be a gourmet food, and this obviously accounts for a large part of the market.

The global value of cheese in 2014 was US$216.3 billion and according to Canadean Research, that figure is set to exceed US$237 billion by 2019.

The global cheese market is growing strongly, driven by emerging countries such as Brazil, where cheese consumption is expected to triple in less than a decade. However, the top five global brands hold less than 10% of the market.

Dhara Badiani, analyst at Canadean, said; “With rising competition, top players in the market are building unique strategies, such as new product traits and uses, to differentiate themselves from other brands.”

So what is driving this massive increase in the consumption of cheese?

People with an increasing disposable income in Brazil and the other emerging countries are looking hungrily at pizza and other foods containing cheese, and then buying them. This includes the fast food chains.

Dhara Badiani said; “Western foods such as pizza, pasta and sandwiches have become more popular in many emerging markets in recent year.”

The French may eat the most cheese per person but it is the Italian cheese Mozzarella which holds the place as the number one cheese in the world. The increasing popularity of pizza would certainly be helping this.

For interest, based on sales, this is the top ten list of most popular cheeses;

1. Mozzarella
2. Brie
3. Parmigiano – Reggiano
4. Sharp Cheddar
5. Gruyere
6. Feta
7. Provolone
8. Swiss
9. Monterey Jack
10. Gouda

I thought it might also be fun to check out what are the most expensive cheeses in the world;

1. Pule (or “donkey’s pet” in Serbian) – US $600/pound – made from the milk of 100 donkeys which must be milked by hand.
2. White Stilton Gold (English) – US $420/pound – dessert cheese which contains real gold. Made by Clawson, the producer of White and Blue Stilton.
3. Moose Cheese (Swedish) – US $300/pound – made from the milk of just three moose cows and only between May and September.
4. Bitto storico (Italian) – US $150/pound – a rare Italian cheese
5. Caciocavallo Podolico (Italian) – US $42/pound – made from milk from a rare breed of cows, which only lactate from May to June.

Rachelle Williams, The Green Food Safety Coach.