Aisles
A GROWING APPETITE FOR CHEESE Retailers and suppliers “whey” in on the state of fromage in Canada By Michele Sponagle
GETTY IMAGES/KASIA2003
CANADA’S LOVE affair with cheese shows no sign of waning. Over a 10-year period (2010 to 2020), consumption increased by 15% with the average Canadian enjoying 12.5 kilograms per year—with gains in the last couple of years, according to Statista. Its data shows Canada sits in the fifth spot among cheese-nibbling nations. In 2022, unprocessed cheese sales in Canada are expected to hit US $3,38 million, and processed cheese sales will earn another US $801 million, with several factors driving market growth. PLANT-BASED INNOVATION The plant-based cheese market may be small, but it is mighty and growing. As health-conscious consumers embrace newer trends like flexitarianism (a diet that focuses on plant-based foods and moderate meat consumption), suppliers and grocers continue
to add more products that taste and perform like their dairy-based counterparts. Daiya was the first to market plant-based cheeses in Canada back in 2008. Its latest formulations for its cheese blocks have amped up their creaminess factor, thanks to the introduction of ingredients like oats and chickpeas. A variety of SKUs, including Medium Cheddar, Jalapeño Havarti and Monterey Jack, dressed in their new packaging, have found their place alongside regular dairy choices. Daiya has also added a spreadable Garlic & Herb Cream Cheeze made with coconut cream to its roster. Big names have opted in, too. The Laughing Cow, a 100-year-old brand under the Groupe Bel umbrella, now offers The Laughing Cow Mix line, a hybrid of real cheese, legumes and herbs. New flavours include one with paprika and red beans and another with herbs, packaged in the traditional round box. The company has also introduced a dairy-free Boursin and its plant-based Nurishh line. Future of Cheese, a plant-based food company owned by Toronto-area grocer Organic Garage, is getting noticed for its dairy alternatives. Run by co-founders chef Craig Harding and maître fromager (cheese master) Afrim Pristine, the company’s first production run of ripened brie, which launched
May 2022 || CANADIAN GROCER
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