According to the Office for National Statistics, food prices are on the rise, with dairy products such as cheese experiencing particularly sharp increases. In fact, a kilogram of Cheddar cheese is now priced at £9.40 per kg, which is £3 more than it was just a year ago. The reasons for this include the bovine tuberculosis pandemic, the spike in oil prices caused by the war in Ukraine, and rising energy, packaging and transport costs.
As a result of the rising costs, consumers are choosing milder cheese varieties over stronger ones. Ashbury, a food labelling consultant, reports that people are turning away from stronger cheeses due to their increasing prices and opting for more versatile options. Ashbury analysed Google Keyword Planner data from the UK over the past year to determine the most popular cheese varieties.
According to their findings, Roquefort, Provolone, Parmesan, Camembert, and Munster cheese are all decreasing in popularity. The recipe searches for Roquefort and piquant Provolone fell by around one-third, while Parmesan was next on the list with 18% fewer searches compared to last year. Similarly, the recipe searches for the famously-smelly Munster also decreased by 12%. Even searches for Camembert-based recipes declined by 18%, despite Brie maintaining its popularity.
On the other hand, mild cheeses like Swiss cheese, Cheddar, Gruyere, Mozzarella, and Goat Cheese are gaining popularity. Swiss cheese ranked top at 49%, followed by Cheddar at 23% and Gruyere, Mozzarella, and Goat Cheese, all up by 22%. Swiss cheese, in particular, is versatile, creamy, and easy to melt, making it useful for a wide range of dishes such as chicken cordon bleu, fondue, and toasties.
The rising cost of cheese and other dairy products seem to have caused this shift in cheese taste preferences. Even though the cost of Cheddar has gone up by £3 per kg from last year, demand for it is higher than ever.
Cathy Lane, Senior Regulatory Advisor at Ashbury, stated:
“Our research shows how quickly tastes can change, especially as the cost of cheese and other dairy products continue to rise. Stinky cheeses seem to have taken a particular tumble. There could be any number of reasons why people seem to prefer milder varieties over stronger ones at the moment. Cheddar was weighing in at £9.40 per kilo in April this year compared to £6.40 for the same month in 2022. Even so, the jump in popularity revealed in our research could be down to cash-strapped households choosing a variety they know the whole family will enjoy, or which can be used across a number of different dishes.”
In conclusion, the dairy industry is facing significant hurdles, and cheese prices are skyrocketing. This has caused consumers to shift their tastes to milder cheese varieties, which are more versatile and easier on the wallet. Despite the rising costs, demand for Cheddar cheese and other milder cheese types remains high, indicating that consumers are looking for reliable and diverse options for their meals.
