Madison, WI — Millennials are a driving force behind new flavors, textures, and products in the cheese industry, as this generation is more willing to spend more on higher-quality food experiences involving specialty and unique cheeses. This trend is one of many examined in What’s in Store 2016, the annual trends research report published by the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA).
Other findings from the book’s Cheese chapter include:
- Shopping baskets that contain specialty cheese are worth nearly double the baskets that do not ($92 vs. $48).
- Forty-six percent of shoppers purchase cheese to increase their calcium intake, while 45% buy it to increase protein intake. Eighty-seven percent say cheese makes a great snack, and 77% say it’s part of a healthy diet.
- Among ways food retailers and producers are connecting with today’s cheese shoppers are: “better-for-you”, single-serve products; more specialty cheese varieties like Gouda, Asiago, and Brie; and the infusion of flavors like ginger, coconut, bacon, sweets (caramel, maple syrup), etc.
- Among the attributes of new product introductions in 2015 are: protein; full-fat; grass-fed; and flavor infusions.
Exploration and creativity within the breakfast category for meal solution ideas, and “on the go” takeout options from the deli/cheese center present new opportunities to increase specialty cheese sales and consumer discovery of new cheeses.
“There’s no doubt that breakfast consisting of dairy is a growth trend at retail,” said Jim Dimataris, director of processor relations, California Milk Advisory Board. “We see cheese and other dairy items being used in deli departments and coffee venues to make easy on-the-go options like breakfast sandwiches, muffins and even smoothies, due to their quick preparation, portability, and high protein content.”
With 30 years of credible reporting, What’s in Store is an essential dairy-deli-supermarket foodservice-bakery-cheese resource providing vital data on the retail and market trends, growth, and category changes shaping the food industry. IDDBA also offers What’s in Store Online, is a collection of 150 downloadable tables, as well as white papers and trends articles.
A secondary research report, What’s in Store is developed through both interviews with industry experts and sourcing of third-party data and trends. (A complete listing of sources can be found here.)
This year’s edition of What’s in Store has a more continuous storyline to improve user efficiency and provide greater clarity for professionals needing to understand today’s retail world. Through five themes, readers gain new insights and learn about marketplace influences. The themes are:
- The Economy & Retail Trends
- Channels & Competition
- Consumer Lifestyles
- Eating Trends
- Technology and Marketing
The themed narrative is carried into each of the product chapters: Bakery, Cheese, Dairy, and Deli. The new format, exclusive interview content, and inclusion of key insights, table interpretations, data callouts, and testimonials enables the reader to more efficiently tie back to the broader context and then dig deeper in each of the product sections.
“Cheese continues to be a mainstay in baskets, with 98% of households purchasing it,” said Mary Kay O’Connor, VP Education, IDDBA. “As detailed in What’s in Store 2016, retailers can connect with today’s shoppers through single-serve options, positioning cheese as a high-protein snack, offering specialty cheese varieties like Gouda, Asiago, and Brie, and selling local products, which especially appeals to Millennials interested in the source of the food they buy.
“However, while shopping baskets that contain specialty cheese are worth nearly double the baskets that do not, the average annual specialty cheese expenditure is still only $18.”
The purchase price of What’s in Store 2016 is $99 members, $399 nonmembers. Purchase one or multiple copies and learn more about What’s in Store 2016 and IDDBA’s collection of original research reports at iddba.org.
About IDDBA: IDDBA is a nonprofit membership organization serving the dairy, deli, bakery, cheese, and supermarket foodservice industries. Member companies enjoy many benefits and services including the annual seminar and expo, leading-edge research, training programs, management tools, and an annual trends report. For more information contact IDDBA at 608.310.5000 or visit iddba.org.
Source: International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA)
