UK Cheese Market Set for Growth: Key Trends Driving the Sector in 2025
Key Trends Shaping the Market
1. Premiumisation Amid Cost Pressures
Despite inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, premiumisation is a significant growth driver. Consumers are exploring new ways to enjoy cheese, such as incorporating it into hot recipes or rediscovering traditional varieties. This aligns with a broader trend of balancing affordability with indulgence, positioning cheese as both a staple and a luxury.
2. Cheese as a Protein Powerhouse
With over half of consumers increasingly scrutinizing product labels, cheese’s nutritional benefits are becoming a key selling point. Providing essential dairy nutrients like protein and all nine essential amino acids, cheese is gaining traction as a functional food supporting muscle health, bone strength, and immunity.
3. Growth in Hot Eating Cheese
The hot cheese category, offering quick and indulgent meal solutions, is thriving. Products like Président Extra Creamy Brie cater to this demand, leveraging consumer willingness to pay for premium, specialized options. This trend reflects an increasing appetite for versatility and indulgence in cheese consumption.
4. Meat Alternatives and Flexitarian Appeal
Cheese is carving a niche as a versatile meat alternative in vegetarian and flexitarian diets. Its use in meat-free recipes and as a protein source continues to appeal to consumers reducing their meat intake.
5. Personalisation and Creativity
As consumers seek unique ways to enjoy cheese, social media platforms like TikTok are driving culinary creativity. From new recipes to personalized cheese pairings, this trend blurs the lines between everyday, specialty, and recipe cheeses, encouraging experimentation.
6. Demand for Unique and Global Flavours
Cheese with herbaceous and bold flavors, such as black pepper, truffle, or Gouda, is gaining popularity. Lactalis’s expansion of its Seriously Spreadable range, including the new Black Pepper variant, demonstrates the rising demand for versatile, flavor-forward options.
Emerging Trends Impacting the Market
- Regionality: Locally sourced products resonate with consumers, with regional brands like Orkney and Galloway driving growth in Scotland.
- Sustainability: Shoppers expect manufacturers to offer environmentally friendly and plastic-free packaging options, aligning with broader consumer concerns about sustainability.
Future Outlook
Heloise Le Norcy-Trott, Group Marketing Director for Lactalis UK & Ireland, emphasized the exciting opportunities in the cheese market. “The next twelve months present a chance to innovate, adapt, and grow. By aligning with consumer demands for premium, sustainable, and versatile products, we can continue driving momentum in the UK cheese sector.”
