TikTok Trend Sparks Surge in Cottage Cheese Demand in the UK
Graham’s Family Dairy, a prominent Scottish dairy company, has embarked on a significant expansion of its cottage cheese production capabilities. The company recently completed a £3.5 million extension at its Glenfield site in Fife, aimed at meeting the surging demand for cottage cheese. This expansion is expected to increase production by 50%, while also creating 25 new local jobs.
This resurgence in demand for cottage cheese, once considered a retro product, is largely attributed to its popularity on TikTok. Social media influencers have been sharing recipes featuring cottage cheese, leading to substantial increases in viewership and interest. Notably, TikTok posts such as 'cottage cheese breakfast rounds' and 'cottage cheese edible cookie dough' have garnered millions of views, propelling the trend further.
Supermarket giant Tesco has reported that demand for cottage cheese has tripled in the past two years. Correspondingly, Graham’s Family Dairy has seen its sales double, translating to an additional two million kilograms sold. According to The Grocer, monthly volumes of cottage cheese in the UK increased from approximately 900,000 kg at the start of 2023 to over 1.7 million kg by the end of 2025.
Robert Graham, managing director of Graham’s Family Dairy, noted that the trend was first observed around May 2023. Since then, the company has been working relentlessly to keep up with demand, which has now surpassed their traditional milk business. The company has also begun exporting to international markets, including the Gulf States and Hong Kong.
The expansion will allow Graham’s to maintain its traditional open-vat production process, which is said to give the cottage cheese a firmer curd and more natural texture. This commitment to quality has been a cornerstone of their business strategy, even as they scale up operations to meet global demand.
Impact on the Broader Market
The impact of this trend extends beyond Graham’s Family Dairy, as it represents a broader shift in consumer preferences within the UK dairy industry. Elizabeth Tomkins, a Tesco buyer, highlighted that TikTok food trends often lead to sudden spikes in sales, but the cottage cheese phenomenon represents a more sustained increase in demand. As a result, Tesco is increasing its orders to cope with record levels of consumer interest.
