instore - November 2017 - 8

specialty insights

CONSIDER

Italian cheeses

Grab-and-go, value-added, snacking and organic are among the hot
trends in the Italian cheese category in 2017.
Saputo Cheese USA Inc.'s Stella-branded line of Italian cheeses features
at least 15 different products, and it's always changing, says Kristy Klug,
a spokeswoman for Montreal-based Saputo. "As consumers evolve,
so do our cheeses. We've recently launched organic offerings for
our Parmesan and Fresh Mozzarella cheeses." Saputo also recently
launched a line of 8 oz Pillow Bags, available in 3-Cheese Italian Blend,
Shredded Parmesan and Shaved Parmesan.

"Consumer demand is growing in the
area of quick-and-easy. People seem
to be getting busier these days rather
than the other way around."
James Riley, Formaggio

Still, some Stella cheeses from Saputo remain popular regardless
of trends, Klug says. "Our Stella Parmesan cheese is aged over ten
months, giving it the distinctive flavor that perfectly complements and
enhances dishes like pasta, salads and grilled vegetables."
What separates Saputo Italian cheeses from those of its competitors, Klug says, are flavor and old world craftsmanship. And the right
merchandising at retail plays a big part in taking advantage of those
qualities, she says. "We include a variety of serving suggestions and
beverage pairings on our packaging to inspire consumers with ideas on
how they can enjoy our cheeses."

8 * NOVEMBER 2017 * instore

Another trend the company
has seen in recent years is
a gradual shift away from
cheese-only products to
value-added offerings that
combine cheese with produce
and/or Italian meats. "There's
also been a consumer demand
trend away from prepare-athome offerings towards graband-go items," Riley says.
Demand for Italian cheeses has been on a steady increase for
years, Riley says. Much of that can be chalked up to simple demographics. "Italian cheese is ubiquitous in American culture. Nearly
everyone loves it. More people equals more Italian cheese sales." The
versatility of Italian cheeses and what Riley calls their "singular" flavor
profiles also play big roles in the category's strength.
Formaggio's Fresh Mozzarella remains its top seller, Riley says. The
product's success is a textbook case of foodservice buzz carrying over
to retail. "It hit the foodie zeitgeist a decade or so ago and then made
it onto countless restaurants' appetizer menus," he says. "People very
quickly discovered our product on the store shelves and added it to

Grab-and-go and other
value-added offerings
are among the trends
Formaggio and other
Italian cheese makers
are capitalizing on.
SAPUTO, FORMAGGIO, BELGIOIOSO

Hurleyville, New York-based Formaggio is known for its award-winning
mozzarella, grated romano and parmesan and other products. New at
the company, says James
Riley, the company's vice
president of media, is a
sharper focus on snack
and party items and
grab-and-go offerings.
"Consumer demand is
growing in the area of
quick-and-easy. People
seem to be getting busier
these days rather than
the other way around.

Formaggio's new lines are
meeting this demand with
some enthusiasm."

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of instore - November 2017