UK Cheese Market Overview, 2027

Making cheese in England extends back approximately 2,000 years. Evidence suggests that during the summer months, the Romans who occupied the region at the time used rennet from ruminant animals to make cheese, recognizing cheese as an essential food source. Land ownership practices impacted how cheese was made and consumed for much of the middle Ages. The feudal system of lords and tenants favored concentrated production that took advantage of the labour available through agricultural laborers. A similar approach meant that relatively little cheese was traded, instead serving as food for the locals who produced it. The United Kingdom is well renowned for its huge, rugged wheels. Soft cheeses, sometimes known as cream cheeses locally, are produced, albeit with less fanfare. These cheeses, made in styles with and without extra cream, all shared the method of draining curds in molds lined with cheesecloth during the early stages of manufacturing. Slipcote, which has been manufactured since the middle Ages, is the most well-known of the softer cheeses. Cheshire was the most common cheese manufactured in England prior to the rise of cheddar. By the mid-seventeenth century, more than 4,000 farms were producing the crumbly, dense cheese, despite the fact that the average herd size was only 5 cows - barely enough to produce a wheel of Cheshire cheese every day. Farms in the southwest, on the other hand, would frequently pool resources to produce massive, 120-pound wheels that could withstand severe ageing, typically for more than 5 years. Cheddar is the most popular cheese in the United Kingdom, accounting for over half of all sales. It gets its name from the Cheddar Gorge caves in Somerset, where it was once stored to ripen. The second most popular cheese is mozzarella, which was traditionally made from buffalo milk but is now most usually made from cow's milk. Cathedral City is one of the leading brands in the UK cheese market, with a retail sales value of £262 million in 2021/22.

According to the report, United Kingdom Cheese Market Overview, 2027 the market is anticipated to add USD 1.77 Billion by 2027. The increased spending power of consumers in developed economies is also expected to boost cheese sales. Furthermore, changing food preferences and an increasing number of working women are expected to fuel expansion potential in the Cheese market. Furthermore, increased consumption of pizza and other European-style fast foods appears to be one of the main trends, particularly among young people, to expand sales potential for cheese. The increasing demand for various product flavors in local cuisines drives the UK cheese industry. Aside from that, rising consumption of authentic regional cheese in the region is fueling market expansion. Furthermore, the rising premiumization of cheese by several regional brands is supporting market expansion.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets dominate the UK Cheese Market due to the convenience of having all products in one area and many selections at the same time. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op Food, Waitrose, Morrison’s, and ASDA are the largest hypermarkets and supermarkets in UK. Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket chain, has around 4,000 stores and a product range that focuses on price over quality. Sainsbury’s, Tesco’s biggest competitor, has over 2,000 stores. In recent years, there has been a tremendous increase in internet usage and the use of e-commerce websites to acquire culinary items that include cheese. Carrefour, Walmart, Amazon, and other well-known vertical specialists are attracted to the market.

Saputo (Cathedral City), Mondelez (Dairylea, Philadelphia,) Kerry (Strings& Things), Ornua Foods (Pilgrims Choice), Bel (Babybel, Galbani, Boursin), Lactalis (Seriously, President), Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Waitrose & Partners, Wyke Farms, M&S, Tesco, Arla Foods (B.O.B), Grass Routes Dairy Co., Primula, Sheese, Vitalife, Sojasun Corn are the leading cheese brands in United Kingdom.

There are 67.3 million people living in the United Kingdom, 33.25 million of whom are men and 34.05 million of whom are women. Between the ages of 15 and 65, 42.7 million people make up the majority of the population.10.8 million Individuals live in country regions contrasted with 56.5 million in metropolitan regions. The World Bank estimates that UK has a GDP of 3.19 trillion USD, an inflation rate of 2.5 percent, and a per capita income of US$47,334.4. According to some statistics, 35% of UK adults eat cheese 2-3 times a week, 71% of UK consumers have bought cheddar in the past three months, and 66% of cheese eaters believe that own-label cheese is just as good quality as branded cheese.

Excess body weight is one of the top causes of poor health in the United Kingdom, according to Public Health England. This is due to the fact that the majority of the population is overweight, which has been linked to an increased risk of a variety of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and numerous malignancies. In England, the proportion of adults who are overweight or obese is 63%, with 36% of people being overweight and 28% being obese. As a result, public awareness of the need to avoid such health risks, as well as greater health consciousness, is boosting demand for food products containing healthy ingredients. To that purpose, the pant-based alternative movement has gained substantial traction in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, allergen-free varieties of typical items (gluten-free & lactose-free) have permeated ready-to-eat food products, which have been extensively recognized by the growing number of single homes. Thus, among a plethora of plant-based alternatives and vegan products, cheese has seen significant advancements.

Recent Development:

• Aldi U.K. introduced vegan cheese in January 2022 under the Plant Menu banner of the retailer. Gluten and soy are not present in this coconut oil-based product.
• In September 2020, it was reported that Domino’s had launched two plant-based pizzas made from hand-stretched vegan dough and a plant-based cheese that does not contain any dairy or animal-derived products. Besides, a vegan-friendly version of its popular garlic and herb dip was also introduced.
• In July 2020, dairy brand Norse land Ltd. of Applewood fame was reported to expand its dairy-free range with a spicy plant-based version of its popular cheese flavor. Similar to its predecessor, this new vegan version is devoid of soy, nuts, milk, lactose, gluten, and eggs.

Covid-19 Impact:

During the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the business was severely disrupted due to changing demand. The worldwide lockdowns prompted the foodservice industry to close, cutting demand for all processed food goods dramatically. Furthermore, costs are likely to reduce as high-quality products become less desirable. In contrast, increased adoption of low-cost varieties at wholesale prices from retail shops for home cooking is expected to balance the supply chain. Following the pandemic, the Cheese market is likely to benefit from the re-establishment of the foodservice sector and renewed cheese processing capacity.

Considered in this report

• Geography: UK
• Historic year: 2016
• Base year: 2021
• Estimated year: 2022
• Forecast year: 2027

Aspects covered in this report

• UK Cheese market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product

• Mozzarella
• Cheddar
• Feta
• Parmesan
• Roquefort
• Others

By Source

• Animals
• Plants

By Type

• Natural
• Processed

By Distribution Channel

• Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
• Convenience Stores
• Specialty Stores
• Online retail
• Others

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Cheese industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.