Italy Cheese Market Overview, 2027

The Romans were avid cheese makers and eaters who introduced hard cheese production to several European countries. Pecorino Romano, a lovely nutty and sweet sheep's milk cheese, dates back to Roman times. The numerous monasteries that dotted mediaeval Italy were sites of cheese-making prowess. The manner Italian cheese is consumed differs from that of any other country, with a strong emphasis on cooking and complementing other cuisines. Many types of Italian cheese were developed to be served with salads, sauces, meat dishes, and desserts and they continue to do so today. Cheese is the lifeblood of many classic Italian dishes. From the asiago and famous Parmigiano-Reggiano in the north to the Burrata and mozzarella in the south, Italy is saturated with delectable dairy. However, the true identity of these cheeses lies not in their titles, but in their terroir and provenance. According to a recent estimate of Italian cheese, there are 450 types of commercial cheese made in Italy, trailing just UK and France. The European Commission has given protected status to 34 of them. The majority of the world-famous Italian cheeses with PDO certification have ancient origins; for example, Pecorino has a 2,000-year history. Mozzarella is undoubtedly the most well-known of all Italian cheeses. Other popular cheeses in Italy include Gorgonzola, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, Mascarpane, Ricotta, Taleggio, Starcchino, Asiago, Bel Paese, and Burrata.

According to the report, Italy Cheese Market Overview, 2027 the market is anticipated to add USD 1.95 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 Italy 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 Italy Cheese Market due to the convenience of having all products in one area and many selections at the same time. Conad, Selex, Coop, Végé, and Agorà are the largest hypermarkets and supermarkets in Italy. The largest grocery network in Italy is called Conad, and it has about 3,300 locations across the country. 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.

Italy has a population of 59.07 million, of which 28.78 million are men and 30.29 million are women. The bulk of the population, approximately 38.40 million people, is between the ages of 15 and 65. 10.8 million People reside in rural areas, compared to 56.5 million in urban areas. Italy is predicted to have a GDP of 2.1 trillion USD, an inflation rate of 1.9%, and a per capita income of $35,551.3, according to the World Bank. In 2021, the total population of people aged 65 and up in Italy was 24%. In addition, in 2019, the country has the highest proportion of elderly people in Europe. Lactose levels begin to decline with age, resulting in nausea, stomach discomfort, gas, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Furthermore, the geriatric population has a significant rate of lactose malabsorption. Simultaneously, for animal welfare and health reasons, the majority of the Italian people are migrating to alternative nutritional patterns. As a result, Nestlé started a new R&D accelerator in September 2020 to accelerate the development of sustainable dairy products and plant-based dairy alternatives.

Some of the major participants in the Italian cheese market are Groupe Lactalis SA, Granarolo SpA, Zanetti SpA, and Latteria Soresina SCA. Galbani, a Groupe Lactalis brand, is Italy's No. 1 brand in cheese goods. Other brands in the Italy Cheese Market include Soresina Grana Padano DPO, Pinna Pecorino Romano DPO, Marte Ricotta Marzotica, and Prealpi Filatino.

Italian cheeses are making an impression on the global dairy market due to their high quality and adaptability, which allows for a variety of uses both at the table and in the kitchen. Data from Clal, an Italian consulting business working in the sector, reveal that exports increased in volume (+14.1 percent) and value (+21.7 percent) in the first half of this year, with unit prices climbing +6.6 percent (to €7.29/kg). EU countries account for 70% of the market, with France remaining by far the most popular destination country. Indeed, in the first half of this year, 65,291 tonnes of Italian cheese were sold in France (+15.7 percent), compared to 37,300 tonnes exported to Germany, Italy's second commercial destination. Following a time of uncertainty following Brexit, commerce between Italy and the UK has also improved, with 25,827 tonnes of Italian cheese imported in the first seven months of 2022, up +21.4 percent from the same period in 2021. Italian cheeses are developing a name for themselves outside of the European continent. For example, in August 2022, the United States imported 4,236 tonnes of cheese from Italy (up +38.5 percent from August 2021), increasing Italy's market share to 22 percent of total cheese imported from the United States in the first eight months of 2022.
The fertile lands of Lombardy in northern Italy are home to some of the most popular cheese kinds, including Taleggio, Grana Padano, and the fantastic Gorgonzola. The blue mold veins that emerge through the cheese give this wonderful creamy blue cheese its particular flavor. Gorgonzola is said to have originated in the 9th or 10th centuries and was named after the town from which it originated.

The greater fat content of cheese is anticipated to be one of the notable elements among other restrictions that are limiting growth potential in the global cheese industry. Because of the negative health impacts of the higher fat content, cheese consumption is limited among the obese population.

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: Italy
• Historic year: 2016
• Base year: 2021
• Estimated year: 2022
• Forecast year: 2027

Aspects covered in this report

• Italy 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.