Cottage cheese demand is soaring, according to a Waikato cheesemaker, with supermarkets also reporting a sharp increase in sales of this popular dairy product.
Kelvin Haigh, owner and organic cheesemaker at the Cheese Barn in Matatoki, Waikato, said the demand is so high that he can’t keep up with production.
Haigh said the organic A2 milk he uses for making cottage cheese comes from Jersey cows in Matamata, but as winter approaches and milk production drops, this limits the amount of cheese he can produce.
He also mentioned that their primary customers are organic stores, and this week they received more orders than the amount of cheese produced in the factory.
Meanwhile, Fonterra’s consumer sales director, Guy Blaikie, has reported that the company has seen a marked rise in demand for cottage cheese, with sales volumes now more than 60% higher than during the same quarter last year.
Supermarkets are seeing strong gains, with Woolworths NZ recording a 50% rise in cottage cheese sales across its stores over the past three months.
In Australia, Coles supermarkets experienced empty shelves as cottage cheese surged in popularity. This marks a contrast to five years ago, when cottage cheese was hard to sell and its few buyers were typically older adults.
Bulla Dairy Foods in Australia has also responded to the surge in cottage cheese demand by increasing its production capacity and hiring two additional cottage cheese makers to keep up with the growing market needs.
The rising demand for cottage cheese
Cottage cheese’s surge in popularity is largely credited to viral social media trends, especially TikTok videos that began in the United States about a year ago and sparked a wave of interest among younger consumers.
Cottage cheese is a low-calorie, curdled milk product known for its mild flavour and creamy, slightly soupy texture. It is especially popular with those aiming to lose weight and bodybuilders due to its high protein content.