Cheeses have always played a leading role in cuisines around the world. Its countless variations range from the well-known mozzarella to the refined Camembert de chèvre, enriching meals and pleasing the different tastes of the public.
European leading role in cheese consumption and production
In particular, the European and American people stand out, who led consumption in recent years with US$ 25.9 billion consumed by the US and US$ 11.2 billion by Germany in 2019, followed by Italy and France. As for world cheese production, the US led the last ranking of 2019 with 6.3 million tons, followed by Germany (3.5 million tons) and France (1.9 million tons), resulting in a combined share 46% of global production according to Indexbox.
Closing of food services and drop in consumption
With regard to international trade as a whole, the cheese market comes from a long growth that lasted from the beginning of 2018 to the beginning of 2020, having grown around 7% over those years, according to Maximum Foods. However, with the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, this advance was interrupted as the need to protect oneself resulted in the temporary closing of bars and restaurants during quarantine. This event, in turn, led to a strong retraction in domestic demand for dairy products that depended heavily on food service chains.
New trends and innovation possibilities
Furthermore, this pandemic context highlighted new global consumption trends in line with health concerns. According to the Innova Consumer Survey, 6 out of 10 consumers worldwide are seeking food and beverages to boost their immunity, which ultimately results in a greater search for water-based or herbal products. In Brazil, for example, there is already a variety of products such as yogurts, butters and plant-based cheeses. Therefore, there is a lot of room for innovation in the dairy sector in 2021, especially with regard to products with greater nutritional density and added value.
Positive expectations for the future
In the Brazilian case in particular, the forecast for the year 2021, according to the Brazilian Association of Cheese Industries, is that, little by little, the market will pick up again. As the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 is the off-season for dairy production, the lower supply of raw material contributes to a certain balance in relation to the weakened demand. In addition, in a more optimistic scenario of resumption of consumption, it makes room for possible increases in the prices of cheeses and other dairy products.
Importance of an international consultant
In short, given the turbulent context of the pandemic, the cheese market suffered some losses in relation to the drop in consumption with the closure of food services. However, new doors have opened and innovative possibilities are on the horizon. Betting on products with high nutritional indices is a great way for anyone who wants to invest in a new business and achieve success. However, in order to take advantage of the best opportunities in the still growing market and avoid potential problems, it is extremely important to have assertive and reliable information and studies at hand, as well as the monitoring of a consultancy that will guide and assist the entrepreneur during all stages of the process.
By Annaluisa Lima on 01/28/2021
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