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Ireland Cheese Market Report 2022

Ireland Cheese Market Report 2022

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“Cheese usage has increased amongst COVID-19 and Brexit, and sales are expected to remain stable amidst the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Even if prices are due to increase, it is believed that cheese is a popular enough product in Irish households that consumers will continue to seek it out no matter the price”
– Rebecca Blenman, Market Research Analyst

This Report looks at the following areas:

The impact of COVID-19 on consumer behaviour and cheese
The impact of Brexit and falling consumer prices on cheese
The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the cheese market
Trends emerging from COVID-19
The opportunities for functional health claims in cheese
Opportunities in cheese alternatives
Ethical issues affecting the cheese market

Collapse All

Overview
- What You Need to Know
- Key Issues covered in this Report
- COVID-19: Market Context
- Issues covered in this Report
Executive Summary
- The market
- Short, medium and long-term impact on the industry
  - Figure 1: Expected impact of COVID-19 on cheese products, short, medium and long-term, 2022
- Cheese sales to rise again in the coming years
  - Figure 2: Estimated retail sales of cheese, by value sales, IoI, NI and RoI (adjusted for COVID-19), 2016-26
- The influence of COVID-19 on cheese prices
  - Figure 3: Consumer prices indices of cheese and curd products, UK (including NI) and Ireland, 2019-21
- Consumers’ cheese usage has remained stable throughout the pandemic
  - Figure 4: Consumers who reported eating/using cheese 2-3 times a week, NI and RoI, 2020-22
- Innovations
- The consumer
- Consumers eat/use cheese on a regular basis
  - Figure 5: Frequency of consumer cheese usage, NI and RoI, 2022
- Consumers of higher affluence in a better position to indulge
  - Figure 6: Consumers who bought regional British cheese and cream/soft cheese in the last three months, by socio-economic group, NI and RoI, 2022
- Cheese is most popular when eaten/used with bread
  - Figure 7: Ways consumers have eaten/used cheese in the last three months, NI and RoI, 2022
- Younger consumers show an interest in cheese with gut health benefits
  - Figure 8: Consumers who expressed an interest in cheese with added ingredients promoting gut health, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
- Younger consumers seeking more inspiration
  - Figure 9: Consumers who are buying more cheese now compared to 12 months ago, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
- What we think
The Market – Key Takeaways
- The decline of cheese prices in March 2020 and the fluctuation that followed
- COVID-19’s impact on at-home cheese behaviours
- Companies/brands to benefit from transparency of water usage
Market Sizes and Forecast
- Short, medium and long-term impact on the industry
  - Figure 10: Expected impact of COVID-19 on cheese products, short, medium and long-term, 2022
- Cheese market sees slight decline post-COVID-19
  - Figure 11: Estimated retail sales of cheese, by value sales, IoI, NI and RoI (adjusted for COVID-19), 2016-26
- Growth of 2.4% predicted by 2026
  - Figure 12: Estimated retail sales of cheese, by value sales, IoI (adjusted for COVID-19), 2016-26
Market Drivers
- Cheese prices fell in March 2020
  - Figure 13: Consumer prices indices of cheese and curd products, UK (including NI) and Ireland, 2019-21
- NI cheese prices fluctuated from the end of 2020
- The impact of COVID-19
  - Figure 14: Consumers who reported eating/using cheese 2-3 times a week, NI and RoI, 2020-22
- - Figure 15: Consumer behaviours towards cooking – Select items, IoI, 2021
- Growth of the Irish cheese market
  - Figure 16: Frequency of consumer cheese usage, NI and RoI, 2022
- Demand for cheese companies/brands to increase ethical transparency
  - Figure 17: Key factors driving consumer behaviour around surroundings and rights – Select items, UK and Ireland, 2021
- Cheese’s versatility boosting activity in the market
  - Figure 18: Consumer behaviours towards red meat consumption, IoI, 2021
- The impact of Brexit
- The impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Irish cheese production
  - Figure 19: “Have you been affected by any of these issues over the last 2 months”, IoI, 2022
Companies and Innovations – Key Takeaways
- Vegan and plant-based cheese of interest to consumers
- Ethical packaging remains important
- Consumers seeking more indulgence post-COVID-19
- Cheese snacks an area of innovation
Who’s Innovating?
- Vegetarian remains the top claim
  - Figure 20: Claims for new launches of cheese products, UK and Ireland, 2017-22*
- Ethical claims experience significant growth
  - Figure 21: Environmentally friendly and recyclable packaging claims for cheese products, UK and Ireland, 2017-21
- Pandemic lockdowns influence growth of seasonal cheese
  - Figure 22: Seasonal claim for cheese products, UK and Ireland, 2017-21
  - Figure 23: New releases of cheese products with a seasonal claim, UK and Ireland, 2022
- Companies encouraged to explore versatility of cheese
  - Figure 24: New launch of Cheesies’ 60g bags
Company Profiles
- Arla Foods
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Brand NPD
  - Figure 25: New product releases of cheese products from Arla Foods, UK and Ireland, 2022
- Recent Developments
- Carbery
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Recent Developments
- Cashel Blue Farmhouse Cheesemakers
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Recent Developments
- Dale Farm
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Recent Developments
- Dairy Crest/ Saputo Dairy UK
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Brand NPD
  - Figure 26: New product releases of cheese products from Dairy Crest/Saputo Dairy, UK and Ireland, 2021
- Recent Developments
- Dairygold
- Key Facts
- Recent Developments
- Kerry Group
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Brand NPD
  - Figure 27: New releases of cheese products from Kerry group, UK and Ireland, 2021
- Recent Developments
- Glanbia
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Recent Developments
- Mondelez International
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Brand NPD
  - Figure 28: New releases of cheese products from Mondelez International, UK and Ireland, 2021
- Recent Developments
- Ornua
- Key Facts
- Product Portfolio
- Brand NPD
  - Figure 29: New releases of cheese products from Ornua, UK and Ireland, 2021
- Recent Developments
The Consumer – Key Takeaways
- Cheese is a staple in Irish homes
- Affordability is an influencing factor in type of cheese bought
- At-home lunches fuelled cheese usage
- Interest in functional and alternatives cheeses
- Cheese creativity encouraged
Frequency of Usage
- Consumers eating cheese 2-3 times a week
  - Figure 30: Frequency of consumer cheese usage, NI and RoI, 2022
  - Figure 31: Consumers who reported having limited/reduced the amount of red meat they have eaten in the last six months, NI and RoI, 2021
- Cheese usage increases with age
  - Figure 32: Consumers who eat/use cheese 2-3 times a week, by generation, NI and RoI, 2022
Types of Cheese Bought
- Cheddar is the most popular type of cheese
  - Figure 33: Types of cheese bought in the last three months, NI and RoI, 2022
- Women more likely to buy cream/soft cheese
  - Figure 34: Consumers who bought cream/soft cheese in the last three months, by gender, NI and RoI, 2022
  - Figure 35: “In the last 12 months, which of the following have you baked…” – Net, NI and RoI, June 2021
- Consumers with children more likely to buy cream/soft cheese
  - Figure 36: Consumers who bought cream/soft cheese in the last three months, by children in household, NI and RoI, 2022
- Affordability is a major factor in types of cheese bought
  - Figure 37: Consumers who bought regional British cheese and cream/soft cheese in the last three months, by annual household income, NI and RoI, 2022
- - Figure 38: Consumers who bought regional British cheese and cream/soft cheese in the last three months, by socio-economic group, NI and RoI, 2022
Cheese Usage
- Cheese most commonly used in sandwiches
  - Figure 39: Ways consumers have eaten/used cheese in the last three months, NI and RoI, 2022
- Younger consumers are less likely to use cheese for sandwich making
  - Figure 40: Consumers who have eaten/used cheese with bread in the last three months, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
  - Figure 41: Consumers who bought takeaway food online, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
- NI consumers with children are more likely to use cheese for sandwiches
  - Figure 42: Consumers who have eaten/used cheese with bread in the last three months, by children in household, NI, 2022
- - Figure 43: Children’s cheese products
Ethical and Health-Conscious Cheese Attitudes
- Consumers show interest in the health benefits of cheese
  - Figure 44: Consumer behaviours towards cheese, NI and RoI, 2022
- Younger consumers show an interest in cheese with gut health benefits
  - Figure 45: Consumers who expressed an interest in cheese with added ingredients promoting gut health, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
- Younger consumers more environmentally conscious
  - Figure 46: Consumers who have limited/reduced the amount of cheese they eat in the last 12 months due to environmental concerns, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
- Consumers of high affluence are more willing to pay more
  - Figure 47: Consumers who are willing to pay more for cheese sourced from animals with high welfare standards, by socio-economic status, NI and RoI, 2022
- - Figure 48: Consumer behaviours around value – Select items, by annual household income, NI and RoI, 2022
Attitudes towards Cheese
- Alternative types of cheese are gaining interest
  - Figure 49: Consumer attitudes towards cheese, NI and RoI, 2022
- Younger consumers more open to cheese alternatives
  - Figure 50: Consumers who agreed that there should be more varieties of dairy-free/lactose-free cheese, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
  - Figure 51: Consumers who have eaten vegan/plant-based cheese in the last 12 months, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
- Younger consumers seeking more inspiration
  - Figure 52: Consumers who are buying more cheese now compared to 12 months ago, by age, NI and RoI, 2022
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
- Data Sources
- Abbreviations

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Ireland Cheese Market Report 2022

Overview

Executive Summary

The Market – Key Takeaways

Market Sizes and Forecast

Market Drivers

Companies and Innovations – Key Takeaways

Who’s Innovating?

Company Profiles

The Consumer – Key Takeaways

Frequency of Usage

Types of Cheese Bought

Cheese Usage

Ethical and Health-Conscious Cheese Attitudes

Attitudes towards Cheese

Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information

Why Mintel?

Take a look at a sample PDF report below:

Is this report right for you?

Popular Related Reports

Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study 2024-25

Cheese in UK (2023) – Market Sizes

UK Cheese Market Report 2023

Cheese in Germany (2024) – Market Sizes

Cheese in Germany (2023) – Market Sizes

Cheese in Spain (2023) – Market Sizes

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