The US cheese market in 2025 continues to show growth, with a market size of $33.4 billion and a growth rate of 3.9%. Private label products are gaining traction, especially…
US
Cheese
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US Cheese Market Report 2025
"Cheese remains a household staple for most consumers, with shifting consumption habits and preferences inviting continued flavor, format and nutritional innovation."
The US cheese market is projected to grow to $33.4 billion in 2025, with a steady growth rate of 3.9%. Private label products are particularly strong in the natural cheese segment, holding over half the market share.
Cheese remains a staple for consumers despite economic challenges, driven by its versatility and increasing demand for products that meet nutritional needs while offering flavor innovation.
Gen Z and Millennials are reshaping the market with a focus on health, sustainability, and local production claims, while Gen X drives interest in exploring new flavors and premium offerings.
Baby Boomers are the most frequent users of cheese, incorporating it heavily across a variety of dishes, highlighting their reliance on this staple.
There is an opportunity to strengthen consumer associations with cheese’s benefits, particularly around convenience, versatility, and flavor, while also improving perceptions of its health and indulgence attributes.
Key Topics Analysed in the Report
Cheese market and forecast
Cheese consumption and usage
Importance of cheese claims
Interest in cheese flavor innovation
Attitudes and behaviors toward affordability of cheese
Cheese product innovation and marketing
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outook for cheese
Opportunities
Continual opportunities to strengthen lukewarm associations with cheese
Graph 1: cheese associations by format, 2025
Learn from, and continue to connect with, cheese connoisseurs
Help Gen Z consumers build routine and expand cheese repertoires
THE MARKET
Snapshot – market size & forecast
Consumers and the economic outlook
Market factors
Domestic cheese giants are shielded from tariff risks, but consumer concerns may shift habits
FMMO changes are impacting the dairy and cheese markets
Cheese offers versatility to fulfill snacking needs
Market size and forecast
Slow to moderate sales growth expected for cheese in coming years
Retail sales and forecast of cheese
Graph 2: total retail sales and forecast of cheese, at current prices, 2019-30
Retail sales and forecast of cheese
Market segmentation
Natural cheese remains the dominant market segment
Graph 3: total retail sales and forecast of cheese, by segment, at current prices, 2019-30
Retail sales of cheese, by segment
Market share/brand share
Private label inches closer to half of the cheese market share
Graph 4: MULO sales of cheese – market share, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2025
Sales of cheese, by company
Private label controls the majority of the natural cheese market
Graph 5: MULO sales of natural cheese – market share, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025
Sales of natural cheese, by company
Bel Group wins with spreadable and snackable formats
Graph 6: MULO sales of processed cheese – market share, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2024 and 2025
Graph 7: MULO sales of cream cheese/cream cheese spreads – market share, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025
Sales of cream cheese/cream cheese spreads, by company
Leading cottage cheese brands continue to see significant sales growth
Graph 8: MULO sales of cottage cheese – market share, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025
Sales of cottage cheese, by company
THE CONSUMER
Consumer fast facts
Cheese consumption and usage
Reported cheese consumption has declined across most formats
Graph 9: trended types of cheese consumed, 2023-25
Align innovation toward parents to strengthen utilization
Graph 10: types of cheese consumed, by parental status, 2025
Strong dairy divisions across generational lines
Graph 11: types of cheese consumed, by generation, 2025
Help younger consumers widen their considerations of cheese
Graph 12: cheese uses, by generation, 2025
Health, sustainability and local claims attract the Gen Z cheese consumer
Link explicit health claims to broader health goals to connect with younger consumers
Graph 13: important cheese claims – health, by generation, 2025
Younger consumers are serious about ethical and environmental claims
Graph 14: important cheese claims – sustainability/ethical, by generation, 2025
Gen Z leans local, potentially shifting views of premium cheese
Graph 15: important cheese claims – origin, by generation, 2025
Graph 16: motivators to pay a higher price – origin, by generation, 2025
Emphasize the dual appeal of health and enjoyment
Interest in cheese flavor exploration and enjoyment
Gen X is at the sweet spot for flavor exploration
Graph 17: cheese attitudes – flavor/enjoyment, by generation, 2025
Graph 18: motivators to pay a higher price – flavor/method, by generation, 2025
Gen X has widest interest in savory flavors, sweet entices Gen Z
Graph 19: experience with and interested in cheese flavor profiles, by generation, 2025
Borrow from indulgent categories for flavor inspiration
Attitudes and behaviors toward affordability of cheese
While price concerns are uneven across financial situations, private label retains a strong reputation
Graph 20: cheese attitudes – value, by financial situation, 2025
Consumers with tight budgets have the strongest plan for cost savings when it comes to cheese purchasing
Graph 21: cheese purchasing behaviors when trying to save money, by financial status, 2025
Double down on where budgeting consumers find value
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Ethical claims in cheese see differing growth over past five years
Graph 22: Global claims in cheese – ethical, 2020-25
Cheese products with ethical claims strengthen purchase intent
BFY and dietary claims reveal varied innovation
Graph 23: claims in cheese – dietary, 2020-25
Cheese products with healthy positioning receive high purchase intent from consumers
Cheese flavor innovation adopts food and beverage flavor to new formats
Philadelphia reminds consumers that cream cheese is for more than just bagels
Babybel’s Stranger Things-inspired LTO heats up its cheese alternative offerings
APPENDIX
Market definition
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Generations
Abbreviations and terms
Forecast methodology
Forecast fan chart methodology
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