Market Trends of europe non-dairy cheese Industry
The innovations taking place within the sector, coupled with lower fat content, is largely influencing the consumption rate in the European market.
- Plant-based cheese consumption has been on the rise in Europe owing to the growing consumption of plant-based foods across the region. Consumption of plant-based foods in Europe increased by a staggering 49% between 2019 and 2020. The non-dairy cheese per capita consumption increased by 38% from 2020-2022, making it the second most consumed category of dairy alternatives after plant-based milk in Europe.
- Several innovations in the sector are influencing the consumption rate. Several non-dairy cheese varieties are emerging on the market, like non-dairy sliced cheese, which is popular across many European nations. Consumers in Spain and Germany are the most willing to choose plant-based cheese over traditional cheese. German consumers prefer to consume plant-based cream cheese (32%), sliced cheese (32%), and plant-based mozzarella (31%), which are easily available in supermarkets across the region. In Germany, there are over 90 distinct plant-based cheese substitutes and 40 different labels, making it the largest market in Europe.
- Europeans recently became inclined toward the consumption of fermented alternatives for cheeses like camembert, feta, and mozzarella, which are made exclusively from nuts like cashew, macadamia, or almond, but other bases can be found as well, including soy, seeds, and rice. Several companies like Simply V (Germany), Sheese (UK), and Vegan Deli (Monaco) are also involved in producing ‘simple’ cheese analogs of gouda and cheddar, as well as shredded (pizza) cheese, owing to the increased demand for various non-dairy cheese in the region. With the growing demand for plant-based cheese innovations, consumption is anticipated increase by 33.0% during 2023-2025 in Europe.
OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- The production increase of oats is largely driving the raw material production.