Processed Cheese Market By Type (Spreadable processed cheese, Un spreadable processed cheese) By Application (Industrial segment Catering Retail) and Region - Global Forecast to 2026

The global processed cheese market was valued at approximately US$ 33.5 Bn in 2017, and is expected to register a CAGR of 2.9%. The report offers in-depth insights, revenue details, and other vital information regarding the global processed cheese market and the various trends, drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats in the target market till 2026. The report also offers insightful and detailed information regarding the various key players operating in the global processed cheese market, and their financials, apart from strategies, acquisitions & mergers, and market footprint. The global processed cheese market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region.

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Processed cheese is a food product made using cheese with added salt, sugar, saturated vegetable oils, and emulsifiers. The basic difference between natural cheese and processed cheese is whey, which is removed from natural cheese, whereas processed cheese contains whey. Growth of the global processed cheese market is primarily driven owing to processed cheese having longer shelf life than regular cheese.

Increasing demand from the food and service industry is a key factor driving growth of the global processed cheese market currently. In addition, consumers rely to a significant extent on processed and ready to eat foods, thereby increasing the production rate and capacity in the food processing industry. Also, private label processed cheese is becoming popular among consumers as it represents the choice and opportunity to regularly purchase quality products at lower cost as compared to manufacturer brands, without waiting for promotional pricing are the factors boosting the growth of the global processed cheese market.

Moreover, high value dairy nutrition product, its properties to add taste to various food products and its low production cost is another major factor driving demand from the fast food industry. In addition, rapid urbanization and increasing consumption and budgets for food products in a growing number of households, the global processed cheese market is expected to witness constant and steady growth over the forecast period.

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Processed cheese having significant advantages over natural/ unprocessed cheese such as extended shelf life due to addition of additives, resistance to separation when cooked, and uniformity depending on its smooth look and physical behavior. One of the major consumer benefits of processed cheese is that it melts easily with a smooth texture when heated owing to addition of emulsifiers. Furthermore, it is used in a variety of dishes as it does not separate nor change in terms of texture or taste when heated and therefore is a popular addition to processed and ready to eat foods. Packaging each slice separately is a major convenience factor of some brands of processed cheese. This is attributed to boost the demand of processed cheese across the globe.

Major challenges restraining growth of the global processed cheese market include increasing health concerns among a major consumer base and shorter shelf life of processed cheese. However, growing concerns regarding high calorie food products and associated obesity issues is expected to impact demand for processed cheese among some consumers.

Furthermore, demand for natural and organic cheese containing vegetable oils, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, coloring agents, tartrates, and trisodium phosphate is primarily attributed to increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases, including rise in cholesterol levels, prevalence of diabetes, and hypertension which is expected to hamper growth of the global processed cheese market during the forecast period.

Major manufacturers are focusing on production of higher quality processed cheese including more organic content and nutritional value can create high potential revenue opportunities for players in the global processed cheese market. Furthermore, production of processed cheese products that cause less health-related issues by reducing use of ingredients that are harmful such as sodium phosphate and potassium phosphate is expected to further create opportunities for existing as well as new players in the target market over the forecast period. Key vendors are focusing on increasing merger & acquisition activities among key market players of different regions is expected to create opportunities to expand customer base in untapped market and emerging economies.

Due to shift of consumer preference towards low fat content, the manufactures are emphasis on producing processed chees with low fat content and in snack-sized portions. The players are increasing merger & acquisition activities among key market players of different regions, in order to enhance their product portfolio as well as expand their geographical presence.

Market Analysis by Type:

On the basis of type, un-spreadable processed cheese segment is expected to dominate the market as well as to witness highest CAGR of over 2%, in terms of revenue over the forecast period, owing to consumption of un-spreadable processed cheese is relatively higher than that of spreadable processed cheese.

Market Analysis by Application

Among all the application segments, industrial processed cheese is expected to register highest CAGR of over 3%. This is attributed due to use of processed cheese in various food industries as an ingredient for products such as cheese chips, nuggets, popcorn, cheese balls, dips, etc. has been increasing in the recent past. However, the retail processed cheese is expected to dominate the market and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecasted period.

Market Analysis by Region:

Europe market is expected to dominate the global processed cheese market, and is expected to account for largest market revenue share as compared to that of markets in other regions. Driving factors for this region is presence of major fast food outlets such as Goody’s, McDonald’s, and Domino’s in countries in the region is driving demand for processed cheese to a significant extent. In addition, Germany and France are major cheese consuming countries in the region, which is an essential factor for growth of the processed cheese market in this region. In addition, wide availability of processed cheese products by major international players in retail is also contributing significantly to growth of the processed cheese market in Europe. In contrast, Asia Pacific is expected to register highest CAGR of approximately 3% over the forecasted years. This can be attributed to rising demand from the general population for value-added products coupled with rapidly changing lifestyle in India is expected to further drive growth of the Asia Pacific processed cheese market. Moreover, China has been the biggest importer of processed cheese in the Asia Pacific region, and is expected to continue this trend over the forecast period. This can be attributed to rapidly growing number of fast food restaurant outlets and rising demand for cheese products from various end-use industries in the country.

Market Segmentation:

Processed cheese segmentation on the basis of types:

• Spreadable processed cheese
• Un-spreadable processed cheese

Processed cheese segmentation on the basis of application:

• Industrial segment
• Catering
• Retail

Processed cheese segmentation on the basis of region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

• SAVENCIA SA
• Bright Food Global
• Fonterra Foodservice
• The Kraft Heinz Company
• Arla Foods amba
• Uhrenholt A/S
• Mulia Boga Raya (PROCHIZ)
• Devondale Murray Goulburn
• PT Diamond Cold Storage Indonesia
• Fromageries Bel SA
• Groupe Lactalis S.A.
• Alba Cheese Manufacturing Pty Ltd.
• Koninklijke ERU Kaasfabriek BV
• LAÏTA