March 25, 2025 – Looking at trends in the cheese ingredient market in the US and Canada calls for examining food product examples from key categories and looking at the most important cheese ingredients. Factors that affect the category include global macro trends such as environmental concerns, health pressures, economic uncertainty, and technology. Some of the lifestyle themes that affect cheese ingredients in the US and Canada are the pursuit of a healthier life, living more consciously for the environment and for health, enjoying and celebrating more occasions at home, and changing the way treats and rewards are handled.
Other factors that affect cheese ingredient trends in the US and Canada are market size in volume and market value in dollars, consumer attitudes and behaviors regarding particular food categories, trends in new product launches, and key opportunities for innovation in the future.
This article is based on Innova’s Now & Next in Cheese Ingredients in the US & Canada report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more
Trends in Use of Cheese Ingredients are Stable
Cheese ingredients trends are stable, even though over a recent five-year period the number of North American food launches containing cheese ingredients has softened and gone down a bit. Cheese ingredients have remained stable as a percentage of total food launches, indicating that the decline is in the overall product launches rather than the cheese ingredient market specifically. Similarly, as a percentage of all food products, cheese ingredient launches remained steady, reflecting a broader decrease in the total food product market. Looking at the US versus Canada, food launches with cheese ingredients trended downward in the US and upward in Canada.
Launches are Concentrated in a Few Categories
US and Canadian food launches with cheese ingredients are centered in a few categories. Nearly half of food launches with cheese are in ready meals and side dishes, followed by snacks and then bakery.
Flavor Drives Cheese Ingredient Innovation
Cheese plays an important role in enhancing flavor and texture of food products. That is why flavor and texture help drive cheese innovation in the US and Canada. Consumers are particularly interested in the rich flavors contributed by cheese, which they see as a fresh ingredient that is an important contributor to enjoyment of food. It’s not surprising that Cheddar cheese, with its bold flavor and rich texture, is the top cheese ingredient in the US and Canada. Cheese innovation in North America also includes mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Growth of some cheeses is specific to a particular category in the US and Canada, for example, cream cheese and cheese powder in bakery and snacks and Monterey Jack in ready meals and side dishes.
Key Claims Emerge
In North America, ethical packaging claims have expanded packages of food categories with cheese. This shows that US and Canadian consumers are concerned about the environment. Innova Market Insights also is observing claims regarding traditional, reflecting the association of cheese with homemade or gourmet. Other important claims in the cheese ingredient market include no additives and high/source of protein claims. Gluten-free claims have a steady presence.
Ready Meals and Side Dishes – Leading Category for Cheese
A solid number of launches of ready meals and side dishes in the US and Canada have cheese ingredients. Some of the growing subcategories for cheese ingredients are pizza, potato products, and main dishes. The use of cheese ingredients is going down in pasta and prepared salads. Growing claims in ready meals and side dishes in North America are for ethical packaging, premium claims, and traditional claims. Health-related claims and clean claims are not as strong. The leading cheese ingredients are Cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
Cheese Ingredients Feature in Snacks
In North America, launches of snacks in the cheese ingredient market are relatively stable overall. Several snack subcategories are growing in their use of cheese ingredients, namely bean-based snacks, popcorn, other corn-based snacks, and finger foods. Claims that are growing on US and Canadian product launches with cheese ingredients are ethical packaging, gluten-free, and high/source of protein. The claim regarding no additives or preservatives claims is widely used. Watch the US and Canada snack marketplace for snacks with cheese ingredients and a traditional claim. As in other categories, Cheddar is the most widely used cheese, and cheese powder are emerging.
Bakery Products with Cheese are Stable
Although the number of US and Canadian launches of bakery products with cheese ingredients recent went down, they are stable as a percentage of all bakeries launches. In the cheese ingredient market, the leading bakery subcategory in North America is savory biscuits. Launches of cakes and breads with cheese ingredients are stable as a percentage of each subcategory launches. Claims that are growing on bakery products with cheese ingredients are ethical packaging, no additives, organic, and traditional. Claims like real cheese, organic, and clean connote quality and health. Cheddar, cream cheese, and cheese powder are growing cheese ingredients and Gouda and mascarpone are emerging.
What’s Next in Cheese Ingredients in the US and Canada
Innova Market Insights predicts several trends for cheese ingredients in North America. Local and authentic ingredients will continue to be important, as will international cuisines. Various flavors will be added to cheese ingredients. Cheese ingredient trends reveal that health claims are likely to expand with the addition of functional ingredients. Innova expects to see more ethical claims. Precision fermentation and other advances in technology will push ingredient innovation. Also, watch for a growing number of vegan cheese and cheese powder ingredients.
This article is based on Innova’s Now & Next in Cheese Ingredients in the US & Canada report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more
