With snacking in between meals on the rise, dairy products such as cheese and yogurt offer the taste, nutrition and convenience today’s consumers are looking for. Angie Edge, dairy company communications manager at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, shared research, trends and examples of dairy snacks and recipes on a recent episode of Professional Dairy Producers’ The Dairy Signal titled “Dairy Snacks and Trends.”

More than half of people in a recent study reported snacking at least daily. Whether they snack to stay full between meals, need a quick energy boost or want to indulge, Edge said there are many opportunities to include dairy in your snacking choices.

“More and more people are on the go, so we’re seeing consumption of both cheese and yogurt is up,” she said. “It’s really important that kids are getting high protein and calcium snacks throughout the day.”

Snack trends

Both cheese and yogurt score high with consumers on taste, healthfulness and convenience. Yogurt is typically viewed as a morning snack, with 33% of snack consumption during that time, while cheese is more typically seen as an afternoon snack.

Snacks aren’t just for children, though, as the protein and calcium in dairy products are important for adults to strengthen bones and provide energy throughout the day. Athletes and people who want endurance energy are choosing snacks with a lot of protein.

Edge highlighted that one of the top reasons consumers choose cheese is “because it makes me happy.”

“Even though it is healthy, consumers see it as a way to indulge or treat themselves,” Edge said. “Even chocolate milk can be seen as nutrition in disguise.”

In addition to being a great snack on its own, cheese pairs well with other foods that rank high on consumers’ list of snacking choices such as crackers, fruit and chips.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, funded by dairy checkoff dollars, is focused on making sure cheese and other dairy products being purchased are from the state.

“We are really proud of the fact that you can find Wisconsin cheese in nearly 99% of grocery stores. Our challenge is to continue getting those cheeses recognized as ‘Proudly Wisconsin,’” Edge said, referring to the trademarked brand created by DFW. “We revitalized the logo badge a few years ago; it looks like an award ribbon so when people see it, they know they are buying the best in the world.”

Cheese sticks

The most popular cheese snack for 20 years has been mozzarella cheese sticks, followed by spread cheese. While these two products still make up more than 70% of the market, their sales rates have been softly declining in recent years as new cheese sizes, shapes and flavors are increasing in sales.

“People want new and innovative sizes, so we’re seeing companies making sizes smaller, more bite-size and more convenient,” Edge said, noting that cheeses paired with dried fruit and nuts and cheeses on charcuterie boards are also growing trends.

“With Wisconsin making more than 600 different varieties, types and styles of cheese, it’s no wonder that we are seeing more than mozzarella sticks,” she said. “Whether you like things hot and spicy or want to try new flavors or packaging, I challenge everyone to look around at the grocery store and convenience stores and see the options and new innovations.”

Market research on dairy trends and consumer preferences is available to all cheese companies in Wisconsin from DFW on behalf of dairy farmers. The Center for Dairy Research is also a critical resource for companies looking to develop and introduce new products.

The Center for Dairy Research is checkoff dollars at work, Edge said. If a cheese or dairy company wants to develop a new product, the center’s resources are available. For smaller companies that can’t afford research experts, CDR can be a connection to make sure that research and expertise is accessible to all.

Source: PDPW, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.