Gouda, goat cheese, Brie, Parmesan… there are so many cheeses for your customers to choose from, it’s enough to make their heads spin! Faced with all of these options, it’s up to you to guide them in the right direction with product recommendations that cover well-loved flavours and emerging favourites. Let’s explore which cheeses are the most popular across Canada, which ones are gaining ground, and which ones go best with crowd-pleasing dishes like burgers and pizza.

The Classics Are Here to Stay

When you think of global cheese culture, visions of France and Italy probably come to mind – but Canada is quite the heavy-hitter as well! Our country is among the top 10 cheese producers in the world¹, with an output of 510 million kilograms in 2018². But which ones do locals crave the most?

Canadians’ favourite cheeses are nearly identical from province to province: Cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and feta were the top four most-loved varieties across the country³. The perfect mix of tasty and versatile, all four are an absolute must for eateries that want to please crowds.

Newfound Love for Old Classics

Aside from Cheddar and mozzarella, Parmesan and Monterey Jack are two of the most-produced cheeses in Canada⁴, and great for adding a unique flavour boost to popular dishes: the former can be sprinkled on top of french fries, while the latter is an up-and-coming sandwich and burger toppingé.

As consumers ride the health wave, cottage cheese is climbing the ranks. This 1970’s throwback cheese is the second fastest-growing dairy product in the country, and the fastest-growing in terms of entrées⁵. Cottage cheese is nearly limitless in its versatility: it can be enjoyed all on its own as a breakfast side dish, dolloped on top of a Greek-style pizza, or even baked into an indulgent dessert. Sweet, salty, spicy – cottage cheese can do it all, while serving up an impressive dose of wholesome nutrients⁶. 

With Popular Dishes, There's Room for Flavours Old and New

In the past two years, smoke, herbs, pepper, and spice were the most popular flavours for cheese innovations⁷, indicating that consumers are open to more creativity in their plates. Even though nothing will ever replace the tried and true classics, the following menu items can be elevated using a number of unique cheeses.

Here are some of the fastest-growing cheeses on the market right now⁸:

• Breakfast: while cheddar is a real breakfast chameleon, it’s not the only player on the field. Feta has found its way into more than 20 different types of Canadian breakfast dishes, with mediterranean omelettes being a standout option. Creamy, crumbly goat cheese is not far behind, with 16 menu items under its belt.
  
• Pizza: Grana Padano and Parmesan, hard cheeses that make for excellent finishing toppings, are known for their mild yet decadent flavour. Creamy Brie is an excellent way to add some richness to a pizza, and Fior di Latte's creamy, fresh, milky taste is great for high-temperature pizza ovens.
  
  
• Burgers: Blue cheese and burgers have an excellent relationship – this cheese packs a savoury kick. Delicate Emmental is also a wonderfully light topping with a slightly sweet, nutty flavour.
  
  
• Sandwiches: Smoked gouda is a particularly valuable ingredient for vegetarian sandwiches, since it can deliver a complex smoky taste without the meat! Just like burgers, blue cheese is also an emerging sandwich ingredient, and pairs wonderfully with chicken and prosciutto.
  
  
• Fries: Side orders deserve creativity too! Parmigiano Reggiano, Parmesan and feta are growing in popularity as crumbly, savoury toppers for a golden pile of french fries.

Cheese is more than just an ingredient: it’s a tool for chefs to unlock their creativity. The first and most important step is simply knowing what consumers want, and how to turn that into helpful, compelling suggestions for chefs and restaurateurs! Next time one of your customers go for an obvious choice, why not suggest an up-and-coming to go along with it? That way, they’ll have all their bases covered, from most-loved classics to exciting new flavours. The result: happy diners that keep coming back for more.

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¹ https://www.statista.com/statistics/195809/cheese-production-in-selected-countries-2009/
² https://www.statista.com/topics/4202/cheese-market-in-canada/
³ Technomic Q2 2017 –Q2 2018
⁴ https://www.statista.com/topics/4202/cheese-market-in-canada/
⁵ https://www.restobiz.ca/dairy-ingredients-gaining-share-spotlight/
⁶ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cottage-cheese-is-super-healthy#section2
⁷ Mintel Cheese – GNDP – July 2018 
⁸ Technomic Q2 2017 – Q2 2018