In the first half of 2024, sales of young cheeses in Russia, including mozzarella, feta, and burrata, rose by 15%, according to NTech research. This growth reflects a notable shift in consumer preferences within the country’s dairy market, contrasting with a decline in overall cheese sales.
In Russia, sales of young cheeses, including popular varieties such as mozzarella, feta, burrata, and stracciatella, have shown significant growth, increasing by 15% in the first half of 2024, according to research from NTech. This surge reflects a growing consumer preference for fresh and young cheese products in the Russian market.
The increase translates to a 9% rise in physical sales compared to the same period last year, highlighting a shift in consumer tastes towards these lighter cheese options. Despite this positive trend, overall cheese sales in Russia faced challenges, showing a 2% decline in monetary terms. However, physical sales across all cheese categories increased by 5%, indicating a complex market landscape.
Semi-hard cheeses, such as Edam, Maasdam, Gouda, and Russian cheese, experienced a 6% decrease in monetary sales, despite a modest 2% increase in volume. Conversely, hard cheeses exhibited a positive trajectory, with a 6% rise in monetary sales and an impressive 11% increase in physical sales.
The contrasting performance among cheese categories underscores the changing dynamics of the Russian dairy market, with young and hard cheeses gaining traction while semi-hard varieties face declining interest. This trend may reflect broader shifts in dietary preferences, as consumers seek more versatile and fresher cheese options for their culinary needs.
As the cheese market continues to evolve, producers and retailers will need to adapt to these changing consumer preferences to remain competitive in the growing dairy sector in Russia.
