Global Pizza Surge and Food Delivery Services Propel Mozzarella's Dominance in the Dairy Market
However, the mozzarella cheese is experiencing significant growth, fuelled by the rising demand for food delivery services. The recent appearance of meal platforms such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub has created a great revolution in food accessibility for the end consumer; thus, pizza has become a very popular option because of its ease of being delivered in and out of a restaurant. This surge in pizza consumption has directly impacted mozzarella demand, particularly in ready-to-bake and hot delivery options.
The National Restaurant Association anticipates that the food service industry is on its way to growing to US$ 1 trillion in 2024, with mozzarella becoming an integral part of the restaurant landscape. Given these changes, major brands such as Domino's have innovated by having products like Smart Slice pizza, made with 100% real mozzarella. With its versatile application across diverse pizza styles globally, mozzarella remains the cornerstone of the growing convenience food market.
The global mozzarella cheese market thrives with innovative product varieties, particularly in low-fat and low-calorie versions. Given the permissive yet healthy diet choices that most health-conscious consumers seek, manufacturers have designed mozzarella to retain its creamy texture and meltability while lowering fat and calorie content. Brands like Domino’s are responding to this demand, offering healthier alternatives without compromising taste. This shift caters to growing consumer preferences for balanced diets, driving mozzarella's continued market expansion.
For instance, in January 2024, BelGioioso Cheese launched its innovative Baking Fresh Mozzarella Log, designed with reduced moisture for superior performance in high-heat applications like pizzas and baked pasta. This product's low moisture formula enhanced its melting properties, positively impacting the global mozzarella cheese market by extending mozzarella's demand into fall and winter. The new offering is set to drive increased demand and create fresh sales opportunities for retailers.
Fresh and Shredded Mozzarella Dominate Global Market with Rising Demand for Convenience and Quality
Given that health-conscious consumers demand clean-label, unprocessed foods, fresh mozzarella can easily stand out with less complex ingredients and fewer additives compared to their processed competitors. The ever-growing popularity of Italian cuisine, including pizza using fresh mozzarella, become the dominant product in Italian cuisine. Its shelf life has increased due to the advancement in packaging techniques, like vacuum-sealing and modified atmosphere packaging. Despite its higher cost, premium flavour and authentic quality have positioned it as a top choice in the mozzarella market.
Shredded mozzarella has emerged as the leading segment in the global mozzarella cheese industry due to its chief convenience and versatility. Its pre-shredded nature saves shredding or cutting time for both home cooks and food service operators. Shredded mozzarella is also one of the most popular processed and ready-to-eat foods, which has catapulted shredded mozzarella to the forefront in high-demand applications such as pizza, baked dishes, and casseroles where fast melting and uniform texture is of the utmost importance. Its versatility in packaging, addressing individual consumers and large food service operations, has also made it more appealing.
Shredded mozzarella-controlled portion size addresses the health-conscious tendency, allowing easy control of serving sizes. It remains a staple in both retail and commercial applications since shredding allows for value-added products with higher profit margins for the manufacturer.
Recent Trends in the Mozzarella Cheese Industry:
- Rising popularity of buffalo mozzarella due to its premium quality and authenticity.
- Expansion of mozzarella offerings in ready-to-eat meal kits and frozen food segments.
- Sustainable packaging solutions gaining traction in the mozzarella cheese industry.
- Expansion of mozzarella varieties, such as smoked, truffle-infused, and low-fat options.
- The emergence of mozzarella-flavored snacks, such as cheese crisps and chips.
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Plant-Based Alternatives and Cultural Barriers Threaten Traditional Mozzarella’s Global Market Expansion
Although much progress has been made, these are not yet close to dairy mozzarella products in terms of meltability and stretchiness, thus fairly limited for applications in food service. For instance, in May 2023, New Culture, in conjunction with celebrated chef Nancy Silverton, launched its game-changing animal-free mozzarella cheese, which will make its first appearance at Pizzeria Mozza in 2024. This precision-fermented product takes a bold lead in disrupting the global mozzarella market with a sustainable plant-based alternative that captures the characteristics loved in traditional cheese, such as melt and stretch, with no animal-derived ingredients.
The global mozzarella cheese market faces significant threats due to cultural differences and shifting dietary habits. In many non-Western regions, such as Asia and the Middle East, cheese consumption is not deeply ingrained in traditional diets, limiting mozzarella's appeal. For instance, nations like India, China, and Japan prefer dairy products native to their cultures, such as paneer and yogurt.
Additionally, the adoption of pizza, a key driver for mozzarella demand, is slower in emerging markets due to cultural resistance to fast food and a preference for local dishes. Healthy trends are also making it challenging as consumers have been shifting towards home-cooked food and plant-based alternatives thus reducing their dependency on high-fat fast foods such as pizza. All these conditions are pretty challenging for mozzarella to be widely accepted across the world.
Premium Mozzarella Grows with New Innovations and Strategic Expansions in Global Market
Moreover, in March 2024, Amcor launched its innovative AmPrima recycle-ready packaging for Mozzarella, in collaboration with PFM. This new packaging, made from 97% polyethylene, enhances freshness, puncture resistance, and sustainability. By reducing carbon footprints by up to 63%, it aligns with upcoming European regulations. This advancement addresses the increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging and sets a new standard for sustainability in the mozzarella market.
Furthermore, In July 2024, Grande Cheese Company announced a significant expansion at its newly acquired Chilton, Wis., plant. The expansion, slated for completion in mid-2026 and totaling 60,000 square feet, will focus on increased mozzarella production. The expansion further fortifies Grande's manufacturing network and sets the company up to more aggressively pursue demand and its competitive position in the premium mozzarella market.
However, in August of 2023, Kirtland Capital Partners, the Ohio-based private equity firm purchased Galati Cheese Company, also known for mozzarella and other artisan cheeses of premium quality. This acquisition promises strategic growth opportunities and an even larger footprint of Galati Cheese in the Mozzarella market. With Kirtland's backing, Galati is poised to increase production capacity, intensifying competition in the premium cheese sector.
In addition, in September 2023, Happy Cow Dairy introduced Moowing Mozzarella Cheese, aiming to raise home pizza experiences. With a 180-gram pack, the product quickly gained traction in Mumbai, available at major retail chains like Reliance Smart and Jio Mart. This launch boosted Moowing's presence, challenging established players and contributing to the growing demand for premium, cow milk-based Mozzarella in the region.
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United States and Canada Maintain Mozzarella Market Leadership as Asia-Pacific Emerges as Key Growth Driver
Additionally, the long-term demand for pizzas, fast casuals, and processed foods sustains a steady flow of demand for mozzarella. United States-based brands like Kraft Heinz have strong international reach, further supporting North America's market leadership. With high consumer spending power, a preference for convenience foods, and innovative product variants, North America’s advanced dairy infrastructure and distribution networks position it as a key player in the mozzarella market for 2024.
In 2024, Asia-Pacific is expected to become the fastest-growing region for the mozzarella cheese market, driven by rising disposable incomes, urbanization, and growing interest in Western and Italian culinary trends. Increasing demand for pizzas, pasta, and sandwiches in China, India, Japan, and South Korea are furthering demands for mozzarella. For instance, in March 2024, the Philippines created international news as its pizzerias, such as Crosta and A Mano, featured in the top 50 in the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting the growing pizza culture. This also brings increased awareness of the health benefits of mozzarella, combined with its versatility within fusion foods, such as naan and paratha rolls in India, increasing usage. Enhanced logistical networks, online sales, and refrigerated supply chains all contribute to widening the distribution footprint of mozzarella, further promoting its market.
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Regions | Countries |
---|---|
North America | United States, Canada |
Latin America | Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Central America Countries, Caribbean Countries, Rest of Latin America |
Europe | Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Czech Republic, Rest of Europe |
Asia Pacific | China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia & New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Rest of Asia Pacific |
Middle East and Africa | GCC Countries, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Ethiopia, Algeria, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Rest of MEA |
Mozzarella Cheese Market Research Report Covers In-depth Analysis on:
- Mozzarella cheese market detailed segments and segment-wise market breakdown
- Mozzarella cheese market dynamics (Recent industry trends, drivers, restraints, growth potential, opportunities in mozzarella cheese industry)
- Current, historical and forthcoming 10 years market valuation in terms of mozzarella cheese market size (US$ Mn), volume (Tons), share (%), Y-o-Y growth rate, CAGR (%) analysis
- Mozzarella cheese market demand analysis
- Mozzarella cheese market pricing analysis over forecast period (by key segment and by region)
- Mozzarella cheese market regional insights with region-wise market breakdown
- Competitive analysis – key companies profiling including their market share, product offerings, and competitive strategies.
- Latest developments and innovations in mozzarella cheese market
- Regulatory landscape by key regions and key countries
- Supply chain and value chain analysis in mozzarella cheese market
- Mozzarella cheese market sales and distribution strategies
- A comprehensive overview of the parent market
- A detailed viewpoint on mozzarella cheese market forecast by countries
- Mergers and acquisitions in the mozzarella cheese market
- Essential information to enhance market position
- Robust research methodology