Cheese consumption in the U.S. continues to grow as customers look for new taste experiences.

International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA)’s “What’s in Store 2018” report found specialty cheeses are in demand.

Consumers are most interested in new cheese varieties with in-store deli being an important place for experiencing specialty cheese—showcasing the largest share of dollars (66% or 2/3) of cheese sales.

The data can also be viewed via What’s in Store Online, a collection of more than 150 downloadable graphs and tables, as well as links to white papers and trends articles.

Other findings in the book’s “Cheese Sales & Retail Trends” chapter include:

• Consumer perceptions on dairy fat are changing—more shoppers are seeking real foods not made from processed ingredients. Overall, sales of whole-fat cheese are growing while sales of low-fat, reduced-fat, and fat-free are declining.
• Per capita natural cheese consumption in the United States increased 26% between 1996 and 2015.
• Hispanic varieties of cheese like Oaxaca, Mexican, Manchego, and Cotija are the fastest growing cheese types, 52 weeks ending July 16, 2017.

With over 30 years of credible reporting, What’s in Store is an essential resource for dairy, deli, bakery, foodservice and cheese departments and industries, providing vital data on retail and market trends, growth, and category changes shaping the food industry. What’s in Store is a secondary resource that is developed through both interviews with industry experts and sourcing third-party data and trends.

This year’s edition again features a continuous storyline to improve user efficiency and provide greater clarity for professionals needing to understand today’s retail world. Through five themes, readers gain new insights and learn about marketplace influences.

• The Economy & Retail Trends
• Channels and Competition
• Consumer Lifestyles
• Eating Trends

This themed narrative is carried into each of the product chapters: Bakery, Cheese, Dairy, and Deli. The new format, exclusive interview content, and inclusion of key insights, table interpretations, data callouts, and testimonials enable the reader to more efficiently tie back to the broader context and then dig deeper in each of the product sections.

Additionally, What’s in Store 2018 features: redesigned tables; infographics that inform readers why the data matters; key insights; more original expert interviews; and more graphics to illustrate best-in-class examples.

IDDBA members receive a free copy of What’s in Store 2018 as part of their membership. Additional copies can be purchased for $99 (member rate) or $399 (nonmember rate).