Supermarket Perimeter - December 2023 - 30

Cheese
By Andy Nelson
SUPPLIERS AND THEIR RETAIL PARTNERS ARE PUSHING specialty
blue cheeses as a way for consumers to add variety to charcuterie
boards, recipes and other use occasions.
The blue cheese category has remained relatively steady for the
past four years, said Amie Wentz, director of brand management for
Emmi Roth.
Many people think of using blue cheese mainly as a salad topping,
Wentz said. Emmi Roth is trying to widen consumers' imaginations,
looking for ways to increase usage occasions.
" With our culinary and digital marketing expertise and strategic social
media partnerships, we continue to leverage our award-winning cheese
to drive expansion of the blue cheese category and to drive growth into
the future. "
Jenny Englert, Saputo USA's marketing director, also uses the word
" steady " to describe blue cheese growth at retail.
As charcuterie and cheese boards are still having a moment, Saputo
is seeing more and more people reach for blue cheese as an interesting
addition to their favorite board, she said. The company is also tracking
greater interest in blue cheese crumbles for toppers and salads.
And with the rise of social media food content, Saputo is now seeing
young people become more familiar with and including blue cheese in
their cooking repertoire.
" We encourage this trend of experimentation and look forward to the
category growing as customers' curiosity continues to peak around this
unique cheese. "
When it comes to trends within the blue cheese category, Wentz said
there has been a shift away from chunks and toward crumbles. That's
due to the versatility of crumbles and the ease of sprinkling them on
things like salads, burgers or wraps.
Emmi Roth's current blue cheese lineup includes Roth Buttermilk
Blue, Roth Gorgonzola, Athenos Blue Cheese and Athenos Gorgonzola
in retail packages, including wedges and
crumbles.
The company also offers wheels
of Smoked Moody Blue Cheese,
Buttermilk Gorgonzola and
Buttermilk Blue Affinée for cut
and wrap programs.
Brand refresh
With the holidays upon is, it's
a great time for customers to
start exploring with blue cheese,
Englert said - topping it on favorite
side dishes, proteins or salads,
including it on charcuterie and cheese
30 - DECEMBER 2023
boards, or incorporating it in sauces. This summer, Saputo launched a
new brand campaign and packaging overhaul for its cave-aged blue
cheese brand, Treasure Cave.
The new logo features a cave with an opening in the shape of
Wisconsin, the package design has larger windows for product visibility,
and the packaging lists the blue cheese's flavor and age details.
Several months in to the rebrand, the company is very happy with its
success, Englert said.
" Customers and retailers alike have been receptive to the campaign
and the new packaging alike. The campaign itself has a lighthearted,
curious tone, and has intrigued customers enough to give blue cheese
more consideration. "
The modern look of the new packaging, Englert added, has
captured the eyes of customers and has been well received, with many
customers liking the Wisconsin cave-mouth shape.
And the larger windows of the packaging also allow for better
product visibility, which further encourages customers to pick up the
product, examine it and explore the world of blue cheese, she said.
The Treasure Cave blue cheese brand dates from the 1930s, when
cheese was made inside caves in Faribault, Minn. Treasure Cave is now
made in a processing facility in Almena, Wis., with curing cells.
Saputo markets other blue cheeses in addition to Treasure Cave. They
include:
* Organic Creamery: Organic Creamery blue cheese is easily
distinguished by the gorgeous blue-green veins that run throughout
the cheese's marbled interior, Englert said. Its flavor is remarkably
delicate with a slightly tangy hint that works well in salad dressings
and dips. It's handcrafted by skilled Wisconsin cheesemakers with
100% organic milk, giving it an appealing and distinctive flavor and
texture.
* Salemville: Salemville is a line of award-winning, blue-veined
cheeses known for their smooth, earthy flavor that perfectly
accentuates burgers, salads and cheese plates, Englert said. The line's
rich and creamy texture is dotted with gorgeous veining and serves
as the perfect counterpart to dessert wines.
* Stella Blue Cheese: Stella Blue Cheese features the trademark
attributes that true blue cheese lovers seek, Englert said: a delectably
rich and tangy flavor and an easy-to-crumble, semi-soft texture that's
perfect for salads and sauces.
* Stella Gorgonzola: Stella Gorgonzola features a pleasantly mellow
but tangy flavor that's frequently described as " earthy. " This Italianstyle
cheese is named after the town of Gorgonzola, located in the
Po Valley near Milan, Italy. It's noticeably creamier than traditional
blue cheese, Englert said, making it the perfect addition to mashed
potatoes. It can also be used to easily add a robust flavor to grilled
meats and salads.
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xamtiw-stock.adobe.com, Emmi Roth
https://www.saputospecialty.com/our-cheeses/organic-creamery/organic-blue-cheese https://www.salemville.com/en/products https://www.stellacheese.com/en/our-cheese/blue-cheese/blue-cheese https://www.stellacheese.com/en/our-cheese/gorgonzola/gorgonzola http://www.supermarketperimeter.com
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