The Food Industry is Swept by the 'Cheese Craze'... "A Flood of New Products Captivating Cheese Enthusiasts"

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] A ‘cheese craze’ is sweeping the food industry.

According to the ‘2018 Processed Food Submarket Status Report’ released by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation on the 6th, the size of the domestic cheese consumption market was 356.8 billion KRW in 2017, an increase of about 15% compared to 2013. Cheese production also rose by 57% from 2013 to 35,000 tons in 2017. This year, the popularity of cheese consumption is expected to continue. The Dairy Promotion Association forecasted that domestic consumers’ cheese consumption would increase by 8% compared to last year.

As more consumers enjoy cheese in their daily lives, companies are launching various products using cheese to target the market.

‘Johnny Rockets,’ an authentic American handmade burger restaurant operated by Shinsegae Food, recently launched two new menu items, ‘Deep Cheese Single’ and ‘Deep Cheese Double,’ where burgers are dipped in cheese sauce.

‘Deep Cheese Single’ and ‘Deep Cheese Double’ are new menu items that combine juicy beef patties, crispy onion rings, and savory cheddar cheese, offering a unique visual and rich taste. Especially, when ordering a burger, a separate savory and salty dipping cheese sauce is provided, allowing customers to enjoy dipping their burgers or fries as they like. To celebrate the launch of these two new Johnny Rockets menu items, Shinsegae Food is selling a special set consisting of a ‘Deep Cheese Single,’ fries, dipping cheese, and a soft drink at a 2,000 KRW discount for 14,300 KRW.

Korea Pizza Hut has launched a premium pizza called ‘Cheese Fantasy,’ characterized by a rich flavor topped with seven different kinds of cheese. You can fully enjoy the diverse flavors of gorgonzola, mozzarella, parmesan, camembert, cheddar, cream, and ricotta cheeses. It is also finished sweetly with acacia honey sauce, creating a fragrant harmony with the cheese.

원본보기 아이콘

Ready-to-eat meal products featuring cheese as the main ingredient are also being released.

Pulmuone introduced two types of cheese balls: ‘Mozzarella Cheese Ball’ and ‘An Cream Cheese Ball.’ The ‘Mozzarella Cheese Ball’ uses 100% natural mozzarella cheese, honey, and aged provolone cheese to bring out a deep flavor. The ‘An Cream Cheese Ball’ features sweet red bean paste and natural cream cheese from New Zealand, offering a sweet and salty taste. Using bread crumbs specially made for cheese balls, they can be cooked crispy in a microwave or air fryer.

Ottogi launched two types of ‘Oz Kitchen Cheese Sticks,’ made with 100% natural cheese to provide a softer and richer cheese flavor. The ‘Oz Kitchen Cheese Stick’ contains chewy cheese that stretches softly inside a thin and crispy fried coating. The ‘Oz Kitchen Cheese Stick Coconut’ is coated with coconut slices on the fried exterior, allowing you to enjoy both savory and sweet flavors simultaneously.

A food industry official said, “As consumers’ tastes westernize and their experience enjoying various cheese-based menus increases, the demand for diverse cheese products is also rising. Food companies’ efforts to target cheese enthusiasts’ tastes by leveraging cheese’s advantages of enhancing flavor and enriching visual appeal will become increasingly active.”

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.