Cottage cheese demand outpaces production capacity

Cottage cheese sales have risen by about 10 percent in S Group stores over the past year, with demand occasionally outstripping manufacturers’ production capacity, Yle reports.

The increase has led to occasional availability problems and empty shelves, SOK sales manager Mikko Kovalainen said. He attributed the growing demand to wellness trends and interest in protein, with cottage cheese used in smoothies, pancakes and baking. Recipes shared on social media have also helped boost its popularity, he said.

Lidl Finland said cottage cheese has also become more popular elsewhere in Europe, particularly low-fat varieties. Interest in protein products has grown more broadly, and sales of legumes have increased by 10 percent this year, the retailer said.

Despite the strong demand and occasional stockouts of individual products, neither S Group stores nor Lidl report an overall shortage of cottage cheese.