Category
Lifestyle
Gentle Diagnostics
Trend cluster
Category
Repurposed
Cheese
Brands are launching packaged goods made with upcycled cheese and ingredients.
3.9
Trend score
What's Happening
What is the Repurposed Cheese trend?
Repurposed Cheese: CPG brands and food manufacturers are launching cheese-based products made with upcycled ingredients. These products have reduced carbon footprints and long shelf lives. Brands use upcycled ingredients acquired from manufacturing byproducts and excess storage to reduce cost and waste.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Repurposed Cheese trend
While many consumers prioritize environmentally or socially-friendly products over alternatives, some consumers are unwilling to pay increased costs for these products. These consumers only opt for these products when the price and quality are comparable to the alternatives. This cost-conditional desire has led to brands finding ways to produce environmentally friendly foods while maintaining, or even reducing, production costs. Brands appeal to these customers by turning to upcycling.
Trend themes
Themes within the Repurposed Cheese trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Upcycling of Ingredients
CPG brands and food manufacturers are repurposing ingredients, like excess storage acquired from manufacturing byproducts—reducing cost and waste in the process.
02
Reducing Carbon Footprints by Food Manufacturers
Companies are finding ways to reduce their carbon footprint by using upcycled ingredients in their products, creating environmentally-friendly products with reduced production costs.
03
Vegan and Allergen-Free Options
Companies are creating vegan and allergen-free pie crusts and cheese sticks in response to changing consumer preferences, while keeping in mind the environment and need for upcycling.
Industry implications
What the Repurposed Cheese trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Food and beverage manufacturers can utilize waste reduction strategies and upcycled ingredients to create environmentally-friendly products that appeal to cost-conscious consumers.
For
Plant-Based and Vegan Foods
Plant-based and vegan food companies can continue to innovate and create product offerings with elevated flavors, like truffle, to cater to changing consumer preferences and increase market share.
For
Gluten-Free and Allergen-Free Foods
Food companies can appeal to the growing market of consumers seeking gluten-free and allergen-free options, while also incorporating waste reduction and upcycling strategies into their production processes.
Workshop question
How can your brand implement upcycling to reduce waste and production costs while still producing high-quality products that meet industry standards?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Repurposed Cheese
Trend score 3.9 out of 10, from popularity 54%, activity 44%, freshness 20%.
Popularity54%
Activity44%
Freshness20%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Repurposed Cheese trend
6 featured examples from Feb 21, 2022 to Jan 19, 2024CategoryEco
Upcycled Cheese Powders
Kerry's Upcycled Cheese Powder is Environmentally-Friendly and Flavorful
The food manufacturing industry can explore opportunities to incorporate upcycled ingredients and implement sustainable practices to reduce waste and emissions.
CategoryLifestyle
Carbon-Reducing Cheddar Cheeses
Ivy's Reserve is the First-of-Its-Kind Cheese
Dairy farms can adopt sustainable practices and innovate ways to reduce carbon emissions, waste, and improve animal welfare.
CategoryLifestyle
Alternative Cultured Cheeses
Seeductive Foods Uses Regenerative & Upcycled Ingredients
With the rising demand for dairy-free options, there is an opportunity for companies to create innovative, clean-label cheese alternatives using plant-based and superfood ingredie…
CategoryTech
AI-Powered Cheese Production
Ever.Ag Cheese Yield Optimization Optimizes Efficiency and More
The Ever.Ag Cheese Yield Optimization disrupts the cheese manufacturing industry by streamlining processes and optimizing efficiency through AI and machine learning.
CategoryEco
Upcycled Brownie Pie Crusts
Freedom Foods' Chocolate Brownie Pie Crust Repurposes Ingredients
Food manufacturers can repurpose their by-products to create value-added products, like Freedom Foods did with their brownie by-products.
CategoryLifestyle
Vegan White Cheddar Snacks
Babybel Releases Plant-Based White Cheddar in Its Dairy-Free Portfolio
The snack industry has the opportunity to introduce more plant-based and dairy-free options to cater to changing consumer preferences.
