Everyone loves beautiful charcuterie boards, but when it comes to daily snacking, on-the-go convenience is key for consumers.

At the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show on June 23, David Lockwood, founder of Lockwood Consulting, shared in his preview of the State of the Specialty Food Industry 2024-25 report that 2023 was the first year that specialty food sales were driven more by Millennials and Gen Z than by Gen X and Boomers.

This means that specialty cheese marketing should lean into the younger consumer trends, which Lockwood said involves several snacks throughout the day, rather than full meals.

St. Louis-based Volpi Foods is an example of a company that understands snacking trends and gives consumers plenty of on-the-go options.

Earlier this year, the company added a new variety to its existing Roltini Single lineup, which includes mozzarella and pepperoni, mozzarella and prosciutto, mozzarella and spicy salame, and Oaxaca and chorizo varieties. The new product, Pepper Jack and Genoa Salame Roltini Singles, mixes pepper jack cheese and thinly sliced salami in a convenient rolled format.

“We are thrilled to introduce our Pepper Jack and Genoa Salame Roltini Singles to consumers seeking a high-quality, convenient snack option,” said Lorenza Pasetti, chief executive officer of Volpi Foods. “At Volpi, we are committed to crafting products that combine traditional Italian flavors with modern convenience.”

Also this year, Volpi launched Snack Cups, which offer consumers 13 grams of protein and 240 calories in a convenient, on-the-go cup.

The product is free from nitrates and nitrites, with two varieties available at launch: Fontina Cheese with Genoa Salame and Cheddar Cheese with Uncured Pepperoni.

“We understand the need for convenient, healthy snacks that don’t sacrifice taste,” Pasetti said. “Snack Cups provide the perfect balance of protein, flavor and portability, making them a game-changer for individuals with an active and busy lifestyle.”

Not only does Volpi do snacking well, but the company also addresses Millennial and Gen Z values and meets their demand for products from companies with ethical business practices.

In June, Pasetti was named Mindful CEO of the Year during the 2024 Mindful Awards program. The program honors conscious CPG companies and products that offer transparency to consumers, pay workers fair wages, ensure sustainable business practices, use recycled or recyclable materials, and create healthier products using natural or organic ingredients.

“Volpi is leading the industry with their mindful efforts under the leadership of a CEO who believes in creating a more sustainable future for generations,” said Travis Grant, managing director of the Mindful Awards. “Sustainable packaging as well as sourcing from local farms translates to environment-friendly practices, better lives for animals and better-quality products. Congratulations to Lorenza Pasetti, our ‘Mindful CEO of the Year,’ as she and her family deliver on their promise of better-quality foods from better sourced ingredients, crafted by best-in-class artisans, every time.”

“What an amazing honor to receive this Mindful Award; however, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the hard work my family put in before me and the work they continue to deliver,” Pasetti said. “I like to say after 122 years, we’re an overnight success. That success comes from our heritage of taking the time it takes to do things the right way and never compromising.”

Pasetti is the great-niece of Volpi’s founder Giovanni Volpi.

“My goal with Volpi is to create a better future for generations to come,” Pasetti said. “We remain committed to making sure that we’re as sustainable as we can make ourselves, and let our consumers know that we care about their future.”  

2024 sofi Gold Award winner

At the 2024 IDDBA show in Houston, Scott Bridi, founder of Brooklyn Cured, shared details about the New York-based company’s new snack packs. The new Bresaola & Gouda Snack Pack variety received a 2024 sofi Gold Award from the Specialty Food Association and features air dried beef prosciutto paired with a creamy gouda. The other three varieties showcased at the show include the following:

• Smoked Beef Salami & Gouda: New York City deli style smoked beef salami paired with creamy gouda
• Tuscan Red Wine Beef Salami & Rosemary Gouda: Red wine beef salami paired with an aromatic rosemary gouda
• Bresaola & Truffle Gouda: Air dried beef prosciutto paired with a luxurious truffle gouda

“Consumers are snacking more than ever,” Bridi said. “When designing these new Snack Packs, we had not only convenience in mind, but unique flavors that stood out from the rest. We are thrilled that our top-selling Beef Bresaola paired with a creamy gouda did just this by being recognized in this year’s sofi Awards.”

Brooklyn Cured also offers single-serve salami snacks with flavors inspired by classic cocktails, including the following:

• Pork Salami with Bourbon and Sour Cherries
• Pork Salami with Belgian Ale and Lemon Zest
• Pork Salami with Rye Whiskey and Orange
• Pork Salami with Mezcal and Lime
• Pork Salami with Black Truffles

“Every hour is cocktail hour,” said a Brooklyn Cured representative. “Featuring our take on The Manhattan, The Old Fashioned, The Mezcal Margarita, The Beer Garden, and a truffle salami that pairs perfectly with a glass of wine, there’s a charcuterie for all. Cheers!” 

Soft cheese snacks from Président 

At both IDDBA and the Summer Fancy Food Show, Lactalis USA’s Président cheese brand featured some of its snack products that meet the demand for convenience. 

One popular product, highlighted for its new packaging, was the Président Pub Cheese spreads. The line includes the following flavors: 

• Smoked Sharp Cheddar
• Cheddar & Port Wine
• Cheddar Jalapeno
• Cheddar & Horseradish
• Cheddar & Bacon

They are available in both 8-ounce cups and 3-ounce snack options, and the 3-ounce snack cups come with pretzels so everything consumers need for an on-the-go snack is in one package. The Président brand also offers creamy, whipped Rondelé cheese and crackers in similarly designed snack cups.

“We were thrilled to be back at IDDBA to continue to share our quality products and highlight our new packaging,” said Karine Blake, Président’s brand director. “We pride ourselves on offering high-quality, authentic dairy products rooted in tradition and flavor.”

Among the company’s other snack options was its well known and loved Président Brie, available as Wee Brie, which is a pack of eight single-serve, individually wrapped wedges of spreadable Brie cheese.

Président also recently launched a summer promotional campaign offering consumers a chance to win a trip to Paris.

Through Sept. 22, shoppers can scan a QR code on Président Brie, Président Camembert, and Président Butter packages to go to the contest website. There will be five trips awarded, and each includes airfare for two, a four-night hotel stay and a traditional French dinner.

New flavors from Bel

Chicago-based Bel Brands USA launched a multipack of its Babybel cheese snacks this summer.

The Babybel variety pack includes its Original and White Cheddar flavors along with its newest variety, Monterey Jack, which launched in 2023 and was the brand’s first new flavor in nine years.

“Our consumers have been asking for a Babybel variety pack, and we are more than happy to deliver,” said Eileen Pedersen, brand manager.

The company said that each 18-count variety pack includes eight pieces of Babybel Original, five pieces of White Cheddar and five pieces of Monterey Jack. 

Also new from Bel Brands USA this year is a Creamy Jalapeño flavor of The Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedges, which is the brand’s first new variety in five years.

“The Laughing Cow is constantly seeking new, innovative flavor options for our consumers, and through in-depth consumer research, we found there is a white space in the snack cheese category when it comes to Jalapeño,” said Zach Fatla, brand director of The Laughing Cow. “We know bolder, hotter and unique cheese varieties are a top priority for consumers, which is why we are thrilled to be adding a spicy Jalapeño flavor to the delicious lineup of our creamy cheese wedges.” 

This article is an excerpt from the July 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Snacking Cheeses feature and more in the digital edition here.