The value of imported cheese in the US grew by 11.2% in 2023, to $1.82 billion, according to TrendEconomy.

And according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), the United States imported more than $1.57 billion in cheese in 2021, making it the seventh largest importer of cheese in the world.

“The desire to explore global flavors through cheese is strong and will likely grow in 2025 and beyond,” said Jenny Englert, marketing director for Saputo USA.

The import business is certainly booming for Saputo.

“We have a variety of imported cheese brands that we’re really excited about, as they continue to gain momentum from consumers and retailers alike,” Englert said.

Some of the company’s top import brands include Cathedral City, El Cortijo, Joan of Arc, Wensleydale Creamery, Kaamps Estate and Landana.

Experimenting with imported cheeses, Englert said, is one of the best ways for consumers to explore the flavors and unique food traditions of the world.

Imported cheeses often use traditional aging processes, integrate unique regional flavors, and offer consumers’ palates new textures and flavor notes that compliment familiar cheese experiences.

For example, El Cortijo Iberico cheeses imported by Saputo bring familiar textures to the palate, but their buttery aromas bring new flavors that are “both delicious and surprising to taste buds,” Englert said.

Other cheeses Saputo imports tell compelling stories.

Stella Grana Padano, a hard, straw-colored cheese from Northern Italy’s Po Valley, has a history dating to 1923, when Italian diplomat Count Bolognesi began making authentic Parmesan cheese on a small farm on Lake Nebegamon in Northern Wisconsin in partnership with a master cheesemaker from Italy.

The cheese quickly caught the fancy of the locals, who appreciated the authentic Italian taste, and it continued to grow in popularity as the years went on, Englert said. “When consumers start exploring the global cheese world, they’re pleasantly surprised by the various profiles and legacies from cheese to cheese — learning that no Wensleydale, Gouda, Cheddar, or Brie tastes the same due to a cheese’s geographic location and aging process.”

Looking ahead, Saputo has several exciting things in the pipeline in its import program.

The company will soon roll out new packaging for the El Cortijo brand of Spanish cheeses, which includes Manchego, Dorado, Iberico, and Sheep cheese with olive oil varieties.

Coming this fall, meanwhile, are additional flavors in Saputo’s Wensleydale line of English cheeses: Mango Ginger, Hot Honey Cheddar and Truffle Cheddar.

Saputo’s imported gouda brands, Kaamps Estate and Landana, also will debut new products this fall. They will include a Pizza Gouda Wedge and a Maple Whiskey Wedge from Kaamps Estate and a Jersey XO wedge from Landana.

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