Convenient, Unique Cheeses Inspire Home Cooks

Champignon North America, which imports a variety of distinctive cheeses, sees interest in convenient and unique cheeses that offer inspiration for the home cook enduring and growing post-pandemic. Stay-at-home restrictions may have curtailed international travel, but not consumers’ cravings for global flavors.

“Consumers are definitely looking to bring the unique experiences of travel into their homes and kitchens. As a result, consumers are getting more adventurous with cheese, from trying different varieties to experimenting with new recipes at home,” says Flynne Wiley, CEO of Champignon North America Inc. in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. “Cooking at home is an ideal opportunity for home cooks to travel through food, and the diverse nature of specialty cheese is an ideal vehicle to make meals fun, interesting and delicious.”

Whether cooking with cheese or simply snacking, Arla Foods Inc., makers of Castello brand havarti, gouda, blue cheese, fontina, edam, brie and feta, expects to see consumers continuing to cook at home throughout 2021. To drive awareness for authentic Danish Havarti, Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Arla, has launched a Discover Havarti campaign.

Additionally, the company is introducing new Castello Havarti and Gouda snacks. “While convenient snacking solutions are an important trend with consumers utilizing their homes as offices, schools and gyms, convenient snacking solutions will only become more important as people return to more normal routines,” says Castello Brand Manager Leah Sbriscia.