PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Bright outlook for cheese as domestic players battle with imports
Australia’s cheese market is expected to continue on a steady growth trajectory over the forecast period, supported by stable per capita consumption and increasing diversification across formats, flavour profiles, and usage occasions. Growth will likely also be driven by evolving consumer preferences toward convenience, culinary experimentation, and functional nutrition.
Health-lead innovations set to steer the future expansion of cheese
Over the forecast period, health and wellness will likely become an even more central pillar of growth in Australia’s cheese category, with high-protein and lactose-free innovation set to redefine product development, positioning, and consumer engagement. As health and wellness shifts from a niche focus to a mainstream expectation, cheese products that deliver functional benefits without compromising on taste or convenience will lead value expansion.
Fonterra’s potential exit from Australia set to disrupt the competitive landscape
Fonterra’s proposed divestment of its Oceania business, currently under regulatory scrutiny, has attracted strong interest from several major players, including Bega Cheese, Japan’s Meiji Holdings Co, and French dairy multinational Lactalis. While the transaction remains pending, the narrowing bidder field underscores the high strategic value of Fonterra’s Australian assets.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Cheese industry in Australia with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Cheese industry in Australia, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Cheese in Australia report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Cheese in Australia?
- Which are the leading brands in Cheese in Australia?
- How are products distributed in Cheese in Australia?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Cheese?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in Australia?
- How has COVID-19 impacted consumer demand? To what extent have lockdown, home seclusion and stockpiling boosted sales? Will the longer term economic repercussions of the pandemic stimulate or suppress future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Cheese in Australia - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Cheese sales backed by innovation and evolving consumption occasions
Fonterra leads cheese while Coles sees dynamic growth with its private label line
Supermarkets lead distribution through private label innovation and value-tier expansion
Bright outlook for cheese as domestic players battle with imports
Health-lead innovations set to steer the future expansion of cheese
Fonterra’s potential exit from Australia set to disrupt the competitive landscape
Dairy Products and Alternatives in Australia - Industry Overview
Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Key trends in 2025
Competitive Landscape
Channel developments
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
DISCLAIMER
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Cheese
- Spreadable Cheese
- Processed Cheese excl Spreadable
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- Packaged Hard Cheese
- Unpackaged Hard Cheese
- Soft Cheese
Cheese
This is the aggregation of hard, soft, spreadable and processed cheese (excl spreadable). Note: Non-dairy cheese substitutes are excluded from this category and tracked under plant-based cheese.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Cheese research and analysis database.
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