camembert loses share on the cheese market

Camembert, the star of French cheeses, is less and less popular and is increasingly challenged. Sales are down sharply. While it remains in second place on the podium, behind Emmental, nearly 44,000 tonnes were sold last year, down 10% over one year. In question, competition from fresher cheeses such as mozzarella, whose sales have increased by 55% in five years.

“Sales, in the summer, will be mainly fresh cheeses. So mozzarella, (…) burratas”, explains Augustin Denous, associate of Fromagerie Escudier. If traditional cheeses remain appreciated by a public of seniors, young people prefer less pronounced tastes. “The French today are more about cheeses that are cooked, and perhaps a little less about cheeses that are eaten”also notes Romain Le Texier, dairy products specialist at Kantar.