The per capita consumption of cheese has diminished slightly (- 300 grammes). A person living in Switzrland consumed on average 22.9 kilogrammes of cheese. Since 2007 the consumptiion of cheese increased by 10 %.
In the recent years the consumption of cheese from domestic and foreign sources reached 204000 tonnes of cheese, corresponding nearly the rate of consumption for 2021. The in Switzerland living population increased by 0.11 million (+ 1.25 %), this fact resulted in a decrease of the per head consumption of cheese by 300 grammes (-1.3 %). By excempting the two outstanding Corona Years 2020/21 there is to report on the long time comparison that there is a stable consumption of cheese at high level.
Changing consumption habits
A comparison over the past 15 years shows that the changing consumption habits changed continuously- The consumption of cheese increased from 20.8 kilogrammes to 22.9 kilogrammes, an increase of 10 %. More fresh cheese and cottage English cheese are demanded. Each person living in Switzerland consumed in 2022 on average 8.5 kilogrammes of fresh cheese (3.3 kilogrammes in the form of Mozarella)
The per capita consumption of semi half hard cheeses increased in the last 15 years from 5.72 kilogrammes to 6.42 kilogrammes or by 700 grammes per head. Besides of the semi half hard cheeses, Raclette Suisse®, Raclette du Valais AOP, Appenzeller®, Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP, Tilsiter® and Tête de Moine AOP many regional semi hard cheeses are offered.
In the last 15 years the consumption of special cheeses of Goat, sheep and buffalo milk cheese increased from 130 to 200 grammes per capita (+54 %).
Share of Swiss Cheese is stabilising
In comparison of 2021 the share of Swiss Cheeses increased by 1.3 %. Since its liberalisation in 2008 the domestically produced cheeses decreased its share (-12 %), however the Swiss population consumes predominantly (64.3 %) Swiss cheeses.
The consumption figures derive from Agristat (Swiss Farmer Association) on the basis of TSM Trust Limited and the Swiss Customs Authorities (BAZG), as well as the Swiss Milk Producers SMP and are calculated and jointly published with Switzerland Cheese Marketing AG. The mentioned figures forming the Swiss Milk Statistics in Switzerland 2022 and these will be published in late summer of 2023.
The SMP represents the interests of Swiss milk producers and their local and regional organisations at the social and economic level.
Translation bxy Virginia F. Bodmer-Altura, Publisher of TextileFuture.