Why Grana Padano is bucking the Italian Cheese trend

The Italian cheese aisle offers plenty of choice, but rising prices are changing the picture behind the sales figures. British households are spending more on Italian cheese while buying less of it, making the growth of one familiar variety particularly interesting.

For Atlante UK, Italian cheese is an important part of our longstanding work with Sainsbury’s. The latest shopping trends provide a fresh perspective on the category, with Grana Padano standing out against a more challenging wider market.

Annual household spending on Italian cheese is now around £257 million. As the graph below shows, sales value continued to grow in the latest period, even as the quantity purchased fell. Higher prices are helping to keep spending up, while fewer households are buying into the category.

Grana Padano is finding a wider audience

Against this backdrop, Grana Padano is telling a different story. In the latest annual figures, the amount purchased grew by 5.9%, compared with a 2.3% decline for the Italian cheese market overall. More households are choosing it, even as prices rise.

This growth extends beyond the effect of higher prices. The graph below shows that both spending and the quantity purchased are increasing. Grana Padano now accounts for almost one-fifth of household spending on Italian cheese.

Its typically lower price point than Parmigiano Reggiano may be part of its appeal. For households looking to manage their food spend, Grana Padano offers another way to enjoy Italian hard cheese in everyday meals. The figures do not establish why shoppers are choosing it, but its growth makes value for money an interesting part of the story.

Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano

Although they are often used in similar dishes, Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano have distinct production requirements and flavour profiles. Knowing what sets them apart can help shoppers choose the cheese that suits their cooking and budget.

Grana Padano is made across a wider area of northern Italy and matured for at least nine months. At younger ages, it has a delicate, milky flavour, while longer maturation brings greater depth and intensity.

Parmigiano Reggiano comes from a more tightly defined area around Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena, including parts of Bologna and Mantua. It matures for a minimum of 12 months, with cheeses aged for around 24 months developing the crumbly texture and nutty, savoury notes that make it so recognisable.

The choice will depend on the maturation of the particular cheese as well as personal taste. A younger Grana Padano and a longer-matured Parmigiano Reggiano can bring quite different flavours to the same dish.

Our ongoing work with Sainsbury’s

These trends offer useful context for Atlante UK’s ongoing work with Sainsbury’s and our relationships with Italian cheese producers. Our experience in the category helps us appreciate the differences between individual cheeses as the market develops.

Grana Padano’s growing audience is an encouraging sign of continued demand for Italian cheese. With households balancing quality and food budgets, its performance adds a positive note to the wider market picture.

To learn more about Atlante’s cheese capabilities or discuss your next private-label project, please get in touch.