Market Overview

The Italy cheese market size was valued at USD 2,276.89 Million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3,518.17 Million by 2034. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.95% from 2026 to 2034. Driven by centuries-old artisanal traditions and robust domestic consumption, the market benefits from strong consumer preference for premium quality products, extensive PDO and PGI certification systems, and the country's renowned gastronomy culture that positions cheese as a dietary staple. Explore more about the Italy Cheese Market.

How AI is Reshaping the Future of Italy Cheese Market:

• AI-enhanced quality control ensures consistent premium quality in PDO-certified cheeses, helping maintain Italy’s reputation for authenticity.

• Machine learning optimizes dairy farming operations, supporting the dominant cow milk segment that accounts for 91.42% of the market.

• AI-driven supply chain optimization enhances distribution efficiency in supermarkets and hypermarkets, which hold 35.82% market share.

• Automated packaging technologies align with consumer demands for convenience formats like slices, dominating with a 31.86% share.

• AI-assisted product innovation accelerates development of lactose-free and plant-based cheese alternatives, responding to health-conscious consumers.

• Data analytics support market players like Granarolo in expanding premium portfolios, fostering competitiveness internationally.

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Market Growth Factors

The Italy cheese market is a customary market with good export performance which continues to drive growth in Italian cheese producers. Italian cheese is acclaimed for its authenticity and protected designations of origin and demand for Italian cheese continues to grow internationally, particularly in the North American market, Asian markets and in other developing countries. This export-oriented sector supports the stability of production on the domestic market, reinforces investment in customary production processes, and provides insulation against market volatility. High-value products such as Mozzarella di Bufala and Parmigiano Reggiano, and fresh cheese such as Burrata, are driven by international demand for authentic Italian products, to be used in the culinary and foodservice sectors.

The domestic market is driven by demand for artisanal, customary, and quality cheeses. Italians are particularly interested in heritage cheeses with regional character and protected designations of origin, and in promoting products that are artisan-made and natural, rewarding those that keep the taste customary and genuine. Broad trends in food culture are similar. PDO and PGI standards have been maintained, balancing creativity and innovation with customary practices and heritage. High per capita consumption is also fueled by consumer trends and growing demand for health-oriented foods, as demonstrated by the use of preservative-free and naturally derived cheeses that are perceived as superior in taste and quality, and ubiquitous in home and restaurant cooking.

Emerging trends in cheese include health-promoting or functional cheeses. As nutritional concerns and dietary impact become priorities for consumers, lactose-free cheeses have become an alternative for lactose-intolerant consumers which retain the appealing characteristics of customary Italian products such as Mozzarella and fresh cheeses. It reflects foods, designed to meet specific needs, increasingly becoming normal without either nutrition or taste suffering, and people focus more on ingredients and protocols sustaining, products staying natural, and production lines staying ethical which changed how people perceive such products. These trends help make things more accessible by attracting new participants while pressuring the industry to make products that indulge and heal.

Market Segmentation

Source

• Cow Milk
• Buffalo Milk
• Goat Milk
• Others

Type

• Natural
• Processed

Product

• Mozzarella
• Cheddar
• Feta
• Parmesan
• Roquefort
• Others

Format

• Slices
• Diced/Cubes
• Shredded
• Blocks
• Spreads
• Liquid
• Others

Distribution Channel

• Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
• Convenience Stores
• Specialty Stores
• Online
• Others

Region

• Northwest
• Northeast
• Central
• South
• Others

Recent Developement & News

• May 2025: Granarolo inaugurated a €25 million cheese plant in Gioia del Colle, enhancing production capacity for Apulian-style cheeses. The facility processes 60,000 tonnes of milk into 10,000 tonnes of cheese, doubling workforce by 2027, and introduced new products including frozen burrata and expanded PDO portfolio.

• 2025: Regione Lombardia allocated €3.7 million across 20 projects to promote PDO and PGI agri-food products, boosting visibility and consumer trust in regional cheeses, particularly among affluent urban demographics seeking premium provenance.

• 2025: Granarolo launched an expanded “Benessere” line featuring lactose-free, high-protein cheeses such as Burrata with less than 0.1% lactose and 40% less fat, addressing the health- and nutrition-conscious market segment, reflecting increasing consumer demand for functional dairy products.

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