India is currently the world’s largest producer of milk, because of which the cheese market holds significant growth potential. With the rising influence of western cuisines and inflating disposable incomes, consumers are now shifting from paneer towards cheese, thereby increasing its demand within the country. Moreover, manufacturers are introducing a variety of flavoured cheese products, including pepper, garlic, red chilli flakes, and oregano pickle, which cater to the various tastes and preferences of consumers in India. Although cheese is extensively employed in alimentation items like pasta, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, cakes, breadstuff, etc., it's also being included in traditional Indian recipes like dosa, uttapam, and parathas.

According to the report "India Cheese (Retail & Institutional) Market Outlook, 2027-28" published by Bonafide Research, the cheese market is anticipated to grow at a 19% CAGR for 2022-2028. With the growing working population and their altering food patterns, the agriculture industry is experiencing healthy growth, which, in turn, is augmenting the demand for cheese. With a rise in the number of organised stores, numerous global players are now investing in the Indian cheese market. Moreover, several manufacturers are engaging in marketing campaigns through different advertising media like newspapers, televisions, and social media platforms to increase awareness among consumers about the advantages of cheese. These factors are anticipated to spice up the consumption of cheese within the upcoming years.
One area where sales are still low, however, is the consumption of cheese as a stand-alone product, which is thought to be unusual and an elite choice. While in western cultures, people sometimes eat cheese for health reasons. A cultural factor at play is that cooked food is usually a part of every meal in India, so selling cheese as an ingredient for home-cooked dishes instead of as a standalone chilled product is simpler. One positive cultural facet for cheese producers, however, is the proportion of Indians who are vegetarian. Another smaller Indian company offering cheese with significant buffalo milk content is Vallombrosa Cheese. The Bengaluru-based business has been operational for the last 60 years and makes ten forms of cheese, including feta- and parmesan-style products, with major hotels being a key market hitherto. Vallombrosa runs a WhatsApp group where the company shares new recipes for cheese dishes to push sales.

India’s government is additionally helping the industry as mozzarella has been added to an inventory of seven food products where manufacturers can apply for central government grants to spice up production investment from INR 109bn (US$1.48bn) budget allocated over the next five years. The support comes under the PLI-Production Linked strategy for the Food Processing Industry to "make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investment, ensure efficiencies, and create economies of scale. Additionally thereto, Amul announced an INR 2 billion investment attempt to manufacture mozzarella cheese from buffalo milk for exports, though the small print hasn't yet been made public. For domestic manufacturers, it should be a decent time to create an area brand in India.
Per capita consumption of cheese in India could be a mere 200 grammes per annum, in contrast to the world average of seven kg every year. The common for urban India, however, is 700 grammes per person and the country’s six largest cities consume approximately 60% of all cheese sold in India. Fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Domino's are also driving the demand for processed cheddar and mozzarella cheese. It is not surprising that Amul is additionally counting on hotels, restaurants, and caterers to spice up the demand for value-added products in Asia’s third-largest economy. Its peer, Parag Milk Food, India’s second-largest cheese maker that sells Go-branded products, too, has seen demand grow from hotels, restaurants, and retail stores alike. It sells cheese in 75 different pack sizes and flavours.

Many international businesses are also engaging in the Indian mozzarella cheese market because of the increase in organised retail shops. Most of India's specialty cheeses, including mozzarella, are currently imported. But India is projected to overtake other countries as a significant cheese supplier as it makes higher quality investments in cheese production. Thanks to Russia's restrictions on European cheese exports due to the on-going crisis in Ukraine, new markets are opening up for Indian dairy products. India is predicted to decrease its reliance on imports, in line with the larger vision of making an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, with the help of the Mozzarella PLI, a non-tariff incentive that was specifically created to be compliant with international trade agreements, and is prepared to launch a brand new White Revolution, this time powered by cheese.

Key Development
• In June 2022, Katharos innovated its way into the market with the launch of the world’s 1st watermelon-based Mozzarella cheese in its portfolio.
• Amul will invest Rs 200 Crore in its new buffalo-milk-based mozzarella production in March 2021. One among the products the government has chosen for help under its Rs 10,900 crore production-linked incentive scheme is mozzarella cheese (PLI).
• Heritage Food announced the addition of cow milk-based mozzarella cheese to its portfolio in February 2021, along with cream, coffee, and butter.

COVID-19 Impacts:
Despite the challenges, one of all the sectors in India that handled the pandemic well is the dairy industry, especially in terms of packed dairy products. What boosted the industry's sales was that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically affected consumers' dietary habits. With more and more people locked in their homes, consumers ended up spending extended hours in their kitchens, thus resulting in a surge in household consumption of dairy products. Demand for categories like cheese and paneer witnessed an especially greater demand because of their versatile nature. Another factor that's aiding food product consumption is the growing preference for nutritious vegetarian food. Because Indians frequently regard vegetarianism as an honest virtue rather than a lifestyle choice, the pandemic and lockdown caused people to value paneer and other packaged dairy items more highly than non-vegetarian options.

Covered in the report:
• Retail Cheese
• Institutional Cheese
• Processed Cheese
• Unprocessed Cheese
• Spreadable Cheese
• Un-spreadable Cheese

"India Cheese (Retail & Institutional) Market Outlook, 2027-28" discusses the following aspects of Cheese in India:
How it will help solving your strategic decision making process??
The report gives an in-depth understanding of the Cheese market in India:
- Global Cheese Market Outlook
- India Cheese Market Outlook
- India Cheese Market Size By Value & Forecast
- India Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Cheese Market Segmental Analysis: By Company, By Region, By Segment, By End User
- India Processed Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Spreadable Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Un-spreadable Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Processed Cheese Market Segmental Analysis: By Spreadable Vs. Un-spreadable
- India Unprocessed Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Retail Cheese Market Size By Value & Forecast
- India Retail Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Retail Cheese Market Segmental Analysis: By Segment
- India Retail Spreadable Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Retail Un-spreadable Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Retail Cheese Market Segmental Analysis: By Spreadable Vs. Un-spreadable
- India Retail Unprocessed Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- Product Price Variant
- India Institutional Cheese Market Size By Value & Forecast
- India Institutional Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Institutional Cheese Market Segmental Analysis: By Segment
- India Institutional Spreadable Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Institutional Un-spreadable Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- India Institutional Cheese Market Segmental Analysis: By Spreadable Vs. Un-spreadable
- India Institutional Unprocessed Cheese Market Size By Volume & Forecast
- Key Vendors in this market space

This report can be useful to Industry consultants, manufacturers and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.

Report Methodology
The information contained in this report is based upon both primary and secondary research. Primary research included interviews with various channel partners of Cheeses in India. Secondary research included an exhaustive search of relevant publications like company annual reports, financial reports and proprietary databases.