Consumers equate products from Scandinavia as being “high-quality, crafted with excellence and with an overall greater taste appeal,” said Mari Meriluoto, director of marketing and business development for Valio USA, parent company of Nordic specialty cheese maker Finlandia.
“Demand for Nordic cheeses continues to be high, and Finlandia is no exception,” Meriluoto said.
Finlandia Nordic cheeses have been produced in Finland more than a century. Consistency of quality, craftsmanship and wholesomeness has kept consumers coming back for all those generations, Meriluoto said.
“No matter what food trends are thrown into the mix, consumers will always appreciate quality, flavorful food and natural, clean ingredients.”
Finlandia is known in particular for its robust and flavorful Swiss cheese, which differs from many of the milder domestic Swiss cheeses, Meriluoto said.
But while Swiss is Finlandia’s top-selling item at traditional retailers, its top seller overall is its Finlandia Four Cheese Variety pack, which is sold at Costco stores nationwide.
Finlandia’s boosted its retail profile significantly this fall with the introduction of four new products that can liven up cheese boards, be enjoyed on a sandwich or on crackers as a snack.
The new products include two spreadable cheeses — Finlandia Imported Spreadable Cheese, Original flavor; and a version with chanterelle mushrooms — and two hard cheeses that have been aged for 10 months: Finlandia Imported Forte Aged Cheese and Finlandia Imported Gran Regale Aged Cheese, both of which boast a firm, grainy texture.
“Food lovers are looking for easy ways to liven up their meals, and our new cheeses take Finlandia classics up a notch,” Meriluoto said.
The new spreadable cheeses are sold in distinctive 7-ounce red tubs and are available for retail and foodservice.
The new hard cheeses are sold in 6.35-ounce packages.
All new products are currently in grocery stores in the Northeast, the Midwest and California.
Another take on mushrooms
One of the most recent Nordic cheese innovations from Norseland is a Wild Mushroom version of its Snofrisk spreadable cheese.
The cheese is made with chanterelle mushrooms, Norwegian goat’s milk and cow’s cream. The result, according to the company, is “a mild, smooth, earthy tasting treat.”
Chanterelle mushrooms are often referred to as “Forest Gold,” according to Norseland.
“Bringing together the famous flavor of this fungi with Norseland’s cheese, the optimal combination is born to meet consumers’ demand for mushroom cheeses.”
Top 10 Scandinavian cheeses
- Brunost
- Havarti
- Jarlsberg
- Vasterbotten
- Danablu
- Adelast
- Saga
- Brown Goat
- Kraftkar
- Hushallsost
Source: Taste Atlas
This article is an excerpt from the December 2023 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Nordic Cheese feature and more in the digital edition here.
