In terms of volume, growth was 3.3%, to 331,000 tonnes.
This result was achieved despite the crisis in Ukraine that has almost halved shipments to Moscow and a still strong currency.
Impressive results were obtained in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, Czech Republic and Romania with an increase in volume by 18%, 9% and 22%, respectively. Encouraging results came, albeit at a still small market share, in China (+41%), Korea (+26%) and the UAE (+28%); with positive trends also in France (4.3%), Germany (+6.5%) and the UK (+1.9%).
Among the various segments, ISMEA highlights a positive trend for fresh cheeses (+3.1% in volume), certified grana cheese (+3.4%), provolone (+7.2%), gorgonzola (+2.7%) and grated cheese (+9.7%).
In particular, sales of fresh cheeses grew especially in Germany (+8.2% in volume) and in France (+7.0%), compared with a decline in the UK (-2.5%).
Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano, by contrast, recorded the highest increase in the UK (+9.1%), but grew less in the German and French markets (respectively +3.7% and +2.1%), with a setback in the US (-5.2%). For its part, gorgonzola was much appreciated in the Netherlands (+13.9% in volume) and the UK (+7.3%).
In Italy, cheese sales were down 5.7% in 2014 (for a total of 659 million kg sold) and in volume by 4.7%, to nearly €7 million, according to Nielsen data.
Source: European Supermarket Marketing
