A total of 5.18 million units of Grana Padano cheese were produced in 2019, representing a 5.06% increase on the previous year.
According to figures published by Consorzio per la Tutela del Grana Padano, exports accounted for 41% of the product's sales, which is an increase of 5.24% on the previous year.
Germany is the leading international market for the cheese, accounting for around 517,000 units.
Over the last decade, sales have grown by over 22.5%, equating to an annual growth of 2%.
International Tariffs
According to Consortium president, Nicola Cesare Baldrighi, the result was achieved in a period that saw international tariffs placed on products “that are extremely penalising for products such as Grana Padano”.
Another complicating factor is that consumers are confused when buying products, “due to the lack of clear information both in stores and on catering menus”.
Grated Grana Padano cheese also performed well, with November sales up 7.97% year-on-year. For the period January to November 2019, sales were up 6.84%, or an additional 1.49 million units.
The Consortium also announced the restyling of the Grana Padano logo and the introduction of new graphics, in order to enable consumers to better identify its products.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
