French families ate cheese last year as they turned to home cooking and sought gastronomic comfort during coronavirus locks that closed the restaurant industry.
The amount of cheese bought by French consumers for consumption at home increased by more than 8% in 2020, compared to just 2% the previous year, according to figures from farming group FranceAgriMer and market data company Kantar.
That was part of a shift in food consumption in many countries last year as the Covid-19 pandemic spread, with families first buying staples such as pasta and flour, and then settling in. their home-eating habits with the purchase of additional products such as butter.
In France, mozzarella saw the fastest rise in demand among major cheese sectors, with a 21% jump in size, followed by a 12% rise for raclette – a winter favorite melted with potatoes and lean meat. medicine.
Along with strong supermarket sales of cheeses of ingredients for cooking, specialty stores like Augustin Denous ’in Boulogne-Billancourt just outside Paris have reported more trade from locked-up homes looking for culinary cooking.
“In our small way, we’ve helped prevent people from being completely depressed. The dinner table has been a happy moment with good wine, good bread and good cheese.”
“This is one of those delights that is still affordable,” said one of Denous’s customers, Nicolas, at the store.
Eating at home, however, may only make up for lost demand in France’s major restaurant and tourism sectors as closing measures continue into 2021, he said. dairy industry group CNIEL.
But cheese has outperformed products like champagne or fish that are more dependent on events and restaurant trade.
Cheese lovers also see an opportunity to defend the famous French range of artisanal cheeses.
“There is a real commitment to farming and we need to make sure that is reflected in the arrival of new, younger producers,” said Veronique Richez-Lerouge, president of the local French cheese association and founder of the annual cheese day. , taking place Saturday.
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This story was published from a wire group group with no text changes. Only the headline has changed.