Saputo Cheese Expands Montchevre Goat Cheese Line with Hibiscus, Topped Innovations
Saputo Cheese USA Inc. has launched several new products under the Montchevre® brand, including a Hibiscus Berry Goat Cheese Log and line of Topped Goat Cheeses. These innovative items will cater to consumers sweet and savory cravings, providing unique serving options for snacking anytime, anywhere, for every occasion.
“Goat cheese sales continue to increase year over year and the variety of applications are on the rise,” said Jenny Englert, Saputo senior marketing manager. “Four or five years ago, we saw a lot of interest in goat’s milk products from new-to-category consumers but unfamiliarity with the flavor profiles, pairings and usage applications of goat cheese. Today, there are more US households than ever buying and consuming this soft, tangy cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This increased demand for variety has sparked our Montchevre® brand team to accelerate our innovation pipeline, adding a variety of new trending flavors and formats we are excited to release into the marketplace.”
The new Montchevre Hibiscus Berry log has a complex flavor depth that is bright, tart and sweet, giving the consumer notes of sangria in cheese format. This cheese pairs well with a dry prosecco, champagne or white wine to balance out the sweetness of the cheese and can be served with berries to complement the sweet and tart notes or an assortment of nuts to bring out more tangy flavors. Montchevre is the first brand to debut the trending hibiscus flavor in the goat cheese category.
“We are in the midst of a hibiscus explosion in the culinary world. Floral notes, specifically hibiscus, continue to trend on beverage menus and fine dining with a growth rate of more than 73 percent in the last four years. From beverages, like spirits and teas, to desserts, hibiscus is an easy gateway that works well in both savory and sweet beverage and food applications,” said Nikki Trzeciak, executive chef and senior manager of culinary and sensory at Saputo USA. “As hibiscus is the flavor of the summer, we’re thrilled to introduce it in our famous goat cheese log, as the tartness of the flavor really cuts through the tanginess of our goat cheese, making it a natural flavor pairing. The color is also visually appealing, as it breaks from the norm with its the light pink coloring, drawing consumers’ attention on the shelf.”
Montchevre Hibiscus Berry Goat Cheese is available in 4-oz sizes, featuring easy-to-peel open packaging and log shaped format for slicing or crumbling.
The Montchevre Topped Line features gourmet sweet and savory ingredients topping the Montchevre brand’s original creamy cheese. The unique flavors of cranberry port and roasted red pepper offer a satisfying solution for both sweet and savory palates, while the packaging allows for easy portability and serving anytime, anywhere – simply unwrap, flip and serve. These versatile snacks and accompaniments, are ideal for dipping, spreading and melting and can served alongside vegetables, fruit, bread, crackers and more.
“In the restaurant space, the popularity of compotes is on the rise, but the replication of similar flavors and textures at home is something that can be daunting for consumers as the make process is tedious and time-consuming. We’re thrilled to alleviate the pressure on home chefs by doing the work for them – pairing restaurant-quality compote-like ingredients with tangy, spreadable goat cheese,” said Englert. “In the goat cheese category, we’ve seen consumers tend to purchase on impulse, usually triggered by a craving or recipe. When it comes to the Montchevre Topped Line, we hope to reach consumers in the early stages of their decisions making process and inspire them to get creative with their goat cheese pairings, even branching out and creating their own goat cheese ‘toppings’ for future snacks and gatherings.”