28 February 2025, Pilgrims Choice is growing its portfolio with the introduction of a new range of blended cheeses under the brand 'Inclusions'.
The move is to meet changing consumer demand for new and exciting flavors and easy meal solutions, backed by findings from a recent consumer research project.
The 'Inclusions' range will comprise four different flavor blends, each positioned to add culinary flexibility while retaining the fundamental characteristics of Pilgrims Choice mature cheddar.
The new products are:
The Italian One - Garlic & Herb: A mix of garlic, chives, and black pepper, which is aimed at accompanying Italian foods like pasta and pizzas.
The Mexican One - Smoked Paprika: A combination of smoked paprika and caramelized onion, which is aimed at meeting the increasing demand for strong flavors in Mexican food.
The American One - Hot Honey: With its combination of paprika, jalapeño, honey, and white wine vinegar, this flavor appeals to the hot honey trend and is set as the perfect topping for burgers and barbecues.
The British One - Caramelised Onion: A traditional combination topped with porcini and roast garlic, set to increase classic British comfort foods such as cheese toasties.
The new products will come in a range of formats, such as blocks, grated, and sliced, to cater to different ways of cooking and occasions.
This roll-out is a result of a full Category and Consumer Insights study carried out by Ornua Foods UK, the parent company of the brand. The study indicated that 50% of shoppers are willing to try new flavor experiences but look for convenience when preparing meals.
According to Coherent Market Insights, the cheese industry is predicted to expand at 5.7% CAGR during the forecast period from 2025-2032, owing to innovation in the variants of cheese products. It was anticipated to be US$ 110.11 Bn in 2025 and shall reach US$ 162.42 Bn by the end of the year 2032.
The 'Inclusions' range is focused on satisfying this need by supplying tasty, use-as-you-find-it cheese ideas that encourage shoppers to try out new cooking experiences.
Discussing the new range, Nicola Blackmore-Squires, marketing director for Ornua Foods UK, said: "We at Pilgrims Choice would like to make our growth journey happen even quicker. We have completed a huge Category and Consumer Insights project to ensure that we know how we fit for both our retailer partners and consumers. This is driving the direction of a pipeline of innovative products and brand development, the first of which is our new Pilgrims Choice inclusion range."
She further stated: "As a business, we are keen to make sure that innovative changes we are introducing to the Pilgrims Choice portfolio are ultimately what customers truly desire by accessing the latest food trends, we are concentrating on fulfilling unmet usage occasions and inspiring mealtimes to allow them to live a full life with flavor".
Rollout will start in Tesco stores throughout the UK in March, with wider retail partnerships planned for later in the year.
