Spread the word: new varieties of cheese

Dairy Foods, May, 1990 by Marty Friedman

Over the years, I have always been amazed at the variety of shelf facings of spreadable, cold-pack cheeses in Midwestern supermarket dairy departments. Established processors, such as Merkts and Hernke, have dominated this subcategory for generations. It was only a matter of time before other cheesemakers started to look more closely at the burgeoning business in spreadable cheeses, both semihard and creamy-soft varieties.

Lever's Van den Bergh Foods Co. began testing Shedd's Country Crock Spreadable Cheeses in early 1988. Then, last September, Kraft brought Crockery Spreadable Cheese Snacks to market. Earlier this year, Kraft changed the name of its product to Spreadery (at Van den Bergh's request), and both lines have been moving across the country backed by heavy introductory advertising and couponing programs.

Kraft also has been testing Philadelphia Cream Cheese Slices in Albany and Syracuse, N.Y., and Kansas City, Mo., since fall 1989. Ten thick, square slices are individually wrapped and boxed in the traditional Philadelphia silver box. A 12-ounce box retails for $2.19. Ino-foods of Merrill, Wis., is now producing Tante Whipped Cream Cheese in attractive, single-serving portion packs. Kaukauna is marketing flavored neufchatel cheese containing 25-pereent less fat than regular cream cheese. Garden Vegetable and Garlic & Herb flavors are available. Campbell has added Jalepeno and Onion Garlic to its Win Schuler's Bar-Scheeze spread flavors.

Soft spreadable "gourmet" cheeses are expanding from cheese specialty stores into supermarket cheese departments and self-service delis. Land O' Lakes' flavored cream cheese ("A Natural' For Your Deli"), is available in Extra Rich, with Jalepenos, Garlic & Herbs, with Strawberries and with Mixed Berries.

Euro Club also offers a combination of savory and fruit flavors in 17 varieties: Cheddar, Vegetable, Mushroom, Blue, Olive & Pimento, Tuna, Herbs & Garlic, Herb & Spice, Cajun Spices, Jalepeno, French Onion, Bacon & Horseradish, Salmon, Strawberry, Peaches, Wildberry, and Chocolate.

Kolb-Lena Cheese Company, which purchased Nibbles Cheese last year, has introduced new Nibbles Deli Style Cream Cheese in Olive and Pimento, Black Peppercorn, Honey and Almond, Pineapple and Chive flavors. The line is sold in 8-ounce, resealable and tamper-proof cups.

Perhaps the largest flavor line belongs to Bloomfield, N.J.-based Avant Garde Foods, which offers over 30 varieties of Spreadables flavored cheeses, including such exotica as Sun Dried Tomato & Smoked Mozzarella, Shrimp Scampi, Jarlsberg Brandy, Black Bean, Broccoli Fontina and Pink Champagne. Spreadables are available in bulk in 5-pound tubs and pre-weighed 7-ounce cups.

Fromageries Bel has entered the soft cheese spread market with "The Laughing Cow Soft Cheese Spreads." Packaged in resealable tubs, the spreads are sold in Regular and Lite varieties, and are described as "perfect as a breakfast spread." Introductory ads advise consumers to "create delicious sauces in minutes in the microwave or on the stove." Another microwaveable item is Cabots' Vermont Royale Cheddar Cheese Spreads, now available in Spring Onion & Chive, Zesty Garlic Herb, and Fiery Cajun Pepper flavors.

Bongrain International, from Mountainside, N.J., is promoting two soft, spreadable cheese lines. La Cheeserie is packaged in deli-cups with see-through lids. The line comes in six savory flavors: Garlic & Herbs, Toasted Onion, Garden Vegetable, Horseradish & Chives, Spinach and Smoked Salmon. La Cheeserie also is available in four fruit flavors: Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Raspberry and Strawberry. A second line, called Alouette Creme de Fruit, features Raspberry, Strawberry, Pineapple and Exotic Fruit flavors in 7-ounce cups. Key selling points for Alouette are: real pieces of fruit, light, mousse-like texture, low fat (one-third less fat than regular soft-spreadable cheese) and natural ingredients.

Another new soft cheese line is Fleur de Lait Foods' The Little Cheeserie. This product is called Chunky Spreadables, with all six varieties packed with real bits of vegetables, fruit or seafood. The Little Cheeserie line consists of Hawaiian Pineapple; Plump Strawberries; Zesty Salsa; Veggies, Chives & Onions; Bay Shrimp; and Bac'n & Tomato flavors. Cheeses for daubing and dipping Although not strictly deserving the spreadable" designation, a variety of new cheeses is no doubt being daubed and dipped by snacking and entertaining consumers. Tholstrup Cheeses is offering Tolko, a spreadable triple-cream cheese in four flavors: Peppercorn, Chive, Rum and Pineapple. The line is available in 4.5-ounce mini-rounds, packaged in colorful, see-through plastic domes. Tholstrup also is manufacturing a new Garlic/Chive Saga cheese at its North Shores, Mich., plant.

Bongrain has introduced a "new and improved" Gourmandise flavored process cheese from France, which features three layers of crunchy walnuts. A Kirsch flavor also is available. Under its Le Roule label, Fromageries Triballat is marketing Roule Light, a rolled, soft cheese that is 35 percent lower in fat, and comes in Herbs and Garlic flavor