Core Insights - The Chinese cheese market is experiencing a shift towards processed cheese, with a significant preference for softer and richer flavors among consumers [1][6] - The retail sales of processed cheese have increased to 73.4% from 2017 to 2023, indicating a growing trend towards this product type [1] - The market for processed cheese is projected to reach 9.8 billion yuan in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 4.2% [11] Processed Cheese Market - Processed cheese, also known as reconstituted cheese, is made from one or two types of natural cheese and is characterized by its mild flavor and longer shelf life [6] - The market for processed cheese is expected to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7% from 2018 to 2024, with a market size of 3.7 billion yuan in 2024 [5][11] - The product categories in the processed cheese segment include spreadable processed cheese and other forms such as cheese sticks and processed cheese shreds [7] Natural Cheese Market - Natural cheese, often referred to as original cheese, is categorized into hard and soft cheeses, with hard cheese containing 49%-56% moisture and high nutritional value [2] - The market for natural cheese is growing, but at a slower pace compared to processed cheese, with a projected market size of 3.7 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting an 8.8% year-on-year growth [5]

Core Insights - The article discusses the cheese industry in China, focusing on the production processes, patent applications, and the technological aspects of processed cheese [10][11]. Group 1: Cheese Production Process - The production of processed cheese involves a complex process that includes natural cheese treatment, mixing with emulsifying salts and other ingredients, heating, continuous stirring, packaging, cooling, and storage [5][9]. - Key parameters affecting the quality of processed cheese include melting temperature, processing time, stirring speed, and cooling rate, which significantly influence the final product's texture and functionality [2][4][9]. Group 2: Ingredients and Composition - The composition of processed cheese is influenced by various chemical components such as fat content, moisture content, pH value, total calcium content, casein content, lactose content, and whey protein content [7][9]. - The total calcium content in processed cheese affects its manufacturing difficulty and functional properties, with higher calcium levels leading to increased hardness and reduced meltability [9]. - The pH value of processed cheese is crucial for its quality and microstructure, with an optimal range identified between 5.4 and 5.8 [9]. Group 3: Patent Landscape - As of now, there are over 3,700 cheese-related patents in China, with a notable increase in applications since 2015, peaking at 541 applications in 2023 [10][11]. - The leading applicant for cheese-related patents is Yijia Haonai, a subsidiary of Yili Group, with 137 patents, followed by Mengniu Dairy, Bright Dairy, Yili Company, and Miaokelan Duo [11].

Group 1 - The domestic cheese industry is gradually moving out of the price war impact of cheese sticks and is beginning to regain growth through transformation towards snackification and entering the B-end market [1][3] - Major cheese companies in China are shifting their growth strategies towards new snack scenarios and the B-end market, particularly in response to the challenges faced during the price wars [3][5] - In 2024, Miaokelando reported a revenue of 4.84 billion yuan, a decrease of 9% year-on-year, but a net profit attributable to shareholders of 110 million yuan, an increase of 89.2% [3][5] Group 2 - The ready-to-eat nutrition series, including cheese sticks, saw significant revenue declines in 2022 and 2023 due to market competition, but in 2024, this segment's revenue grew by 3.2% to 2.05 billion yuan [5] - The retail cheese market's sales decreased by 8.7% in the first quarter of 2025, but the decline is narrowing, with adult snack cheese showing high growth [5][6] - Companies are expanding their product offerings to cover all age groups and new consumption scenarios, including office snacks and fitness supplements [5][6] Group 3 - The cheese market in China is expected to follow trends seen in Japan, where cheese consumption has increased significantly due to aging demographics and the rise of Western-style dining [7] - The competition is shifting to the supply chain level, with domestic cheese companies relying heavily on imported raw materials, which poses new challenges [8][10] - In the first four months of 2025, China imported 63,000 tons of cheese, a year-on-year increase of 10.6%, primarily from New Zealand and Australia [8][10] Group 4 - Domestic dairy companies are exploring the production of raw cheese to reduce reliance on imports, with Miaokelando constructing a raw cheese factory expected to be operational by 2026 [10][11] - The construction of raw cheese factories can help stabilize the cyclical fluctuations of the dairy industry by converting excess fresh milk into high-value cheese products [10][11] - The long-term economic viability of domestic raw cheese production remains uncertain due to fluctuating milk prices [11]