Children's products continue to dominate snacking cheese as parents look for healthy goodies for their kids.

"The key to lunchbox items is that they are healthy, convenient and easy for the child to eat," says Kelly Rafferty, marketing manager for Kerry Foods, which owns category leader Cheestrings. To boost its popularity in the lunchbox, Cheestrings is launching a new spaghetti-shaped format next month.

"As junk food is increasingly banned in lunchboxes, snacking cheese is a key sector for growth," she adds. And growing it is, with sales up 3% by value and 9% by volume [Nielsen 52w/e 6 June].

Children's cheese remains the largest sub-sector within this and is worth £144m. Also promoting health is Kraft Foods' Dairylea and Dairylea Dunkers, which recorded 13.8% growth year-on-year [Nielsen]. From August a new TV campaign will highlight that Dairylea is now free from artificial colours, flavourings and preservatives.

Adult snackers have not been forgotten, however. Dairy Crest revamped its Cathedral City snacking range last month, Bel UK unveiled Laughing Cow Deli-Light cheese portions at the start of this year, which come in blue cheese, onion and goats cheese varieties. And Ilchester is targeting the adult market with its Applewood Smoked Cheddar Sticks.

The full potential of the adult cheese snacking market has yet to be tapped, says Laura Downey, Dairy Crest head of cheese marketing. Bel showed its faith in the adult snacking market last month, launching Minis, which feature mini pieces of Boursin Garlic and Herb cheese in a resealable pot.

Focus On Lunchbox

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