SWITZERLAND – Dairy consumption figures for Switzerland in 2001 show a hefty increase over the previous year.

Overall consumption of cheese in Switzerland 2001 was 147,000 tonnes. Although Mozzarella consolidated its position as favourite cheese in the country, with consumption at an impressive 2.1 kg per head in 2001, many other leading cheeses were traditional Swiss products.
The Swiss dairy industry must now wait to see if the recent withdrawal of import tariffs on cheese will lead to cheaper foreign products taking a large slice of the market.

For 2001, Gruyere saw falling domestic sales, although it retained its number two position in the Swiss cheese sales league with consumption at 1.8 kg per capita. It was followed by Raclette and quark.

Marketing organisation “Switzerland Cheese” announced this month that the continuing activity in the Swiss cheese market indicates that, despite cheaper imports, consumption in the country should increase even more in 2002.