The solution to Australia’s cottage cheese shortage may just be around the corner
Updated . First published
Demand for cottage cheese in Australia has only continued to increase in 2026, and shows no signs of abating.
The resurgence of the high-protein ‘superfood’ began in mid-to-late 2023 and continued to build until it snowballed in 2025, thanks the myriad of serving ideas being shared on social media.
Supermarkets have struggled to keep up with demand for cottage cheese. Jo Abi
This led to double-digit sales growth that has continued into 2026.
Not since the 1980s has cottage cheese been so popular, but is has come far from being eaten plain straight from the tub or as a boring topping for low-fat crackers.
Instead, cottage cheese is being used in a variety of tasty ways, including as a high-protein addition to eggs and other savoury dishes, as the basis for dips, and more recently to make high-protein desserts like mousse and cheesecake cups.
“Cottage cheese continues to be one of the fastest-growing dairy categories at Coles, with strong customer demand remaining at levels similar to those seen throughout 2025 and, in some weeks this year, even exceeding last year’s peak,” a Coles spokesperson told nine.com.au.
Woolworths reported similar cottage cheese sales figures, with a spokesperson telling nine.com.au: “Demand for cottage cheese has continued to grow since the peak in 2025.
“Several of our key supply partners have increased production capacity, improving availability for our customers.”
Aldi said they continue to working closely with supply partners to meet consumer demand, but like Coles and Woolworths, are often falling short.
Thankfully, relief may be in sight after Brancourts – one of Australia’s biggest manufacturers of cottage cheese, alongside Bulla Dairy Foods – was this year acquired by Arla Foods Mayer Australia, a division of massive global European dairy cooperative Arla Foods.
Australia's major supermarket report a surge in sales over the past two years. Nine/Woolworths
The high-protein ingredient has become a huge trend in the past few years. iStockphoto
This is the first time the previously family-owned company has changed hands in 130 years of operation, and will enable it to scale up its cottage cheese production.
Its cottage cheese is currently sold in supermarkets across the country, both under the Brancourts name and also as “white label” supermarket home brands.
Under the ownership of Arla Foods Mayer Australia, Brancourts has plans to quadruple its cottage cheese production.
“We’ve spent millions of dollars renewing our existing line and adding a second line, so we doubled our capacity to some degree already,” Gary Jeston, CEO of Brancourts, told nine.com.au.
Brancourts is one of the biggest manufacturers of cottage cheese in the country. Jo Abi
He said the Brancourts family was waiting for the right buyer for their beloved business.
Arla is owned by dairy farmers, and their expertise and technology in the industry, which proved to be ideal, will allow the business to scale up cottage cheese production as quickly as possible.
Cottage cheese differs around the world. In the US it is reportedly more bland, in Sweden it thicker and more chewy, and in Europe it is smoother and more flavoursome, which is how Australian consumers seemingly prefer it.
Brancourts’ cottage cheese recipe came from France, where the Brancourts family originated from.
“So our recipe has more flavour, and that’s more the French recipe,” Jeston said.
When Jeston started with Brancourts almost five years ago, the company was producing six vats of cottage cheese a week.
There could be some relief in sight for cottage cheese fans as demand continues. iStock
“We are now doing 20 vats a week of cottage cheese, which is the glass ceiling of what we can [currently] do.
“The market will absorb another 50 per cent if we can make it. We’re doing the best we can.
“I see we’ll grow the workforce even more over the next couple of years and we’ll probably introduce other products into our factory.”
He said cottage cheese has gone beyond being a temporary trend and is well and truly established as a supermarket staple for the foreseeable future.
Jeston said Brancourts’ classic cottage cheese is the biggest seller, followed by th 97 per cent fat-free, and lactose-free is quickly growing in popularity thanks to its “sweeter taste”.
Mai Roberts, General Manager of Arla, told nine.com.au they plan to do some research into how Australians like to eat their cottage cheese and the varieties they prefer, in order to optimise their scale up at Brancourts.
Desserts are being made even healthy with the addition of the popular dairy product. iStock
Of increasing Brancourts current limited capacity to produce enough cottage cheese to meet current demand, Roberts said, “That’s a good problem to have”.
