AUSTRALIA | Fonterra Oceania has launched a new range of snacking products under the Australian cheese brand Bega.
The new range has paired Bega cheese with crackers in three varieties: Tasty, Vintage, and Colby. This has expanded Bega’s presence in the snacking category.
Fonterra Oceania Marketing Manager—Bega Cheese, Bianca Di Donato, said snacking products have been increasingly in demand in Australia and overseas, presenting an opportunity to champion cheese as a healthier snacking option.
“We’ve seen a growing trend of Australians who prefer snacks over a meal. More than 30 percent of the population now fuels up with three or more snacks a day,” said Di Donato.
“Australians love and recognise the Bega brand, making it the perfect choice for cheese snacks that appeal to adults and children.”
The 18-month journey was a meticulous process that involved testing and production trials, alongside support from technical and packaging experts who contributed to the product’s final format available at the supermarket.
A core step in the product development journey was pairing Bega cheese with locally sourced crackers to create a proudly Australian snack.
Various technical elements were considered to meet the brief, including the cheese age, cracker size, flavour, and overall eating experience.
Fonterra Oceania Development Technologist Cynthea Maugueret said that while cheese and crackers appeared simple, finding the right pairing that met consumer needs while withstanding the manufacturing and packaging process was complex.
“The texture and taste of the cracker and cheese together are essential, as is the performance of the cracker itself,” said Maugueret.
“It’s got to be crunchy enough but not too hard. It must be solid but still enjoyable, and it must withstand the packing process and offer a long shelf life.”
Cynthea also highlighted the factors behind each cheese variety selected for the new range, noting the importance of reducing food waste. The type of cheese selected was critical because it must be able to be cut into small portions.
“When you’re slicing cheese at scale with large machines, the vintage of the cheese is important. An older, matured cheese can crumble and potentially cause wastage when cut,” she explained.
While sourcing the perfect cracker, Fonterra forged a new relationship with a local food producer and has already considered further evolving the snacking range. The Bega snacking range is available at Woolworths and independent supermarkets in Australia.
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