The dairy industry within Australia was developed over centuries, and ultimately created the industry we have now. It is no surprise that many Australians love their dairy. Even in recent years, our love for dairy has remained constant. The broader supply chain issues through 2020, didn’t stop the domestic dairy demand overall from remaining strong.
Australians’ love for dairy goes back to the days when it was mainly a farming country, and many would source their food from other farmers. Dairy was for many a huge source of nutrients and was loved by hard-working Aussies. This continued into the new millennium and for decades has been exacerbated by the love for Australian products that involve consuming dairy products.
Aussies are lovers of delicious, fresh products, whether that is at home, or out at their favourite restaurants and cafes. Our love for dairy also influences our hospitality industry and the food that is created and served as a result. To many Australians, there is nothing better than heading out for a delicious, juicy and cheesy burger, crunchy cheesy nachos, beautifully creamy pasta or all the delicious dairy-filled desserts, and the list goes on. This is why many of us aren’t surprised at the popularity of dairy products.
Just as our love for dairy creates demand in hospitality, the busier hospitality, the better the dairy industry performs. Why? Well because generally more dairy is used throughout food service, than almost any other area. From the cheese on our pizzas and burgers to the butter on our bread – it all makes an impact.
When overall foodservice sales begin to increase, as a result of consumers supporting hospitality, they are also supporting dairy product demand. This is exactly what we like to see, each industry helps the other to boom. Without high-quality and delicious dairy products for the foodservice industry, their food wouldn’t taste as good and therefore sales would suffer, and vice versa.
Over the past year, shredded cheese sales grew 3.7 per cent in volume, according to data from Dairy Australia. With cheesy foods being an extremely popular choice for Australians, this was no surprise.
The dairy industry as a whole navigated its way through the last couple of years, reasonably unscathed, adapting to the new normal, surprisingly quickly.
Encouragingly, consumer demand for dairy products from the foodservice industry also appears to be reliable as well. With an increased focus on Australian supply chains, this is set to be the norm moving forward that the Australian dairy industry and Australian hospitality will be intertwined going forward.
Next time you are heading to your favourite restaurant or café for some takeaway, and purchase a coffee with full-cream milk, or a deliciously cheesy dish, you aren’t only helping the venue, but the food services and the dairy industry alike.