Fonterra’s new Bega™ snacking range debuts
Fonterra Oceania has launched a new range of snacking products under Australia’s most recognised cheese brand, Bega™.
The new range pairs Bega™ cheese with crackers across three different varieties; Tasty, Vintage and Colby, in a move that expands Bega’s presence in the snacking category, joining the popular Stringers.
Fonterra Oceania Marketing Manager - Bega Cheese, Bianca Di Donato, said snacking products are increasingly in demand, both in Australia and overseas, presenting an opportunity to champion cheese as a healthier snacking option.
The new advertising creative supporting the product launch of the new snacking range.
“We’ve seen a growing trend of Australians who prefer snacks over a meal. There’s now more than 30 per cent of the population who fuel up with three or more snacks a day,” Bianca said.
“We know Australians love and recognise the Bega™ brand, making it the perfect fit for cheese snacking that appeals to both adults and children,” she added.
Over an 18-month journey, Fonterra took the new snacking range from concept to supermarket shelf. It 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 to pair Bega™ cheese with locally-sourced crackers to create a proudly Australian snack.
To meet the brief, a range of technical elements were considered, including the cheese age, size of cracker, flavour, and the overall eating experience.
We know Australians love and recognise the Bega™ brand, making it the perfect fit for cheese snacking that appeals to both adults and children.
Fonterra Oceania Development Technologist, Cynthea Maugueret, said that while cheese and crackers appear to be a simple concept, there is complexity when it comes to finding the right pairing that meets consumer needs, while withstanding the manufacturing and packaging process.
“The texture and taste of the cracker and cheese together is very important, so too is the performance of the cracker itself,” she said.
“It’s got to be crunchy enough, but not too hard. It must be solid, but still enjoyable, and on top of that, it must withstand the packing process and offer a long shelf life,” Cynthea added.
Cynthea also highlighted the factors at play behind each cheese variety selected for the new range, noting the importance of reducing food waste.
“The type of cheese we select is critical because it must be able to be cut into small portions,” she said.
“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.
“It’s important to get all of these components right, which we have, and we’re really proud of the final product you see today,” she finished.
Cheese slices on the production line getting packed into their final format, set for the supermarket shelves.
Throughout the process to source the perfect cracker, Fonterra forged a new relationship with a local food producer and is already looking at the potential to further evolve the snacking range.
“It’s exciting because this relationship is creating new opportunities to enhance the snacking range in the future – like different flavours, varieties and pairings,” Bianca said.
“There are plenty of ideas on the table, and we’re looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us next.”
The Bega™ snacking range is available at Woolworths and independent supermarkets nationwide.
Bega™ is the #1 cheese brand in Australia, and Australia’s most loved cheese.
Fonterra has exclusive rights to the Bega™ brand in Australia for cheddar cheese products with the range including blocks, grated packs, slices, and snacking. Bega™ and the Bega device are registered trademarks of Bega Cheese Limited.