This autumn, Skånemejerier will begin labelling all cheeses produced and sold in Sweden under both its Skånemejerier and Allerum brands with the Swedish origin mark ‘Mjölk från Sverige’ (Milk from Sweden).
Over recent decades, the share of Swedish-produced cheese on Swedish supermarket shelves has fallen significantly. At the same time, consumer interest in domestically produced food is growing, making it increasingly important to help shoppers identify products of Swedish origin.
“We know that many consumers prefer to buy Swedish products when they shop. The Mjölk från Sverige label will make it even easier to identify cheeses made from Swedish milk and produced here in Sweden. For us, it is also a way of highlighting more clearly the work carried out every day by our dairy farmers and employees,” said Johan Stenmarck, Marketing Director at Skånemejerier.
Skånemejerier’s dairy in Kristianstad is one of Sweden’s largest cheese production facilities, producing around 10,000 tonnes of cheese each year. Its output includes classic Swedish cheeses such as Herrgård®, Präst® and Grevé®, as well as cheeses sold under the Allerum brand. The dairy plays an important role in maintaining and developing Swedish cheese production at a time when imported cheese is taking an increasingly large share of the domestic market.
“At our dairy in Kristianstad, we work every day to develop and strengthen Swedish cheese production. We are proud that our cheeses are made from Swedish milk, and the new labelling enables us to communicate this even more clearly to consumers,” said Stefan Andersson, Site Manager at Skånemejerier’s Kristianstad dairy.
Mjölk från Sverige is a voluntary country-of-origin label used on products that meet requirements concerning the Swedish origin of both their raw materials and production.
“The partnership with Skånemejerier, one of the most significant players in Swedish food production, is a milestone in a priority category. Combined with the strong awareness and trust associated with Från Sverige, this will make it even easier for consumers to choose Swedish products in stores. This helps drive strong demand for Swedish food, which in the long term benefits Swedish food production,” said Tina Stugemo, CEO of Svenskmärkning.