For the first time in France, sales and consumption of mozzarella (cow and buffalo put together) have exceeded those of camembert, the symbol of the French dairy art. This was reported by the French newspaper Le Figaro, on data released by the Syndicat Normand des fabricants de camemberts (Snfc). In September, sales of mozzarella were higher than those of the king of French cheeses. From the beginning of the year to September 11, 29,230 tons of camembert were sold in France against 33,170 tons of mozzarella.
In this successful context for Italy’s dairy products, the role of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO is fundamental. In fact, France is the country that imports the most (+9.7% in 2020 compared to 2019). More than one in three exported mozzarella ends up on French tables. “According to a recent survey by Nomisma, commissioned by the Consortium for the protection of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO, 70% of French people between 18 and 65 years old have consumed Bufala Campana Dop at least once in the last year,” – says the director of the Consortium, Pier Maria Saccani.
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MOZZARELLA, “EASIER” AND TRENDY
“Never before have Italian culinary specialties been so much appreciated in the world, particularly in France. For the first time in France, the sales curve of camembert, which has been regularly decreasing by -3% per year, has gone below the sales of mozzarella, which shows, for its part, an annual growth of +5%,” says Fabrice Collier, president of Snfc.
Le Figaro points out that “camembert is eaten in restaurants or during more traditional home meals, while mozzarella looks good in many easy-to-make, and trendier, dishes”. Mozzarella is, after all, the most exported Italian cheese in the world, with sales of more than 107,000 tons in 2020 according to Assolatte, the Italian association of dairy industries.