Cottage cheese shortage Canada

The Kingston Whig Standard reported on May 18 that Canadian suppliers are struggling to keep up with cottage cheese demand as shoppers across Ontario and Quebec encounter intermittent stockouts. The report linked the squeeze to “protein-maxxing,” a social-media-driven push toward higher-protein foods, and to distribution delays at grocery stores. Other Canadian outlets have described the same pattern in recent weeks, with suppliers, grocers and consumers all reporting tighter availability. ### Why are shoppers in Canada suddenly having trouble finding cottage cheese? CBC reported on May 7 that Canadian consumers were posting about empty shelves and higher prices, while suppliers and grocery stores said the once-niche cheese was “having a moment.” McMaster University kinesiology professor Stuart Phillips told CBC that cottage cheese had been revived by social media and the broader protein craze after years of being seen as an older-fashioned diet food. (thewhig.com) Chatelaine reported on April 17 that the shortages were showing up most prominently in Montreal but had also been noted in Vancouver, Calgary, Prince Edward Island, Ottawa and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. The magazine said “protein-maxxing” had helped push cottage cheese into recipes for ice cream, pasta and pancakes, turning it into a staple for consumers seeking inexpensive protein. (cbc.ca) ### How big is the demand increase? Agropur, the parent company of Sealtest, told the National Post that cottage cheese sales in Canada have increased by more than 60% over the past two years. Agropur said that growth has left the market in a position where demand exceeds supply. Chatelaine separately reported that demand had increased by as much as 30% across the country, citing broader industry reporting and retail observations. (chatelaine.com) The different figures point to the same direction of travel: demand has risen faster than processors and retailers expected. ### What are grocers and shoppers saying is happening on shelves? (ca.news.yahoo.com) Le Journal de Montréal reported on April 1 that temporary stockouts had become “quite frequent” for more than two years, citing agri-food analyst Sylvain Charlebois. The paper quoted Montreal-area grocery staff saying they were ordering multiple cases and receiving only a fraction of that volume, with shelf space in some stores reassigned to sour cream and cream cheese when cottage cheese was unavailable. (chatelaine.com) The Kingston Whig Standard’s May 18 report described similar allocation pressure and intermittent shortages in Ontario and Quebec, according to the card briefing and the publication’s indexed article summary. CBC also reported consumers saying they either could not find cottage cheese or were seeing prices near C$5 a container. ### Is this only about TikTok, or are there supply issues too? (journaldemontreal.com) Chatelaine reported that a labour dispute at a Quebec cottage cheese producer in late 2025 likely contributed to shortages in eastern Canada at that time. Le Journal de Montréal and other Canadian reports said supply constraints persisted into 2026 even after social-media-fueled demand became the dominant explanation. (thewhig.com) The available reporting does not point to a nationwide milk shortage. Instead, it describes a narrower mismatch: a suddenly fashionable dairy product, limited processing capacity, uneven deliveries and retailer allocations that leave some stores empty while others get partial shipments. ### What happens next for Canadian shoppers and suppliers? (chatelaine.com) Agropur has said it is investing to increase production capacity, and one reported expansion tied to cottage cheese supply is not expected to be completed until 2027. Until then, recent Canadian coverage suggests shoppers should expect continued spot shortages and uneven availability across regions and chains. (list-directory.com) (ca.news.yahoo.com)