Brits enjoying the biggest baking cheese boom since the 1970s

One of the most popular foods of the 1970s, the fondue, is back with a vengeance.

Mention fondue and alongside the melted cheese, most people also conjure up images of prawn cocktails, black forest gateau, a bottle of Blue Nun and celebrated TV drama Abigail’s Party.

But now fondues – or at least the concept of dipping bread into hot, molten cheese with family or friends - are a hit all over again albeit having been given a British makeover and the simplified name of baking cheeses. 

Since lockdown volume demand for baking cheeses at Tesco has rocketed by nearly 500 per cent to become the fastest growing category in the UK cheese market.   

The hot cheese trend is so popular that the supermarket now stocks six different varieties compared to the two it had on its shelves only four years ago. 

Tesco Cheese Buyer Charlotte Gramlick said:

“The fondue was a much loved but short-lived food fad that fell out of fashion basically because it was too fiddly and involved having to buy fondue cooking apparatus. 

“Brits are a nation of cheese lovers and any food with molten cheese such as pizza, baked potatoes, cauliflower, macaroni and even plain cheese on toast is generally a winner that is loved by young and old alike. 

“A few years ago we launched a special baking cheese for the Christmas party food market and that became one of our most popular items which told us that we were onto something. 

“Baking cheeses to share have also become incredibly popular as starters in gastro pubs and so we’re seeing people creating the same sharing experience in the comfort of their own homes.” 

The six cheeses sold by Tesco are all part of the supermarket’s Finest range and are as follows:

British Triple Cheese Bake
Gruyere Fondue (seasonal line)
Vintage Cheddar and Sauvignon Blanc Bake
Red Leicestershire Bite with Garlic and Black Pepper
Vintage Cheddar, Mozzarella and Chorizo Bake
Smoked Red Leicester Bake with Chilli Jam (seasonal line) 

ENDS