We speak cheese – strategies to succeed in a diverse category

In our latest Spotlight, we learn how Coexpan and Emsur, part of Grupo Lantero, help companies to protect cheese, improve convenience, reduce waste and make the product stand out on the shelf.

Understanding the category. Delivering packaging that performs.

Walk through any dairy aisle across Europe and one thing becomes immediately clear: cheese is no longer a single category.

From fresh cheeses and mozzarella to sliced products, grated blends, premium specialties, spreads and convenient snack portions, today's consumers expect a wide range of formats tailored to different occasions and lifestyles. Each product comes with its own preservation needs, consumption habits and packaging requirements.

As the category continues to diversify, packaging plays an increasingly important role in helping brands protect products, improve convenience, reduce waste and stand out on shelf.

At Coexpan and Emsur, this reality inspired a simple idea:

We Speak Cheese.

Because successful packaging starts long before selecting materials or technologies. It starts with understanding the product.

Every cheese speaks a different language

A fresh cheese requires excellent protection to preserve freshness and quality throughout its shelf life. Sliced cheese demands user-friendly opening and reclosing solutions that make everyday consumption easier.

Grated cheese often benefits from lightweight flexible formats that combine convenience, functionality and product protection. Premium cheeses seek differentiation, visibility and shelf appeal, while snack formats prioritise portability and ease of use.

Different products. Different consumer expectations. Different packaging challenges.

This is why there is no universal solution for cheese packaging.

Understanding the category is the key

Packaging decisions cannot be made in isolation.

To deliver the right solution, it is essential to understand how each cheese is produced, distributed, displayed, stored and consumed. Only then is it possible to find the right balance between product protection, operational efficiency, consumer convenience and sustainability goals.

As consumption habits evolve, packaging must evolve alongside them.

Consumers increasingly expect easy-open systems, resealable formats and packaging adapted to new consumption occasions. At the same time, manufacturers and retailers continue to focus on extending shelf life, reducing food waste and optimising operational performance.

Sustainability adds another important dimension. Across the industry, mono-material solutions and optimised packaging designs are becoming increasingly important as brands seek to improve recyclability while maintaining product performance and food protection.

One category. Multiple solutions.

The diversity of the cheese category demands a broad portfolio of packaging technologies.

Some applications benefit from thermoformed high-barrier trays. Others require flexible pouches, flowpacks, lidding solutions, reclosable systems or shrink packaging. The optimal solution depends on the specific needs of the product, the market and the consumer.

This is where the combined expertise of Coexpan and Emsur creates value.

Together, we offer integrated rigid and flexible packaging solutions that support almost every cheese application, including:

From rigid sheets and thermoformed trays to lidding films and flexible packaging structures, our complementary technologies allow brands to find the solution that best fits their product and sustainability objectives.

Speaking the language of cheese

At Coexpan and Emsur, we believe that packaging innovation begins with category knowledge.

Understanding the realities of the cheese market, the expectations of consumers and the challenges faced by producers enables better decisions, better packaging and ultimately better results.

Because packaging is not just about materials.

It is about understanding the product.

And when you understand cheese, you can create packaging that truly performs.

We Speak Cheese.

This content was sponsored by Grupo Lantero.