A Scottish dairy company is experiencing a remarkable surge in cottage cheese sales, thanks largely to a viral trend on TikTok. Graham’s Family Dairy has reported a doubling in demand for its cottage cheese products, prompting a significant £3.5 million expansion at its Fife facility to increase production capacity by 50%. This move not only aims to meet the “all-time record demand” for this retro staple but also promises to create 25 new jobs in the local community.
TikTok’s Influence on Dairy Sales
The resurgence of cottage cheese can be traced back to the social media platform, where influencers have been showcasing creative recipes. Popular posts such as “cottage cheese breakfast rounds” and “cottage cheese edible cookie dough” have collectively attracted millions of views, revitalising interest in the product that once dominated the 1970s and 80s culinary scene.
Supermarket giant Tesco has reported a staggering tripling in demand for cottage cheese over the past two years. Graham’s Family Dairy has felt the impact directly, with sales doubling, translating to an additional two million kilograms sold. Monthly sales figures for cottage cheese in the UK have risen dramatically, soaring from roughly 900,000 kg at the start of 2023 to over 1.7 million kg by the end of 2025, according to The Grocer.
Graham’s Family Dairy Responds to Demand
Robert Graham, managing director of Graham’s Family Dairy, noted that the trend began to gain momentum around May 2023, leading to what he described as a “staggering” demand. He remarked, “Our cottage cheese business is now bigger than our milk business, which was the foundation of our dairy farm.” The company has expanded its export reach, shipping products as far as the Gulf States and Hong Kong, further highlighting the global appeal of the cottage cheese revival.
The recent investment will bolster production across Graham’s entire cottage cheese range, which includes natural, low-fat, and high-protein varieties. Graham emphasised the importance of maintaining the traditional production methods that set their cottage cheese apart, stating, “We still make our cottage cheese using a traditional open-vat process, which gives it a firmer curd and a more natural texture than some other products on the shelf.”
The Role of Supermarkets in the Trend
Elizabeth Tomkins, Tesco’s cottage cheese buyer, confirmed the supermarket’s commitment to meeting this unprecedented demand. “We are ordering as much cottage cheese as we can get,” she said. Tomkins highlighted that TikTok food trends have historically led to sudden spikes in sales, and the current cottage cheese phenomenon is a testament to this.
She explained, “Cottage cheese was hugely popular in the 70s and 80s, often used as a low-fat filling for baked potatoes or avocados. While demand has remained steady since then, the recent surge among younger consumers has prompted us to ramp up orders significantly.”
Why it Matters
The cottage cheese revival exemplifies how social media can influence food trends, reshaping consumption patterns and driving production in traditional industries. The success of Graham’s Family Dairy not only showcases the power of platforms like TikTok in modern marketing but also highlights the potential for local businesses to adapt and thrive in a changing market landscape. As this trend unfolds, it may set the stage for a broader reconsideration of retro food items in the culinary world, driving innovation and new opportunities for producers.
