In an unexpected twist in the food market, cottage cheese has undergone a remarkable transformation, thanks largely to a viral trend on TikTok. Graham’s Family Dairy, a Scottish dairy company, has reported a staggering doubling of its cottage cheese sales in recent years, prompting a significant £3.5 million expansion at its Fife production facility. This investment will boost production capacity by 50% and create 25 new jobs, reflecting the booming popularity of this once-unfashionable dairy delight.
TikTok: The Catalyst for Change
The renaissance of cottage cheese can be traced back to social media influencers who have embraced the product, showcasing it in innovative recipes. Notably, TikTok has played a central role, with videos featuring “cottage cheese breakfast rounds” racking up an impressive 15.1 million views, while “cottage cheese edible cookie dough” has garnered 8.7 million views. This surge in online interest has propelled a nostalgic staple back into the limelight, transforming it into a modern culinary phenomenon.
The statistics speak for themselves: Tesco has reported a threefold increase in demand for cottage cheese over the past two years, while Graham’s Dairy has seen its sales soar by an equivalent of two million kilograms. According to recent data from The Grocer, monthly UK sales of cottage cheese leapt from approximately 900,000 kg at the beginning of 2023 to more than 1.7 million kg by the end of 2025.
Graham’s Dairy: Meeting Record Demand
Robert Graham, managing director of Graham’s Family Dairy, noted that the trend began to gain traction around May 2023. Since then, the company has been in a race to meet the unprecedented demand. “The demand has simply been staggering,” Graham stated. “Our cottage cheese business is now larger than our original milk business.”
In addition to domestic sales, the company is now exporting its popular cottage cheese to international markets, including the Gulf States and Hong Kong. This expansion is made possible by the recent investment, which will enhance production across the entire cottage cheese range, including natural, low-fat, and high-protein variants.
The Return of a Classic
The resurgence of cottage cheese is not just a fleeting trend. Elizabeth Tomkins, Tesco’s buyer for cottage cheese, emphasised the sustained demand across the UK dairy market. “TikTok food trends often lead to sales spikes, but this is a fully fledged culinary phenomenon that has injected new life into the UK dairy industry,” she remarked.
Historically, cottage cheese enjoyed immense popularity in the 1970s and 80s as a low-fat filling for baked potatoes and avocados. While sales have remained steady since then, the recent surge can be attributed to a younger demographic discovering the product anew. As Tomkins noted, “We are ordering in as much as we can because we’re seeing all-time record demand.”
Why it Matters
The cottage cheese boom exemplifies the power of social media in shaping consumer behaviour and reviving traditional foods. As influencers continue to innovate and engage younger audiences, products once relegated to the past can experience a remarkable resurgence. This trend not only boosts sales for companies like Graham’s Dairy but also revitalises the broader UK dairy industry, creating jobs and stimulating local economies. In an age where food choices are increasingly influenced by online platforms, the transformation of cottage cheese serves as a compelling case study in modern marketing and consumer engagement.
