Feta – it’s not just for salads anymore.

New from Emmi Roth in the feta category is Athenos Feta Cheese with Tajin.

Amie Wentz, Emmi Roth’s director of brand management, called the collaboration a “best-in-class pairing of the No. 1 feta brand and a trending spice brand for an exciting flavor combination.”

Athenos Feta Cheese with Tajín’s Classico Chili Lime Seasoning is perfect, Wentz said, for taco night made easy — and delicious.

“This product is a great way to engage with consumers in the cheese category craving Mexican and Southwest flavor-infused products,” Wentz said, adding that 37% of consumers know Tajín, and menu mentions of the popular seasoning have grown more than 300% since 2020.

Athenos Feta Cheese with Tajín ships in 12/5 oz. packs.

As the feta category leader, Athenos is constantly innovating, Wentz said. Whether it’s the brand’s unique flavor profiles and game-changing partnerships or its on-trend Whipped Feta Dip & Spread and club offerings, Emmi Roth is committed to providing its customers and consumers with exciting, new ways to incorporate feta into their everyday meal occasions.

Emmi Roth’s goal, she added, is to grow consumption in the category by making feta the “go-to” cheese flavor for every meal occasion.

“In the past two years, we’ve been successful with increasing volume not only during summer salad season, but also at the beginning of the year with Salads Need Athenos Feta and later in the year with special holiday recipes.”

Athenos is providing consumers with a new and appealing flavor spin on classic recipes, Wentz said.

The company also leans heavily on its influencer partners and all of the recipes brought to life over the past couple years. And it stays on top of trends through survey research, and following restaurant menu, flavor and spice trends.

And before the holidays even roll around, Emmi Roth has plans to launch a variety of new consumer-focused products this year, Wentz said.

Look for new, on-trend Athenos Whipped Feta flavors that incorporate heat and global flavors, including:

• Mango Jalapeño - an unexpected flavor mashup with a lime-pepper topping

• Cucumber Dill - similar to a tzatziki dip with a bright, herby dill on top

• Roasted Red Pepper - which offers traditional Mediterranean flavor with smoked paprika on top

“We’re also excited to meet consumer demand with a new Protein Packed Feta and Premium Imported Feta,” Wentz added.

There’s plenty of demand for all those new products, she said, reporting a 6% increase in feta demand over the past year.

Consumers are moving from the old mindset of thinking of feta as just a salad topping, to incorporating it into recipes. And that change, she said, can largely be attributed to Athenos leading the way in digital engagement and teaching consumers how to turn their recipes into something fun, flavorful and new by adding feta.

“Incorporating Feta into recipes continues to be a trend that is driving increased usage occasions. Our goal is to make Athenos feta cheese standard in everyday meal occasions.”

A big bet on feta

Lactalis USA has made a major investment in its Tulare, Calif., facility that will allow it to significantly increase the volume of Président Feta cheese produced in the United States.

The investment comes at a time when feta continues to see strong growth in popularity with American consumers, according to Lactalis.

The $55 million investment creates Lactalis’ largest feta production line in the US. The 38,000-square-foot expansion will bring additional capacity for Lactalis USA, which also produces feta in Belmont, Wis.

The project creates 20 full-time positions in Tulare, along with 100 temporary or contract positions during construction, with the line becoming partially operational in May. When completed in 2027, Lactalis USA will have increased its US feta production capacity to address current and future customer and consumer demand.

“We are expanding to increase our cheese production capacity at our facility,” said Esteve Torrens, chief executive officer of Lactalis USA. “This investment into new jobs and expanding operations supports our local communities and demonstrates Lactalis’ long-term view for business success in the United States. This expansion helps us meet the growing demand for Président Feta cheese in the United States, which is good news for our retail customers and consumers who continue to choose Président Feta for cooking at home and creating new occasions to enjoy feta.”

The Tulare manufacturing facility is one of the most advanced of Lactalis’ 11 manufacturing facilities across the United States, incorporating the latest technologies from Lactalis Group.

The facility’s production line is outfitted based on a complete 3D ergonomic analysis to support worker well-being and safety, in addition to automated air flow control and in-line production.