Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium reports record year in 2020

Parmigiano-Reggiano had a record 2020 in spite of the pandemic. The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium reported that total production of the cheese was up 4.9% year over year, with a 7.9% growth in Italian sales and 10.7% sales growth in other countries.  

Overall, members of the consortium produced 3.94 million wheels of cheese in 2020, marking the highest number in the cheese’s history and the culmination of a four-year period that saw a 13.5% increase in production.

“Despite the difficulties associated with the pandemic, Parmigiano Reggiano ended 2020 with a successful result that has rewarded the reputation, the quality of the [protected designation of origin] product with the highest value in the world,” said Nicola Bertinelli, president of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium. “Consumers forced to give up out-of-home meals for several months have shown their preferences very clearly on all markets.  We are ready to deal with a challenging 2021: the Parmigiano-Reggiano brand can become a true global brand and we are working in this direction.”

The consortium also reported a growing global audience for Parmigiano-Reggiano, with the United States making up 20% of the consortium’s overall exports, followed by France at 19%, Germany at 18%, the United Kingdom at 13% and Canada at 5%. U.K. consumers were the source of the most growth, with exports to the country up 21.8% year over year. The U.S. market saw growth of 1.9% while emerging market Australia saw an 85.4% uptick in exports.