Meiji expands cheese portfolio with new products

JAPAN – Meiji has strengthened its presence in Japan’s growing premium snacking segment with the launch of two new additions to its Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Smart Cheese portfolio.

The company will introduce Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Smart Cheese Aged Cheddar Blend (4 pieces) and Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Smart Cheese Black Pepper Parmesan Blend (4 pieces) at convenience stores nationwide from 15 June 2026.

Developed specifically to meet increasing consumer demand for elevated snacks to accompany evening alcoholic beverages, the new products target convenience store shoppers seeking indulgent yet portion-controlled cheese options.

Both products are individually wrapped and made using more than 60% natural cheese produced at Meiji’s Tokachi factory in Hokkaido.

Leveraging the company’s proprietary “umami lactic acid bacteria maturation” technology, the cheeses deliver a rich flavour profile and melt-in-the-mouth texture designed to replicate the characteristics of aged natural cheese.

The Aged Cheddar Blend features “Tokachi Umami Rich Cheddar” as its primary cheese ingredient, offering a deep, robust flavour profile aimed at consumers seeking a more sophisticated snacking experience.

Meanwhile, the Black Pepper Parmesan Blend combines aromatic “Tokachi Kaori Noko Parmesan” cheese with black pepper seasoning. The spicy notes are designed to complement and enhance the cheese’s natural richness, creating a bold flavour proposition for consumers pairing snacks with alcoholic beverages.

According to Meiji, consumer insights played a key role in the development of the new products. The company identified that purchasers of its existing Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Smart Cheese products frequently bought premium beer at the same time.

This finding led Meiji to target convenience store consumers purchasing alcohol and snacks, positioning the new line under the concept of the “ultimate snack cheese.”

Packaging has also been tailored to the convenience retail environment. Designed to quickly communicate key product attributes to shoppers seeking snack options, the packs feature bold descriptors including “Intense” and “Spicy” to highlight the distinctive characteristics of each variety.

Contrasting colour schemes and accent colours have been incorporated to maximise shelf visibility despite the products’ slim packaging format.

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