Current Trends in the Design of Stand-Alone Cheese Departments
- Roberto Quezada
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
Off The Wall has been designing, fabricating, and installing stand-alone cheese departments for over 4 decades. In 2025 and predicted for 2026, the demand for specialty cheeses is experiencing a renaissance, driven by evolving consumer preferences for premium, artisanal products.
The US Specialty Cheese Market is expected to grow from $30.91 billion in 2025 to $58.4 billion by 2035, reflecting strong demand for curated cheese experiences within grocery stores. Read more on this here
How cheese is displayed in supermarkets, where it competes with other gourmet and prepared foods, will be key to this growth. US cheese departments feature distinctive design elements that prioritize functionality and merchandising appeal. Specialized refrigerated lean-in display cases, as well as cases with doors, are designed for higher-margin, aged cheese products retailing
The layout of these departments typically incorporate service counters with knowledgeable staff and self-service sections for convenience. Multi-tiered refrigerated displays maximize vertical space, with artisan cheeses positioned at eye level and commodity products below. Temperature zones are carefully managed, with different cases maintaining specific conditions for various cheese types - harder cheeses in slightly warmer sections, while soft varieties require stricter temperature control.
Supermarket cheese departments must evolve beyond basic commodity offerings to become destination shopping areas competing with other busy departments. Many retailers are investing in dedicated cheese counters with knowledgeable staff, expanded selections of artisan varieties, and enhanced merchandising displays.
Design elements that emphasize the artisanal nature of these products include natural materials like wood accents, slate signage, and warm lighting that mimics European cheese caves. Strategic placement near wine sections creates natural pairing opportunities, while open sightlines encourage impulse purchases.
Unique to American supermarkets is the integration of grab-and-go formats alongside traditional wheel displays. Low-profile multi-deck merchandisers are customized specifically for cheese departments allowing customers to easily access pre-packaged portions while maintaining product visibility.
Consumers in 2025 will prioritize freshness, health benefits, nutritional content, price, and shelf life pushing departments to emphasize quality and provenance storytelling.
Currently, several trends are emerging. Convenience formats are gaining traction, with individually wrapped portions of Gouda, Cheddar cubes, or pre-sliced Brie increasingly marketed as convenient and healthy snack options. Read more about this here
Looking forward to 2026, retailers should be prepared for an expanding plant-based cheese segment that will require dedicated merchandising space. Educational components like tasting stations, pairing suggestions, and recipe cards will become standard features.
Technology integration is also transforming these departments, with digital displays showing origin stories, QR codes linking to producer information, and improved cold chain management, ensuring optimal product quality.
Successful cheese departments in 2026 will likely blend traditional craftsmanship with modern retail innovation, creating immersive experiences that justify premium pricing while building customer loyalty.
Design elements that emphasize the artisanal nature of these products include natural materials like wood accents, slate signage, and warm lighting that mimics European cheese caves. Strategic placement near wine sections creates natural pairing opportunities, while open sightlines encourage impulse purchases.
Whether your store fixtures need to be originally designed or simply manufactured and installed, Off The Wall has the creativity, experience, facilities, and engineering expertise to get the job done.
