Dairy Farmers of America’s (DFA) Borden Cheese brand has made a significant move by introducing a new sub-line named Flavor Sensations. The initial spicy offerings include Jalapeño Jack and Habanero Cheddar, explicitly designed to elevate common meals like hamburgers and ham and cheese sandwiches with distinct spice and smoke notes. Jenny Mehlman, Senior Director of Marketing at DFA, noted that consumers are “looking for a trip around the world during mealtime,” and the line facilitates this exploration while allowing family members to personalize their food experiences.

The Borden Flavor Sensations sub-line also includes established favorites like Pepper Jack and a Provolone with added smoke flavor, all crafted with real milk and sold in 6-ounce resealable packages. Borden has integrated consumer-friendly design elements into the packaging, featuring specific pepper icons to quickly indicate if a cheese has a medium or mild spice level, as well as a smoky icon for the flavored Provolone, aiding in rapid consumer identification at the retail shelf.

Mirroring Borden’s strategy, Post Holdings’ Crystal Farms brand recently debuted its flavor-forward sub-line, the Seasoned Collection, available in the Midwest. The Collection’s flagship spicy product is the aggressive Carolina Reaper Cheese Slices, a direct result of detailed consumer feedback and market analysis. Andrew Cannon, Associate Director of Marketing at Crystal Farms, explained that they conducted surveys and sat down with consumers in their homes to find where cheese could “do more,” concluding that the desire for bold flavors and recipe-ready convenience was “loud and clear.”