What Power Hath Cheese?

By Al Horn

If you live in North America and own a television set, you have surely seen the commercials on the power of cheese. The simple fact of the matter is that cheese is powerful in it's own way. I'm not talking about the aromas that some types produce. I am referring to its economic strength.

Having just returned from Mexico, I was able to see that cheeses take up as much room as soft drinks and frozen foods in the three stores that I shopped in while visiting the beautiful city of Puerto Vallarta. Some of the cheeses had names that you might expect from this country. Although animal rights activist might complain, I thoroughly enjoyed eating a sandwich made with two slices of Chihuahua.  In fact, the next day I ate what was left in our refrigerator.

I digress of course. The simple fact is no matter where you go in the world, if there are milk producing animals nearby, you will find someone pressing out cheese.  Thanks to our global society you can sample cheeses from all over the world. Some stores carry a wide variety of cheeses.

The store in our neighborhood has a section for all of the commercial brands stocked in their dairy section. On top of that they have a deli section that allows you to select additional types of cheeses in the amounts you wish to purchase. Not stopping there, they also have a side section with small but economical portions of even more varieties. Why do they go to this much trouble? Because you, the American public, have proven that you will pay for it.

Merchandising is a business that requires a certain amount of intuition. Research is also helpful. In this case, dine-in and fast food restaurants have helped. Lets not forget other foods such as chips, dips, and prepackaged meals.

The big name producers of chips are constantly test marketing chips with some kind of unique flavoring. Spices alone don't win over our stomachs. Something extra is usually needed. That's why you see all those bags that claim to harness the real taste of one kind of cheese or another. Of course, you have the purist who prefers the taste of corn, wheat, or potatoes. Every once in a while, even they want to enhance the flavor of their favorite snack. Enter the dips.

What snack food section would be complete without dips? The overriding theme in most of these items will include some cheese flavoring. I'm a bean man myself. I prefer to dip my cheese flavored chips into a good hearty bean dip. If you are going to set out plain chips at a party, all I ask for is a bowl full of Chile - with some cheese melted in.

The other tip-off to my local vendor would be the demand for prepackaged meals. The boxes that say just add tuna, beef or chicken. Most of these products contain rice or noodles and spices. Over the last couple of years they have included one type of cheese flavor. Many noodle mixes sell just on the kind of ground cheese mix inside. Mixing two or more flavors tells us that the populace will buy almost anything if it includes cheese.

This leads us to the restaurant industry. How many times have you looked at your favorite meat (or vegetable if you are so inclined) and been told how much better it is with cheese on top. The fact that menus all over this great country continue to make this claim, only proves that we agree. When was the last time you pulled up to a faceless speaker and ordered a sandwich without cheese? When you did, I'll bet the voice on the other end suggested adding cheese. I've been guilty of saying, "Of course, why didn't I think of that."

Any grocer with a lick of intelligence can see the handwriting on the billboard. Stock cheese, plenty of it, and in as many varieties that will make a profit. To enhance customer loyalty, tell them you are providing it as a convenience. It just makes good business sense. No matter how you cut it.