Canada’s dairy companies boost production amid ‘national cottage cheese shortage’
Gay Lea Foods makes Nordica cottage cheese, and the company says they are now expanding their Toronto production facilities, so they can make more.
Canada's dairy companies are ramping up production in response to what they describe as a "national cottage cheese shortage," despite the trend having been dubbed a fad by some. Suzanna Dalrymple, president and CEO of Gay Lea Foods, stated that demand for their Nordica cottage cheese is high, outstripping current production capabilities. To address this, the company announced a $200 million investment to expand their Toronto manufacturing facility, aiming to significantly increase output.
Statistics Canada data reveals that national cottage cheese production has surged, increasing by 15% in just one year. From the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, production rose from 8,571 tonnes to 9,870 tonnes. Each half cup serving of Nordica cottage cheese contains approximately 12 to 14 grams of protein, accounting for more than 20% of Health Canada's recommended daily protein intake for most people.
Experts attribute the surge in cottage cheese consumption to a shift towards affordable, high-protein animal proteins. Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, noted that TikTok videos showcasing cottage cheese have played a role in popularizing the trend. However, he emphasized that the popularity of cottage cheese is not a passing fad. Gay Lea Foods expects its Toronto expansion to be completed by 2028, with similar plans already announced by dairy co-op Agropur.
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