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Dairy producer LALA U.S. has expanded its American cheese portfolio from three to 14 stock-keeping units (SKUs), completing a multi-phase rollout aimed at capturing expanding household demand for Mexican cheese varieties across the United States.

The portfolio expansion significantly broadens the brand's footprint in the US dairy case, moving from three foundational products at the start of 2026 to 14 distinct formats spanning Queso Fresco, Oaxaca, Cotija, Panela, and blended shreds.

The rollout aligns with shifting retail dynamics within the dairy case. Market data from Circana indicates that the US Hispanic cheese segment has expanded into a $1.1 billion market, posting an 11% four-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) compared to a 2% CAGR for the broader $22.8 billion mainstream cheese sector. Within the category, Queso Fresco remains the single largest sales driver, while pre-shredded Hispanic varieties represent both the second-largest and fastest-growing segment.

"We see an enormous opportunity to build the Hispanic cheese category in the U.S.," said Flavia Panza, Chief Marketing Officer of LALA U.S., Inc.

Multi-Format SKU Expansion

LALA entered 2026 marketing three core items: 10-ounce portions of Queso Fresco, Oaxaca, and Panela. Following four line additions in the second quarter and seven final additions in September, the brand has introduced packaging formats tailored to diverse household sizes and usage occasions:

🧀 LALA Queso Fresco: A whole-milk fresh cheese with a milky profile and crumbly texture. The range expands beyond the core 10-ounce pack to include an entry-level 5-ounce format structured to lower price barriers for first-time buyers, alongside family-oriented 17.6-ounce (Medio Kilo) and 35.3-ounce (Kilo) configurations for high-frequency households.

🧂 LALA Cotija Cheese: A firm, aged, and crumbly cheese developed for finishing savoury dishes. It is merchandised in traditional 8-ounce wedges, 8-ounce and 14-ounce grated bags, and an 8-ounce tabletop shaker bottle designed to simplify weeknight meal preparation.

🧀 LALA Oaxaca Cheese and Oaxaca Bites: A buttery, semi-soft melting cheese with traditional curd stretch. Available in a 10-ounce whole-milk ball with peelable packaging for cooking applications, alongside an 8-ounce resealable pouch of pre-cut Oaxaca Bites delivering seven grammes of protein per serving for daytime snacking.

🧈 LALA Panela Cheese: A mild, fresh cheese engineered with a high melting point that retains structural integrity when grilled or pan-seared, sold in a 10-ounce round format.

🌮 LALA Natural Cheese Shreds: Packaged in 7-ounce bags calibrated for rapid melting across home-cooking applications, the range includes Quesadilla, Spicy Quesadilla, and Mexican Blend varieties.

Packaging Redesign

Alongside the SKU expansion, LALA has updated its packaging architecture to bridge conventional Hispanic culinary use with broader mainstream recipe adaptation.

The updated packaging introduces prominent on-pack food photography illustrating recipe applications, such as pairing Cotija with salads, grain bowls, and avocado toast, or grilling Panela for breakfast dishes. The merchandising update aims to assist brand recognition among core Hispanic consumers while reducing trial friction for crossover shoppers seeking culinary inspiration.

"Consumers increasingly want the authentic flavours they know and love, but they also want convenience, versatility and options that fit the way they live today," Panza noted. "That can mean a smaller Queso Fresco that makes it easier for a new consumer to try, a Cotija shaker bottle that simplifies a weeknight meal or protein-packed snackable Oaxaca Bites. We are building the portfolio around those different consumer needs while staying true to the taste, quality and heritage consumers expect from LALA."

Marketing and Retail Footprint

The portfolio expansion is backed by LALA's new "¡Ya Quedó!" creative marketing platform, an integrated campaign linking the cheese range with the brand's retail crema line.

The promotional rollout encompasses digital video, social media activations, influencer marketing, in-store product sampling, coupons, and seasonal cross-merchandising displays around major autumn and winter holiday periods.

The expanded line enters commercial distribution across independent Hispanic grocers, regional supermarket banners, and mainstream retail grocery multiples nationwide. Suggested retail prices begin at $1.99 for Queso Fresco, $3.49 for Cheese Shreds, $3.99 for Cotija, and $4.99 for Oaxaca Bites.