Growing numbers of brands, including Cathedral City, Pilgrims Choice, Scottish Pride, the Pembrokeshire Cheese Company and the Lake District Cheese Company, now pack their cheese into ziplock recloseable packs.

Resealable packaging delivers the twin benefits of greater value and convenience by helping consumers reduce food waste because the cheese stays fresher for longer, and eliminating the need for repackaging at home. A spokeswoman for First Milk, parent company of Scottish Pride and the Pembrokeshire Cheese and Lake District Cheese Companies, says it is difficult to quantify the effect on sales, "but we believe it is having a positive influence".

In September, Asda became the first major retailer to adopt the new packaging format for its private-label cheeses, a move that has boosted sales by 10% to 15%, it claims.

"Our cheese has won more than 100 awards this year, so punches above its weight," says a spokesman. "In keeping with that we wanted to bring the packaging in line with what the brands are doing." While the packaging is more costly to produce, the retail price has not increased, he adds.

Cathedral City was the first to introduce resealable packs in 2003. Since then its value sales have risen 139%, though the brand admits it is difficult to ascribe the results to the packaging alone.

First Milk believes consumers see ziplock as more premium, "but the more retailers move own label into ziplock, the more consumers will come to view it as the industry standard", says the spokeswoman.

Focus On Cheese