The cooperative behind the country's top-selling Deli American is doubling down on retail dairy this fall. Land O'Lakes is simultaneously launching Land O Lakes® Snack Cheese Cubes in the Northeast and extending Deli American's footprint into Kroger dairy cases nationwide — two moves that reflect growing consumer demand for grab-and-go dairy convenience at the grocery level.
The New Product
The Snack Cheese Cubes, priced at an MSRP of $5.99, arrive in three varieties — Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, and Extra Sharp White Cheddar — and are sold in packages containing eight individual 1-ounce packs. The format targets lunchbox and afterschool occasions and is now carried at Stop & Shop, Price Chopper, Giant stores, and select other Northeast retailers. The single-serve construction aligns with a broader packaged snack and convenience trend that has reshaped dairy shelf sets at retail, as operators and manufacturers alike chase the same high-frequency, low-friction eating occasions.
Deli American Goes National
On the deli cheese side, Land O'Lakes is moving its pre-sliced Deli American — ranked No. 1 in its segment based on L52-week sales data through July 12, 2026 — out of the deli counter and into the self-service dairy case at select Kroger locations across the U.S. The MSRP is $4.99. Pre-sliced and portioned for consistency, the product is positioned for at-home sandwich, burger, and grilled cheese preparation, removing the friction of the deli counter line.
"As consumers increasingly seek convenient, high-quality foods that fit today's busy lifestyles, we're focused on delivering products that make every eating occasion more enjoyable," said Heather Anfang, EVP and President of Dairy Foods at Land O'Lakes. The cooperative, founded in 1921, counts more than 1,000 dairy producers across all 50 states and markets products in more than 60 countries.
What It Means for Operators
For foodservice and retail food buyers tracking the dairy category, these launches signal where a major cooperative sees near-term volume growth: premium, convenient, pre-portioned cheese formats that close the gap between deli-quality expectations and self-service speed. As operators and retailers navigate tightening household budgets alongside persistent demand for better-quality ingredients, products that deliver a premium sensory experience without deli-counter labor overhead carry real appeal. Land O'Lakes's move into the Kroger dairy case also puts its Deli American alongside competitive sliced cheese sets, escalating shelf competition in a segment that has historically been deli-counter-dependent. Retailers and foodservice distributors evaluating cheese programs should note that the cooperative is clearly investing in format and channel expansion — not just product quality — as a growth lever this season.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
