Food & Beverage

Finnish company gives pizza a vegan cheese option

Photo: Provided.

February 26, 2021

Valio USA, known for its Finlandia brand of cheeses and butter through its Finnish parent company, is launching Oddlygood Mozzarella in the U.S., which it said is a melt-able plant-based cheese ideal for pizza. Created by chefs with pizza makers in mind, efforts are underway to partner with distributors across the country, according to a news release.

The company said it has had strong initial response from pizzeria operators.

"Eating habits are clearly changing. With our long heritage as cheesemakers, we saw an opportunity to bring our expertise to the fast-growing plant-based category," Mari Meriluoto, Valio USA director of marketing and business development, said in the release.

"Oddlygood is as easy to work with as any other cheese and delivers on great taste, which has been lacking in vegan mozzarellas. It also maintains its creaminess when cold."

In the Nordic region, Oddlygood Mozzarella tops vegan pies in some 300 Kotipizza restaurants and at other eateries. Kotipizza is the largest pizza chain in the Nordic countries.

The product is made with shea and coconut oils and potato starch protein. Valio USA has created a suite of resources for distributors and operators, including training videos, recipe ideas and an ambassador program that will showcase chefs.

Mario DeMita Jr., owner of Mario's pizza in Niagara Falls, New York, tested Oddlygood Mozzarella by doing side-by-side comparisons with several other plant-based options and made it part of his menu.

"Meltability, texture, and taste are all superior," DeMita Jr. said in the release. "We had nothing but positive feedback from our customers. I used to cringe when someone would order a vegan pizza, but now I am truly proud to serve them."

Valio USA is also launching Oddlygood plant-based Cheddar Cheese to the U.S. foodservice market, in shreds and slices. There are no plans yet to sell consumer packs of either cheese in the U.S.