Consumers are hungry for mozzarella, and operators are ready to satisfy their appetite. According to Datassential, 76% of restaurants feature traditional mozzarella as a menu mainstay; another 11% offer it as a seasonal item or special. When it comes to fresh mozzarella, 41% offer it all the time, and 24% do so on a limited basis.

It’s interesting to know how mozzarella is made. For the industry, however, what’s even more compelling is how mozzarella is consumed.

Its history in Italy and the United States underscores an important fact about mozzarella cheese: Although they all share the name “mozzarella,” there are actually several different varieties of the beloved Italian cheese, each with its own unique characteristics.

Digital food orders have grown at an average annual rate of 23% since 2013, so it isn’t surprising that some restaurants have found fulfilling the constant influx of delivery requests challenging.

Nine in 10 consumers consider cheese an essential pizza ingredient, and traditionally, one type has ruled the pizza realm.

Signature dishes that feature savory, delicious cheese can entice customers to keep coming back. Need proof?

Recent research confirms that consumers love cheese: nearly half (46%) say they look forward to signature cheese dishes when eating restaurant cuisine. Six in 10 operators believe adding cheese helps items sell better.

It’s easy to overlook ricotta. Mild, fluffy and slightly sweet, the Italian cheese is most closely associated with lasagna, where it’s typically blended with mozzarella and Parmesan. (The same mixture figures prominently in ravioli, manicotti and cannoli as well.) Indeed, for both professional chefs and home cooks, ricotta often plays a supporting (rather than starring) role.

Even though cheese is already widely available across menus, customers are still asking for more. From healthy recipes to plant-based options, now’s your chance to get in on this opportunity with three new trends consumers will love.