Cheese lovers face higher prices and tighter supplies of feta in the coming months after an outbreak of livestock disease in Greece threatened one of the UK’s most popular dairy imports.
Although the impact has yet to be felt on supermarket shelves, exporters, dairy processors and agricultural advisers said pressure on the supply chain was mounting and could become visible early next year.
Greece, which supplies the majority of protected designation of origin (PDO) feta to European markets, is grappling with a prolonged outbreak of sheep and goat pox. The disease, which spreads rapidly through herds, has forced farmers to cull large numbers of animals to contain transmission.
Greek sheep are responsible for at least 70 per cent of the milk in PDO feta
ALAMY
Recent industry reports have estimated that several hundred thousand sheep and goats have already been lost, an unusually high figure for a country heavily reliant on small-scale farming. Greece accounts for between 40 to 45 per cent of all goats in the European Union, far more than any other country.
Under European law, PDO feta must be made predominantly from sheep’s milk and up to 30 per cent goat’s. Agricultural specialists in Greece have predicted that milk volumes for the 2025/26 season are likely to fall significantly as a result of the cull.
Processors have already signalled that they expect tighter margins, constrained supplies and potential disruption to export commitments if the disease continues to spread.
The UK is one of the biggest overseas markets for feta, helped by the cheese’s versatility, relative affordability and popularity among home cooks and restaurants. Any disruption in Greek milk production will have knock-on effects for British distributors and retailers, even though some supermarkets also stock non-PDO, cow-milk “feta-style” cheese made elsewhere in Europe.
So far, however, British supermarkets are showing little sign of strain. Retailers, including Tesco, Waitrose and Aldi, have continued to list Greek-origin and own-brand feta online, at prices broadly consistent with mid-2025 levels.
A cheesemaker prepares feta in Stivos, near Thessaloniki
SAKIS MITROLIDIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Importers said the lack of immediate impact was not surprising. Many retailers secure supplies months in advance and warehouse stocks typically buffer short-term fluctuations. Several distributors have indicated that they expect pressure to intensify only after the present inventory cycle ends.
Analysts cautioned that if Greek milk output fell noticeably in the first quarter of 2026, higher wholesale prices and constrained volumes could begin to filter through to supermarkets in the early months of next year.
Industry observers noted that any shortages of authentic Greek milk could prompt a shift towards non-PDO cheeses. These products, while often sold as “feta-style”, do not carry the same geographical or production requirements and can differ in taste and texture.
The Greek government has imposed movement restrictions, strengthened biosecurity protocols and increased veterinary surveillance to prevent further spread of the disease. However, these measures have limited the ability of farmers to trade livestock, complicating recovery. Rebuilding herds is expected to take time, even under favourable conditions.