ByLIAT RON

JULY 15, 2026 15:50

Shoppers visiting major retail outlets lately have noticed a striking change on dairy aisles. The usual plastic containers of cottage cheese and white cheese have vanished, replaced by labneh, sour cream, and assorted items meant to occupy the empty space. After months of coping with scarce cottage cheese, the supply shortfall has now spread to white cheese varieties as well.

Until recently the main gap appeared in cottage cheese, yet recent days have brought similar voids to white cheese displays. A disappointed buyer shared with Walla that visits to three local chain branches yielded no white cheese tubs at all. The issue covers not only regulated items but also 9 percent and 3 percent fat versions, smooth low-fat options, and creams priced near NIS 15. The situation leaves families unable to prepare simple sandwiches for children, with little apparent response from authorities.

Industry observers note that white cheese scarcity follows directly from the cottage cheese shortfall, as one shortage fuels the next. Retailers requesting ten crates receive only half that amount, and outlying regions sometimes obtain just a single unit, an outcome viewed as unacceptable.

Absent cottage cheese, consumers turn to white cheese and stockpile supplies, intensifying demand and worsening shortages. The cycle continues to accelerate and requires urgent intervention. Questions persist about the absence of action from the agriculture, economy, and finance ministers or other oversight bodies. If necessary, import quotas should be expanded immediately.

German Support Limited to Remote Sessions

The white cheese shortage traces back to a computer fault at Tnuva's cottage cheese facility in Alon Tavor.

Production itself functions normally, yet the automated storage system that routes pallets to delivery trucks remains impaired. Finished cottage cheese stays inside the plant instead of reaching store displays.

Insiders report that automated warehouse disruptions have persisted beyond two months. The system controls pallet movement and truck loading within the facility.

Technicians from German firm Dematic visited Israel recently for planned upkeep at the Osem site. They did not extend the trip to Tnuva because separate teams with specialized expertise handle each location, and appointments are arranged far ahead. A scheduled Tnuva visit during Operation Lion's Roar was postponed because of the conflict. The following appointment lies several months away and hinges on regional stability.

Dematic staff now guide Tnuva personnel through phone and video calls while employees manage portions of the equipment by hand. This workaround remains partial and prevents restoration of normal delivery volumes.

Since January, demand for dairy goods has climbed roughly 4 percent, partly because fewer Israelis traveled overseas amid security conditions. Producers add that elevated demand combined with post-Shavuot shortfalls complicates restocking, so any logistics setback appears quickly on shelves.

Unlike earlier episodes that raised concerns over deliberate scarcity tied to price mechanism changes, current conditions appear driven by technical factors alone.

No Motive for Tnuva to Withhold Cottage Cheese

The prolonged gap has prompted claims that Tnuva might benefit from limiting cottage cheese to boost sales of other products. The sector dismisses such suggestions outright.

A knowledgeable source asks what possible gain Tnuva could derive from withholding cottage cheese, noting that each unit generates revenue and unsold stock represents a direct loss. The firm operates nine facilities nationwide, where occasional technical issues arise.

The fault lies in computer controls operated by Dematic, which has declined to dispatch technicians because of security conditions. Because the dairy relies heavily on automation, manual overrides are not feasible, leaving finished product stranded despite normal production rates.

The impact stands out because Tnuva leads white cheese output in Israel while Strauss accounts for roughly 30 percent of the category. Together the two firms supply most white cheese sold locally, so shifts in availability register rapidly across retail outlets.

Tnuva and Strauss state that white cheese manufacturing and distribution continue normally and have been increased to match demand.