Cheese Marketer | Cheddar Cheese | Wisconsin Cheese

Cheesy Stuff: New Products And Packages; Innovative Marketing Programs

Retailers are actively promoting cheese throughout their stores thanks to innovations by today's leading cheese marketers. For example, Vermont's Cabot Creamery, widely known and venerated for generations for its extra sharp Cheddar, has taken its award-winning expertise to the mild segment with the introduction of new Cabot Mild Reserve Cheddar. This gives retailers another consumer to target. "Many of our customers prefer a milder Cheddar profile," says Rich Stammer, president and CEO of Cabot. "In fact, just over half of Cheddar sales nationally fall into the milder flavor category. Cabot Mild Reserve offers these customers a unique, naturally aged, premium Cheddar with a smooth taste that sets it apart from other cheeses."

Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, located in the self-proclaimed Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin (Ellsworth), has vacuum-packed its celebrated curds for nationwide distribution. When kept cool and unopened, Ellsworth's 100% Natural Aged Cheddar Cheese Curds retain shelflife for more than 14 months. The longer-life packaging makes curds, the quintessential Wisconsin cheese variety, conveniently available to cheese connoisseurs everywhere.

California's Sonoma Cheese Factory is producing gourmet, spreadable versions of its famous Jack cheeses. Sonoma Creamy Jack comes in four varieties: Original, Garlic & Herb, Jalapeno Pepper and Horseradish & Bacon.

DCI Cheese Co., Richfield, Wis., has added two new flavors to its gourmet line of Great Midwest Jacks: Buffaloblue Jack and Ranch Jack. Buffaloblue combines the flavor of hot wings and blue cheese to create a unique Great Midwest Jack cheese. Ranch Jack custom blends the tangy ingredients in ranch dressing to deliver one of the creamiest Jacks ever.

Here's something different. Brunkow Cheese Cooperative, Darlington, Wis., is producing Brun-uusto. This authentic version of Juustoleipa, which means "bread cheese," is a specialty cheese with Finnish and Swedish origins. Its characteristic sweet caramel crest is produced by a slow-baking process and has an appearance similar to toasted bread.

Bel/Kaukauna USA, the American subsidiary of Paris-based Fromageries Bel is marketing upscale cheese spreads under the Connoisseur[R] brand. There's a Swiss and Cheddar cheese wheel with bacon bits; Asiago and Cheddar cheese with pesto topped with cilantro; and Asiago and Cheddar cheese with roasted red peppers.

by Donna Berry