Redhead Creamery

What Redhead Creamery does

Redhead Creamery is a family-owned farmstead artisan cheese company founded in 2014 and operated by Alise Sjostrom and her husband Lucas Sjostrom in partnership with Alise's parents, Jerry and Linda Jennissen, at Jer-Lindy Farms in Brooten, Minnesota. The creamery produces nationally and globally award-winning cheeses — including cheddar curds, clothbound cheddars, Brie, blue cheese, Havarti, and specialty varieties — from milk supplied by the family's 160-cow Registered Holstein and Brown Swiss dairy herd, which is piped underground directly from a robotic milking parlor to the pasteurizer for same-day cheesemaking. The company's product portfolio also includes fluid milk and drinkable yogurt, and in 2024 it opened the on-site "CheeseStillery," a whey-based distillery that converts milk sugar recovered from cheesemaking whey into vodka, bourbon, and barrel-aged spirits — making it the only vertically integrated "soil to spirit" facility of its kind.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market combining an on-site cheese shop and farm-to-table restaurant (open Wednesday–Saturday), e-commerce with UPS cold-chain shipping to all U.S. states, a proprietary Cheese Van home delivery route across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, wholesale distribution to specialty retailers and restaurants in five Midwestern states, and weekly presence at the Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market. Experiential revenue is generated through Friday and Saturday farm tours ($10–$15/person), $29 distillery tours, cheese and spirits tasting events, the annual Curd Fest celebration, and event catering. The company is privately held, family-financed, with no institutional investors identified; external capital has been limited to a $41K Kickstarter in 2013 and a $100K Center for Dairy Research grant in 2024, alongside public-sector and academic R&D support for the CheeseStillery. Recognition includes the 2017 IDFA Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, the 2016 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award, and Minnesota Milk Producers Association honors.

Name

Redhead Creamery

Legal name

Redhead Creamery

Website

https://redheadcreamery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Redhead Creamery is a family-owned farmstead artisan cheese producer in Brooten, Minnesota, operating on Jer-Lindy Farms' 160-cow dairy. It makes award-winning cheeses, farmstead dairy, and whey-based spirits, selling direct via on-site shop, e-commerce, regional Cheese Van delivery, wholesale, and agritourism experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Farmstead Cheese

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA), Dairy Spreads, Dips & Cream Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Artisan cheese production
• Farmstead dairy products
• Whey-based spirits
• Specialty cheese retail
• Agritourism experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooten

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Artisan Cheese Sales: Sale of award-winning farmstead artisan cheeses including Cheddar Cheese Curds, Little Lucy Brie, Pimento Cheese, North Fork Whiskey Washed Munster, Lucky Linda Clothbound Cheddar, Margie Clothbound Cheddar, St. Anthony, Garlic Clothbound Cheddar, Henry's Havarti, Simply Cheddar, Red Temper Honey Chipotle Cheddar, Little Lucy Bleu, and more. Products sold online, at the on-site cheese shop, and through wholesale accounts across MN, ND, SD, WI, and IL.
2. Fluid Milk and Yogurt: Sale of pasteurized non-homogenized whole milk in reusable glass bottles and drinkable yogurt. Milk is sold with a $2 bottle deposit that is refunded on bottle return. Yogurt sold individually or as a 2-bottle bundle.
3. Spirits and Distillery: Production and sale of whey-based spirits including 32.4 Vodka, Azro Araga, Bernadotte Bourbon, Dayton Bourbon, and Barrel-Aged spirits. Spirits sold via the cheese shop and Cheese Van delivery. Also includes the Redhead Barrel Program for barrel purchases at $1,000+.
4. Restaurant and Dining: On-site farm-to-table restaurant serving a rotating menu with locally sourced meats and vegetables. Kitchen open Friday & Saturday 10:30am–4pm. Offers event catering for private events with cheese and charcuterie grazing tables.
5. Farm Tours and Experiences: Revenue from guided farm tours (Friday $10/person, Saturday $15/person), distillery tours ($29/person), and specialty tasting events. Also includes Curd Fest annual event tickets and private event bookings.
6. E-commerce and Delivery: Online orders shipped via UPS nationwide on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Direct home delivery via the Cheese Van across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Delivery covers Willmar, Sauk Centre, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Fargo, Twin Cities, St. Cloud, and Central MN areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Redhead Creamery is a family-owned farmstead artisan cheese manufacturer producing nationally and globally award-winning cheeses (cheddar curds, clothbound cheddars, brie, blue, Havarti, and specialty varieties) from milk supplied by its sister dairy, Jer-Lindy Farms. The operation also runs an on-site cheese shop, a farm-to-table restaurant, and the CheeseStillery — a distillery that converts whey byproduct from the cheesemaking process into vodka and bourbon via ultrafiltration, fermentation, and distillation.

Product overview

Redhead Creamery is a family-owned, farmstead artisan cheese company operating on Jer-Lindy Farms in Brooten, Minnesota. The company crafts nationally and globally award-winning cheeses — including cheddar curds, clothbound cheddars, Brie, blue cheese, Havarti, and specialty varieties — alongside a Whey-based spirits sub-brand (Redhead Creamery Spirits / CheeseStillery). Its product portfolio spans: (1) artisan cheeses made on the farm (core Redhead Creamery line), (2) curated regionally made cheeses from other Minnesota artisan creameries, (3) farmstead dairy products (non-homogenized milk, drinkable yogurt), (4) spirits produced via whey fermentation and distillation, (5) a restaurant with farm-to-table dining, and (6) experiential offerings including farm tours, distillery tours, the annual Curd Fest event, Cheese Van home delivery, wholesale distribution, and an internship/apprenticeship program. The e-commerce storefront is powered by Shopify.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ridiculously Good Cheddar Cheese Curds Fresh cheddar cheese curds crafted on the farm from Jer-Lindy Farms milk, sold plain and described by the creamery as 'ridiculously good.'
• Gluten-Free Battered Cheddar Cheese Curds Cheddar cheese curds coated in a gluten-free batter and deep-fried as a snack item.
• Little Lucy Brie A Brie-style soft cheese produced in-house at the Redhead Creamery creamery; one of the creamery's signature artisan cheeses.
• Little Lucy Bleu A blue cheese variety using Penicillium roqueforti cultures, aged to develop characteristic blue veins.
• Pimento Cheese A house-specialty cheese spread made with pimento peppers.
• North Fork Whiskey Washed Munster A Munster-style cheese washed in North Fork whiskey with a gooey texture and bold flavor.
• Lucky Linda Clothbound Cheddar A clothbound cheddar aged in caves; named after Lucky Linda Jennissen.
• Margie Clothbound Cheddar A cave-aged clothbound cheddar; one of Redhead Creamery's award-winning cheeses.
• Garlic Clothbound Cheddar A clothbound cheddar with garlic added during the cave aging process.
• Red Temper Honey Chipotle Cheddar A cheddar variety featuring a smooth, spicy honey-chipotle flavor profile.
• Henry's Havarti A Havarti-style cheese produced by Redhead Creamery.
• St. Anthony A dry, nutty, Parmigiano-style cheese and Redhead Creamery's first award-winning variety.
• Simply Cheddar A straightforward cheddar representing the creamery's core cheesemaking.
• The Barbarian An artisan cheese variety in the Redhead Creamery lineup.
• Bovre An artisan cheese variety offered by Redhead Creamery.
• First Frost A seasonal or limited-edition cheese variety in the Redhead Creamery lineup.
• Luck of the Redhead Clothbound Cheddar A clothbound cheddar referencing the Redhead brand and the four redheaded sisters behind the creamery.
• Redhead Creamery Frozen Four-Cheese Flatbread A frozen four-cheese flatbread product made with Redhead Creamery cheeses for retail sale.
• Cheese and Charcuterie Platters Ready-to-order cheese and charcuterie grazing platters for retail and event catering, starting from $64.95.
• Regionally Made Cheese (Third-Party) A curated selection of cheeses from other Minnesota artisan creameries such as Caves of Faribault, Shepherd's Way Farms, Cannon Belles, Stickney Hill Dairy, Donnay Dairy, Eichten's, Landmark Creamery, and Pasture Pride, sold alongside Redhead's own cheeses.
• Redhead Creamery Spirits Whey-based spirits produced on-site through fermentation and distillation of milk sugar (whey) filtrate from the cheesemaking process, including 32.4 Vodka, Bernadotte Bourbon, and Dayton Bourbon. Sold via the cheese shop and Cheese Van delivery only.
• Pasteurized Non-Homogenized Whole Milk Farmstead milk pasteurized but not homogenized, with cream rising naturally to the top. Packaged in reusable glass bottles with a $2 deposit and a 14-day shelf life.
• Sweetened Drinkable Yogurt A drinkable yogurt made from fresh milk and live cultures, lightly sweetened and sold in 1-quart bottles individually or as a 2-bottle bundle.
• Redhead Creamery Gift Cards Digital and physical gift cards redeemable for Redhead Creamery products, available with a minimum of $10.00.
• Dairy Farm Tours Guided walking tours of Jer-Lindy Farms and the creamery on Fridays ($10/person, ~1 hour, 3 tastings) and Saturdays ($15/person, ~2 hours, 3 tastings), featuring the robotic milking system, baby calves, and a cheesemaking video.
• Distillery Tours Guided tours of the on-site CheeseStillery distillery with tastings and cheese-and-spirits pairings; tickets priced at $29 per person.
• Curd Fest Annual on-farm celebration of cheese curds featuring fresh curds, food, hands-on education, live music, and family activities, held each June (2026 edition scheduled for June 20).
• Restaurant and On-Site Dining Farm-to-table restaurant at the creamery serving an ever-changing menu of locally sourced meats and vegetables paired with Redhead Creamery cheeses, open Friday and Saturday 10:30am–4pm.
• Event Catering Cheese and charcuterie grazing tables and platters for events, plus hand-made pies for dessert, available for off-site catering of private events and celebrations.
• Cheese Van Home Delivery Direct home delivery of cheese and other products via the company's Cheese Van on Wednesdays and Thursdays, covering Willmar, Sauk Centre, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Fargo, Twin Cities, St. Cloud, and Central Minnesota.
• UPS Nationwide Shipping Nationwide shipping of perishable cheeses in insulated boxes with ice packs via UPS, dispatched on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with delivery typically within two days. Not available to P.O. boxes.
• Wholesale Distribution Program Wholesale distribution program for specialty retailers and restaurants to carry Redhead Creamery products in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois; inquiry form available on the website and the company lists on Faire.

Quantifiable outcome

• First batch of cheese made in 2013; creamery opened in 2014; CheeseStillery opened in 2024 — 12+ years in operation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jer-Lindy FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJer-Lindy Farms is the family dairy farm owned by Jerry and Linda Jennissen that supplies all milk used in Redhead Creamery's cheese and spirit production. The farm is integrated with the creamery through an underground pipeline that sends milk directly from the robotic milking parlor to the pasteurizer. The partnership is the foundation of Redhead Creamery's farmstead model and enables the unique soil-to-spirit vertical integration.
• Milk & Honey CiderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilk & Honey Ciders in St. Joseph, MN is a cider maker that has served as a model for Redhead Creamery's on-farm events and drink programs. Redhead Creamery washes its cheeses in Milk & Honey cider, and the two companies cross-promote products. The partnership helped inspire Redhead Creamery's own orchard planting plans for cider apples.
• Goat Ridge BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoat Ridge Brewing in New London, MN has been a long-time partner since 2015. The companies have held joint tastings and special projects together. Beer washes were previously used on Redhead Creamery's cheeses before they went gluten-free.
• Schaefer's MarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchaefer's Market in Sauk Centre, MN provides premium steaks and specialty meat products for Redhead Creamery's restaurant and events. They also process Jer-Lindy Farms beef for retail sale at their store. They have provided last-minute support during events and carry hard-to-find goods.
• Red Table MeatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRed Table Meats in Minneapolis supplies charcuterie (salami, salumi, and specialty meats) used on virtually every cheese and charcuterie platter sold at Redhead Creamery and as garnishes in the restaurant. The partnership is a key supply chain component for Redhead Creamery's prepared food offerings.
• Rolling Forks VineyardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRolling Forks Vineyard in Glenwood, MN hosts wine and cheese tasting events at the Redhead Creamery creamery. The partnership creates combined tasting experiences that showcase local wine paired with farmstead cheeses.
• Burr VineyardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBurr Vineyards in Brandon, MN is a family farmstead winery run by Florian Ledermann (Alise's great-uncle). The companies host shared events including weekly pizza nights at Burr Vineyards featuring Redhead Creamery cheese. Florian and family have provided guidance and support to the Redhead Creamery founders.
• Reality RoastersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReality Roasters in Little Falls, MN supplies a custom Redhead Blend coffee used in the creamery. The partnership keeps staff caffeinated and the custom blend is available for sale in the cheese shop.
• Ferndale MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFerndale Market in Cannon Falls, MN supplies turkey products used at Redhead Creamery events and sold in the cheese shop. Redhead Creamery serves their brie at Ferndale's annual pre-Thanksgiving events.
• Foxhole BrewhouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoxhole Brewhouse in Willmar, MN is a brewery run by the Fuchs family that partners with Redhead Creamery on holiday promotions, tastings, and special events. Both companies cater to families in the local community.
• Wooden Link VineyardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWooden Link Vineyard in Barrett, MN brings thoughtfully paired wine and cheese experiences to the Redhead Creamery creamery. The partnership creates tasting events that highlight local craftsmanship.
• CannonBelles Cheese & CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCannonBelles Cheese & Coffee in Cannon Falls, MN opened their artisan cheese plant in spring 2022. Redhead Creamery provided guidance and tours during their startup journey as prospective cheesemakers. Both companies are now peers in the Minnesota artisan cheese community.
• Shepherd's Way FarmminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShepherd's Way Farm in Nerstrand, MN is a pioneer of sheep's milk artisan cheese in Minnesota. Redhead Creamery carries their award-winning cheeses in their shop, serving as a retail outlet for their products.
• Stickney Hill DairyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStickney Hill Dairy in Cold Spring, MN is Minnesota's largest goat milk cheese producer. Redhead Creamery carries their products, providing retail shelf space for goat cheese alongside their own farmstead offerings.
• Donnay DairyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDonnay Dairy in Kimball, MN is a goat milk cheese producer whose products are featured in Redhead Creamery's cheese case. Redhead Creamery is one of the few retail locations carrying their products.
• Caves of FaribaultminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCaves of Faribault in Faribault, MN is a historic Minnesota cheese brand that was reincarnated using traditional cave aging methods. Redhead Creamery carries and sells their cheeses.
• Eichten's CheeseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEichten's Cheese in Center City, MN is Minnesota's original Gouda maker. Redhead Creamery carries their products in their cheese shop alongside Redhead Creamery's own cheeses.
• Capra Nera CreameryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCapra Nera Creamery in Altura, MN produces raw milk goat cheeses with diverse flavor profiles. Redhead Creamery carries their products as part of their artisan cheese selection.
• Cornell University, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, University of GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partners including professors at Cornell University, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and the University of Georgia provided research and technical expertise supporting the development of the whey distillation process for Redhead Creamery Spirits.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rogue Creamery: Oregon-based farmstead artisan cheese maker known for award-winning blue and cheddar cheeses. Directly comparable to Redhead as a small-batch, award-winning specialty producer selling wholesale, D2C, and via farm experiences.
• Jasper Hill Farm: Vermont farmstead creamery specializing in cave-aged, clothbound cheddars and washed-rind cheeses. Closely comparable to Redhead's clothbound cheddar line (Lucky Linda, Margie) and on-farm aging operations.
• Vermont Creamery: Artisan farmstead dairy producer in Websterville, VT, founded by cheesemakers trained at the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese — the same program where Redhead's founder Alise Sjostrom trained. Comparable in scale, product mix, and national D2C/wholesale distribution.
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company: California farmstead cheese maker producing award-winning blues, toma, and cheddar. Comparable as a family-owned farmstead producer leveraging a single-herd story for premium positioning and agritourism.
• Beecher's Handmade Cheese: Seattle-based artisan cheese maker with viewing-window creamery, retail shop, restaurant, and nationwide wholesale. Directly comparable to Redhead's experiential retail-plus-creamery-plus-restaurant model.
• Cypress Grove: California-based specialty cheese producer (Humboldt Fog, Midnight Moon) known for premium sheep- and goat-milk cheeses with national distribution. Comparable as an award-winning specialty brand competing for similar retail and foodservice shelf space.
• Uplands Cheese / Pleasant Ridge Reserve: Wisconsin farmstead producer of Pleasant Ridge Reserve and Rush Creek Reserve. Comparable as a small, award-winning farmstead cheese maker leveraging rotational grazing and on-farm production for premium positioning.
• Marin French Cheese: California-based farmstead Brie and Camembert maker, founded in 1865, with farm retail, tours, and national wholesale. Closely comparable to Redhead's Little Lucy Brie line and farmstead experiential retail model.

Regional players

• Sartori Cheese: Wisconsin-based artisan and specialty cheese producer with national distribution and a wide flavored-cheddar portfolio (including award winners). Comparable as a Midwestern specialty cheesemaker with broader wholesale reach than Redhead currently has.

Broad incumbents

• Tillamook: Oregon-based farmer-owned dairy cooperative with broad portfolio across cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and fluid milk. Comparable at the dairy-product-portfolio level (cheese + milk + yogurt), though at much larger scale and as a broad incumbent rather than a farmstead niche player.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/redheadcreamery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Redhead Creamery