Schuman Cheese

What Schuman Cheese does

Schuman Cheese (legal name Arthur Schuman Inc.) is a privately held, fourth-generation family-owned specialty cheese company founded in 1945 and headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey. The company self-describes as the #1 importer of hard Italian cheeses in the U.S. and operates across the full specialty cheese value chain: importing European cheeses, domestic cheesemaking, custom processing, private label manufacturing, and global exports. Operations are anchored by six U.S. facilities processing over 100 million pounds of cheese annually, including Lake Country Dairy in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin (recognized as 2018 Dairy Plant of the Year) and a dedicated Montfort, Wisconsin plant for plant-based cheese alternatives. The company is the only American cheesemaker producing Hard Italian inspired cheeses in traditional copper kettles, a process it has refined over 80+ years.

Schuman's brand and distribution portfolio includes proprietary brands (Cello, Delve, Bella Rosa, Vevan, GOOD PLANeT Foods, Yellow Door Creamery), an acquired brand (Old Croc Australian cheddar), and exclusive U.S. distribution rights for a network of premium European producers (Zanetti, Dodoni, Old Amsterdam, Wyke Farms/Ivy's Reserve, British Organic Dairy Co., El Pastor, Margot Fromages, Fattorie Garofalo, Busti). The Cello brand alone has accumulated 231+ top awards from prestigious cheese contests including the American Cheese Society, World Championship Cheese Contest, and World Dairy Expo.

The company sells primarily B2B to enterprise food service operations, restaurant chains, major retailers, food manufacturers, and club customers globally, with an export business spanning food service, food manufacturing, retail, and club channels. Revenue is generated through cheese distribution, custom manufacturing services (shredding, cutting, slicing, cubing, and custom packaging), and global exports under the Cello brand. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted through direct sales contact. In 2024, Schuman acquired Trugman-Nash LLC to add the Old Croc brand and British organic cheddar distribution rights, and in 2026, the company entered a fourth-generation leadership transition with Allison Schuman appointed CEO and Ian Schuman named President of Global to oversee international expansion.

Name

Schuman Cheese

Legal name

Arthur Schuman Inc.

Website

https://schumancheese.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Schuman Cheese is a fourth-generation, family-owned specialty cheese company that imports, manufactures, and distributes premium and plant-based cheeses across the U.S. and globally, serving enterprise food service operators, restaurant chains, retailers, food manufacturers, and club customers through six U.S. processing facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Cheese (Imported and Domestic)

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grated, Shredded & Sliced Cheese Manufacturing (Value-Added Cuts) (AFAHABAF), Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI), Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC)

Keywords

• Specialty cheese distribution
• Cheese import services
• Cheese manufacturing
• Food service supply
• Dairy processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese Distribution and Sales: Revenue generated from importing, manufacturing, and distributing premium cheeses to food service operations, retailers, food manufacturers, and club customers. Includes both domestic production from Wisconsin facilities and imported specialty cheeses from global partners.
2. Custom Manufacturing Services: Processing services for food service operations and restaurant chains including shredding, cutting, slicing, cubing, and custom packaging solutions.
3. Global Exports: Export of award-winning Cello brand cheeses and other products to international markets including food service, retail, and manufacturing customers worldwide.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schuman Cheese imports, manufactures, and distributes specialty cheeses for B2B customers including food service operations, restaurant chains, retailers, food manufacturers, and club stores. The company produces award-winning domestic cheeses (Cello, Delve, Bella Rosa brands) at Wisconsin facilities using traditional copper kettle methods, holds exclusive U.S. distribution rights for imported European specialty brands (Zanetti, Dodoni, Old Amsterdam, Wyke Farms, and others), and offers custom processing/conversion capabilities (shredding, slicing, cubing) plus plant-based cheese alternatives under Vevan and GOOD PLANeT Foods.

Product overview

Schuman Cheese is a fourth-generation family-owned cheese importer, distributor, and manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of imported and domestic specialty cheeses. The company operates as a unified platform combining imported European cheeses (from partners like Zanetti, Dodoni, Old Amsterdam, Wyke Farms, El Pastor, and Margot) with domestically produced artisan cheeses under brands like Cello, Delve, and Bella Rosa. The portfolio also includes plant-based alternatives through Vevan and GOOD PLANeT Foods. Services include importing, cheese making at Wisconsin facilities, custom processing/conversion capabilities, and global exports. The company crafts award-winning cheeses at Lake Country Dairy in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin and operates multiple processing facilities across the U.S.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cello: Award-winning specialty cheese brand producing Italian classics like Parmesan, Asiago, Fontina, and Copper Kettle Parmesan. Flagship brand of Schuman Cheese.
• Delve
• Bella Rosa
• Vevan
• GOOD PLANeT Foods
• Old Croc
• Wyke Farms / Ivy's Reserve
• Yellow Door Creamery

Products and services

• Cello Brand (Parmesan, Asiago, Fontina, Copper Kettle Parmesan)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ million pounds processed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wyke FarmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 January 2026Partnership with Wyke Farms, the United Kingdom's largest independent cheese producer, to serve as exclusive U.S. supplier for Wyke Farms and its sub-brand Ivy's Reserve across British cheddars and butter. Wyke Farms, founded in Somerset, England with nearly 300 years of cheesemaking heritage, extends Schuman's premium and imported cheese offerings.
• Trugman-Nash LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2024Acquisition of Trugman-Nash LLC including the Old Croc brand (the #1 Australian cheddar brand in the United States) and exclusive U.S. distribution rights for British organic cheddar brands from the Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative.
• GOOD PLANeT FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with GOOD PLANeT Foods for plant-based cheese alternatives. GOOD PLANeT Foods reimagines cheese with sustainable plant-based alternatives. Schuman Cheese acquired Miyoko's Creamery competitor's position through this partnership.
• ZanetticoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership with Zanetti, established in 1945 - over 80 years. Zanetti is an Italian cheese producer specializing in Grana Padano, with Schuman Cheese serving as their exclusive or primary U.S. distribution partner.
• DodonicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive U.S. distributor for Dodoni Greek cheeses including Halloumi, Feta, Goat Cheese, and Myzithra. Schuman Cheese has represented Dodoni products in the U.S. market for many years.
• Old AmsterdamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive U.S. distribution partner for Old Amsterdam aged Gouda cheeses including Mild (4 Mo.), Classic (8 Mo.), Reserve (18 Mo.), and Aged Goat varieties. Old Amsterdam is a mature cheese winning awards across the globe.
• Old CroccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOwned brand acquired through Trugman-Nash LLC acquisition. Old Croc is the #1 Australian cheddar brand in the United States, with classic cheddars aged to perfection. Available in Sharp, Extra Sharp, Smoked, and Grand Reserve varieties.
• British Organic Dairy CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive U.S. distribution rights for British Organic Dairy Company organic cheddar brands from the Organic Milk Suppliers Co-operative. Products made with 100% renewable energy and organic, grass-fed milk from free-roaming cows. Exclusively available at Costco.
• El PastorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive U.S. distributor for El Pastor Spanish cheeses including Manchego, Iberico, and Castellano. Torero Matador Manchego is recognized as one of the best versions of this popular Spanish variety.
• BustiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partnership for Busti, a true Italian Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) cheese producer. Traditional methods include using salt from Volterra, hand-forming cheese, and maturing wheels on spruce wood shelves.
• Margot FromagesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive U.S. distributor for Margot Fromages' Le Gruyère cheeses. Margot is the only private, family-owned company specializing in the aging and ripening of Swiss Le Gruyère, aged 5 to 12 months.
• Fattorie GarofalominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partnership for Fattorie Garofalo authentic buffalo mozzarella handmade in the traditional process using milk from select breed of buffalo in the Campania region of Italy.
• Dairy Sustainability AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchuman Cheese joined the Dairy Sustainability Alliance, a national multi-stakeholder collaborative enabling engagement with peer companies, producers, and value-chain partners to advance aligned environmental priorities and share best practices.
• Cascade EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Cascade Energy to improve energy efficiency at the Elgin facility through targeted optimization of compressed air and refrigeration systems using technical assessments and industry-specific expertise.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hilmar Cheese Company: Large-scale cheese and whey ingredients producer primarily serving food manufacturers and foodservice. Peer on B2B cheese processing scale (processing 1B+ lbs/yr) and private/family ownership model, though Hilmar is concentrated in Cheddar/Jack rather than Italian specialty.
• Saputo Inc. Large North American dairy and cheese manufacturer with extensive specialty cheese portfolio (e.g., Stella, Frigo, Polly-O). Overlaps with Schuman in Italian-style cheeses and food service channel, but Saputo is a much broader dairy conglomerate.
• Lactalis American Group: U.S. subsidiary of the world's largest dairy group (Lactalis), with a portfolio spanning Italian specialty cheese brands (Galbani, Sorrento, Bella), B2B ingredient cheese, and broad foodservice coverage. Most direct broad incumbent in Italian-style cheese at scale.
• Leprino Foods: World's largest mozzarella and cheese ingredient manufacturer. Comparable as a B2B cheese supplier serving foodservice and food-manufacturing customers with massive processing scale, though focused on mozzarella/ingredients versus Schuman's specialty Italian hard cheeses.
• Agropur Dairy Cooperative: Major North American dairy cooperative with substantial specialty cheese manufacturing (incl. Italian varieties like BelGioioso-style) and food ingredient capabilities. Comparable as a large private/cooperative cheese producer with food service and industrial channels.

Direct peers

• Atalanta Corporation: Privately held U.S. importer and specialty food distributor carrying European cheeses, meats, and gourmet items into retail and foodservice channels. Closely overlaps Schuman's specialty-import distribution model for European cheeses.
• BelGioioso Cheese Company: Wisconsin-based Italian-style specialty cheese manufacturer producing fresh, aged, and hard Italian cheeses (Parmesan, Asiago, Romano, Mascarpone). Most direct peer given overlapping Italian cheese portfolio, domestic cheesemaking, and food service / retail distribution model.
• Great Lakes Cheese: Large U.S. private-label and branded natural cheese manufacturer/slicer with extensive food service, retail, and foodservice channels. Comparable as a privately held, family-controlled cheese converter competing in similar B2B sliced/shredded cheese categories.
• Sargento Foods: Wisconsin-headquartered, privately held cheese company focused on natural sliced, shredded, and snack cheese formats for retail and foodservice. Comparable value-added cheese processing and packaging capabilities for retail/foodservice customers.

Emerging players

• Miyoko's Creamery / Plant-Cheese Competitor Set: Plant-based cheese brand/competitor in the same niche Schuman addresses via Vevan and GOOD PLANeT Foods. Relevant comparison point for assessing competitive intensity in Schuman's plant-based cheese segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/517305
• Xx.com/schumancheese
• Facebookfacebook.com/cellocheese

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Schuman Cheese