Schuman Cheese
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersFairfield, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Schuman Cheese firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Schuman Cheese industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Schuman Cheese is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fairfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Schuman Cheese business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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.
- Custom Manufacturing Services: Processing services for food service operations and restaurant chains including shredding, cutting, slicing, cubing, and custom packaging solutions.
- 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
Schuman Cheese product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Schuman Cheese
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Schuman Cheese technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Schuman Cheese partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wyke FarmscorePartnership 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 LLCcoreAcquisition 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 FoodscoreJoint 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.
- ZanetticoreLong-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.
- DodonicoreExclusive 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 AmsterdamcoreExclusive 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 CroccoreOwned 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 CompanycoreExclusive 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 PastorminorExclusive 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.
- BustiminorExclusive 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 FromagesminorExclusive 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 GarofalominorExclusive 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 AllianceminorSchuman 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 EnergyminorPartnership 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
Schuman Cheese competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Schuman Cheese social profiles
Digital presenceSchuman Cheese compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Schuman Cheese financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schuman Cheese leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Schuman Cheese subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Schuman Cheese funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schuman Cheese M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Schuman Cheese
What does Schuman Cheese do?
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.
Is Schuman Cheese a public or private company?
Schuman Cheese is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Schuman Cheese founded?
Schuman Cheese was founded in 1945. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Schuman Cheese based?
Schuman Cheese is headquartered in Fairfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Schuman Cheese make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Cheese Distribution and Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Manufacturing Services and global Exports.
Who are Schuman Cheese's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hilmar Cheese Company, Saputo Inc., Lactalis American Group, Leprino Foods and Agropur Dairy Cooperative. Direct peers are Atalanta Corporation, BelGioioso Cheese Company, Great Lakes Cheese and Sargento Foods. Miyoko's Creamery / Plant-Cheese Competitor Set is listed as an emerging player.
Does Schuman Cheese have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schuman Cheese.
What industry is Schuman Cheese in?
Schuman Cheese's product category is Specialty Cheese (Imported and Domestic). Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAHABAB, Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue), with a secondary code of AFAHABAF, Grated, Shredded & Sliced Cheese Manufacturing (Value-Added Cuts). Its NAICS code is 311513 and its SIC code is 2020.