Formaticum
Formaticum is a Brooklyn-based, founder-owned specialty company that designs and sells professional-grade cheese storage products (two-ply breathable bags and sheets sourced from European manufacturers) and handmade Italian cheese knives to home cheese enthusiasts, cheese professionals, and premium retailers including Whole Foods and Sur La Table.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Formaticum does
Formaticum is a Brooklyn-based, founder-owned specialty food company that designs, sources, and sells professional-grade cheese storage products and serving tools, primarily serving home cheese enthusiasts and cheese professionals in the United States. The company's core products are two-ply breathable cheese storage bags and sheets — manufactured in France (classic) and Germany (reusable) — engineered with a wax-coated outer layer and porous inner membrane to replicate cave-aging conditions by allowing controlled oxygen exchange while wicking away excess moisture. The company also offers handmade Italian cheese knives with stainless steel blades and walnut handles, complemented by cutting boards (via a private-label partnership with Timber Lane Handcrafted), presentation tools, books, and branded apparel. Formaticum claims third-party validated performance — Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen reported Formaticum products kept cheese fresh two weeks longer than parchment or foil — and markets its materials as PFAs/BPAs/BPH-free with plastic-free compostable options.
Formaticum generates revenue through three primary channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce on formaticum.com (free US shipping, international shipping with paid duties), a dedicated wholesale portal at wholesale.formaticum.com targeting cheese professionals and specialty retailers (with custom branding for knives), and third-party marketplace and physical retail distribution including Amazon, Sur La Table, Whole Foods Market, Eataly, and Crate & Barrel. Pricing is unit-based across the catalog: $18.50 for 15-pack storage bags/sheets, $35.50 for individual knives, $137.50 for the Professional 4-Knife Set, and $45-$95 for cutting boards. The company supports sales with earned media (NYT, Cook's Illustrated, Ruth Reichl gift guides dating to 2008), educational content (Cheese Storage 101, blog), social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Vimeo, and X, and a tiered loyalty and referral program.
The business is privately held by founder Mark Goldman (operating since 2006) with no disclosed institutional investors, no funding history, and a headcount in the 11-50 range. The company partners with ARCs (community organizations supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities) for repackaging, and has hired Emilia D'Albero, the 2025 Mondial du Fromage gold medalist, as Sales & Marketing Manager — both signals of brand authenticity and a modest professionalization of the commercial function within an otherwise bootstrapped operation.
Formaticum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Formaticum
- Legal name
- Formaticum LLC
- Website
- https://formaticum.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Formaticum is a Brooklyn-based, founder-owned specialty company that designs and sells professional-grade cheese storage products (two-ply breathable bags and sheets sourced from European manufacturers) and handmade Italian cheese knives to home cheese enthusiasts, cheese professionals, and premium retailers including Whole Foods and Sur La Table.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Formaticum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Food Storage and Kitchen Tools
- SIC
- Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons) (CRADALAL), Food Storage Containers (Disposable & Reusable) (CRAJAGAF), Flexible Paper Packaging & Wraps (kraft wrap, pouches, laminations) (IMAMAHAF)
Keywords
Where Formaticum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Formaticum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Formaticum generates primary revenue through direct online sales via formaticum.com, selling cheese storage products, knives, cutting boards, and accessories directly to consumers. The website processes orders 24/7 with next-business-day shipping.
- Wholesale B2B Sales: A dedicated wholesale portal (wholesale.formaticum.com) serves cheese professionals and retailers who want to resell Formaticum products. Custom branding options for knife products indicate higher-margin B2B relationships.
- Marketplace Sales: Products are available through Amazon and other online marketplaces, providing additional distribution and revenue streams with broader reach to consumers not visiting the primary website.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Classic Cheese Storage Bags - $18.50 per 15-pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cheese Storage Paper - $18.50 per package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional 4 Knife Set - $137.50 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Cheese Knives - $35.50 each |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cutting Boards - $45-$95 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Reusable Storage Bundle - $37.05 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel and Accessories - $30-$85 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels7 records
Formaticum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Formaticum designs, sources, and sells specialty cheese storage products — including Classic two-ply polyethylene bags and sheets manufactured in France, Zero plastic-free compostable bags and sheets made from greaseproof paper and vegetable-based wax, and Reusable bags and sheets manufactured in Germany — alongside professional and mini cheese knives handmade in Italy with stainless steel blades and walnut handles, cutting boards, wire cutters, board liners, labels, and branded apparel. The portfolio targets both home cheese enthusiasts and cheese professionals/retailers, with all storage products formulated to be PFAs-, BPAs-, and BPH-free.
Product overview
Formaticum is a specialty food storage and kitchen tools company offering professional-grade cheese storage solutions and accessories. The product portfolio centers on cheese storage products including Classic Cheese Storage Bags and Sheets (two-ply polyethylene material manufactured in France), Zero Plastic-Free Bags and Sheets (vegetable-based wax and greaseproof paper), and Reusable Storage Bags and Sheets (40% calcium carbonate/60% polyethylene, manufactured in Germany). Complementing the storage line are Professional Cheese Knives and Mini Cheese Knives (handmade in Italy with stainless steel blades and walnut handles), cutting boards (custom black walnut and Fredericks & Mae branded), and cheese accessories including wire cutters, board liners, labels, and presentation tools. The company also offers cheese-related books and branded apparel. All storage products are PFAs, BPAs, and BPH-free.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Classic Cheese Storage Bags
- Classic Cheese Storage Sheets
- Zero Plastic-Free Cheese Storage Bags & Sheets
- Reusable Cheese Storage Bags
- Reusable Cheese Storage Sheets
- Biodegradable Cheese Storage Sheets
- Cheese Board Liners
- Professional 4 Knife Set
Companies that use Formaticum
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Formaticum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Formaticum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- European Manufacturers (France & Germany)coreFormaticum works directly with leading European manufacturers to import specialty cheese storage materials identical to those used by the finest European cheese purveyors. Classic Cheese Storage Bags are manufactured in France; Reusable Storage Bags are manufactured in Germany. These partnerships provide access to proprietary two-ply breathable materials engineered specifically for cheese storage.
- ARCs (The Arc)minorSince founding in 2006, Formaticum has partnered with ARCs (community organizations providing employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities) for repackaging retail products. This partnership reflects the company's commitment to treating workers fairly and with integrity.
- Timber Lane HandcraftedminorFormaticum's custom black walnut cutting boards are created specifically for the brand by Timber Lane Handcrafted, a family-owned business using sustainably sourced black walnut from Pennsylvania forests. This white-label partnership allows Formaticum to offer premium cutting boards under its brand.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Formaticum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Formaticum social profiles
Digital presenceFormaticum compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Formaticum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Formaticum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Formaticum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Formaticum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Formaticum
What does Formaticum do?
Formaticum designs, sources, and sells specialty cheese storage products — including Classic two-ply polyethylene bags and sheets manufactured in France, Zero plastic-free compostable bags and sheets made from greaseproof paper and vegetable-based wax, and Reusable bags and sheets manufactured in Germany — alongside professional and mini cheese knives handmade in Italy with stainless steel blades and walnut handles, cutting boards, wire cutters, board liners, labels, and branded apparel. The portfolio targets both home cheese enthusiasts and cheese professionals/retailers, with all storage products formulated to be PFAs-, BPAs-, and BPH-free.
Is Formaticum a public or private company?
Formaticum is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Formaticum founded?
Formaticum was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Formaticum based?
Formaticum is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Formaticum make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale B2B Sales and marketplace Sales.
Does Formaticum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Formaticum.
What industry is Formaticum in?
Formaticum's product category is Specialty Food Storage and Kitchen Tools. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAHABAI, Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles), with a secondary code of CRADALAL, Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons). Its SIC code is 2673.