Rogue Creamery

What Rogue Creamery does

Rogue Creamery (legally Palace Industries Inc. dba Rogue Creamery) is an Oregon-based Public Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp that produces and sells artisan cave-aged cheeses and related products from its headquarters in Central Point, Oregon. Founded in 1933 as the Rogue River Valley Co-op to support Southern Oregon dairy farmers during the Great Depression, the company was later acquired by the Vella family and rebranded under its current name when owner David Gremmels purchased it in 2002. The company operates a vertically integrated 68-acre USDA Certified Organic dairy farm in Grants Pass, OR, supplying milk to a Central Point production facility, with on-site solar generation contributing 22-30% of annual energy use. The product portfolio centers on eight blue cheeses (including the World Champion Rogue River Blue, Smokey Blue, Caveman Blue, Crater Lake Blue, BluZu Blue, Bluehorn Blue, Brutal Blue, and Oregon Blue) and eight cheddar/hard cheese varieties, with proprietary production techniques including yuzu sake infusion, organic red wine soaking, and cold smoking over Oregon hazelnut shells. A 65-year institutional knowledge base dating to the 1953 launch of Oregon Blue underpins cave-aging expertise.

The business operates across four revenue streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce through RogueCreamery.com with nationwide 2-day shipping; a quarterly Cheese Club subscription at $89/box with auto-renewal and VIP early access; wholesale distribution to major grocery chains (Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, HEB, Fred Meyer) and specialty retailers (Bristol Farms, Gelson's, New Seasons); and a flagship Cheese Shop and corporate gifting program at the Central Point production facility. The company has earned 32+ industry awards, most notably the 2019/2020 World Champion title at the World Cheese Awards — the first American-made cheese ever to win that honor — plus multiple American Cheese Society Best in Show titles and a SIAL Innovation Award in Paris. In 2018, owner David Gremmels aligned with French-based Savencia Fromage and Dairy to scale national and international distribution while retaining artisan positioning, organic certification, and B Corp status. Co-developed products with regional B Corp partners (Hopworks Urban Brewery's Chocolate Stout cheese, Steven Smith Teamaker's tea pairings) and curated gift sets with makers such as Olympia Provisions, Girl Meets Dirt, and Albina City Nuts extend the product surface beyond core cheese into regional entertaining occasions.

Name

Rogue Creamery

Legal name

Palace Industries Inc. dba Rogue Creamery

Website

https://roguecreamery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rogue Creamery is an Oregon-based artisan cheese producer founded in 1933 that operates as a certified B Corp and USDA Organic manufacturer, selling cave-aged blue cheeses and cheddars via DTC e-commerce, a quarterly subscription club, national wholesale to major grocery chains, and a flagship Central Point cheese shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Cheese Manufacturing

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC)

Keywords

• Artisan cheese making
• Cave-aged blue cheese
• Organic dairy products
• Specialty food distribution
• Cheese subscription service

Headquarters

HQ city

Central Point

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales through RogueCreamery.com including individual cheese products, gift sets, and subscription boxes. Direct-to-consumer model with 2-day shipping available.
2. Cheese Club Subscription: Quarterly subscription at $89/box containing seasonal curated cheese selections plus accompaniments. Includes free 2-day shipping and VIP access to limited releases. Auto-renews every quarter.
3. Corporate Gifting: Customizable gift boxes for business clients featuring curated artisanal cheeses and accompaniments. Contact-based ordering with dedicated support.
4. Wholesale Distribution: Supply to grocery retailers and foodservice operators nationwide. Minimum one box (5lb wheel) for wholesale accounts; distributors purchase master case quantities.
5. Retail Storefront: Physical Cheese Shop in Central Point, OR operating 10am-5pm, 7 days a week (360 days/year). Offers grilled cheese sandwiches, samples, and full product lineup plus local provisions and beverages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rogue Creamery manufactures and sells artisan, USDA Certified Organic cheeses — primarily cave-aged blue cheeses and aged cheddars — from its facility in Central Point, Oregon, using milk from its own 68-acre organic dairy farm in Grants Pass. The company sells directly to consumers through e-commerce and a flagship retail Cheese Shop, operates a quarterly Cheese Club subscription, produces curated gift sets and corporate gift boxes, and distributes wholesale to major national and specialty grocery chains and foodservice operators across the United States.

Product overview

Rogue Creamery is an artisan cheese company offering a diverse portfolio of handcrafted cheeses and related products. The core offerings include eight blue cheese varieties (BluZu Blue, Bluehorn Blue, Caveman Blue, Crater Lake Blue, Oregon Blue, Rogue River Blue, Smokey Blue, and Brutal Blue) and eight hard cheese/cheddar varieties (Whoa Nellie Pepper Cheese, Cheese Is Love Cheddar, Chocolate Stout Cheese, Hopyard Cheese, LaDiDa Lavender Cheese, Jefferson Aged Cheddar, Rogue's Mary Cheese, and Touvelle Original Cheese). The product portfolio extends to curated gift sets (samplers, themed boxes, seasonal collections), a quarterly Cheese Club subscription, gift cards, accompaniments (jams, chocolates, charcuterie), and branded merchandise. The company operates as Oregon's first Public Benefit Corporation (B Corp) and produces USDA Certified Organic cheeses from its facility in Central Point, Oregon, rooted in the Rogue Valley since 1933.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rogue River Blue Limited edition seasonal blue cheese wrapped in organic biodynamic Syrah grape leaves soaked in pear spirits, aged 9–11 months. World Champion at 2019/20 World Cheese Awards. Targeted at gourmet consumers, gift buyers, and fine cheese counters.
• BluZu Blue Cheese Blue cheese soaked in yuzu-infused sake and decorated with yuzu peel, cave-aged a minimum of 90 days. Features bright citrusy notes and fruity finish. Sold in wedge and whole wheel formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• World Champion cheese at 2019/20 World Cheese Awards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Savencia Fromage and DairyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership with French-based cheese business (2018) allowing Rogue Creamery to retain local character and roots while gaining resources to grow across the country and around the world. Allows expansion of distribution while maintaining artisan quality.
• Hopworks Urban BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Portland, OR B Corporation to create certified organic Chocolate Stout beer using Valrhona Chocolate. The beer is poured directly into cheese vats during production, creating distinctive malty flavor and marbling in Chocolate Stout Cheese.
• Oregon TilthcoreOthersOrganic certification body that certified Rogue Creamery's facility and products as USDA Certified Organic in 2016. Ongoing relationship for organic certification maintenance.
• FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management)coreOthersNational dairy animal care certification program ensuring partner dairy farms meet high standards for animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and quality. Focuses on Animal Care, Environmental Stewardship, Antibiotic Stewardship, Biosecurity, and Workforce Development.
• Steven Smith TeamakerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Portland, OR tea maker for the Tea and Cheese Pairing Box. Smith Teas variety box of 12 sachets paired with Rogue Creamery cheeses for curated tasting experience.
• Rogue Valley Food System NetworkminorOthersProud member of Rogue Valley Food System Network, supporting local food initiatives and building strong regional food network.
• Local Food Producers (Various)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with local artisan food producers including Vintner's Kitchen (jams/mustards), Girl Meets Dirt (preserves), Albina City Nuts (hazelnuts), Effie's (oatcakes), Olympia Provisions (charcuterie), and others for accompaniments in gift sets.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cowgirl Creamery: California artisan creamery with award-winning soft and aged cheeses sold via DTC and specialty retail, comparable in artisan craft, brand cachet and premium gifting.
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company: California artisan/farmstead creamery known for award-winning blue cheese (Original Blue) sold via DTC and national specialty grocery, directly comparable in product category, premium positioning and channels.
• Jasper Hill Farm: Vermont farmstead cheesemaker famous for cave-aged and blue cheeses with cellar aging, mirroring Rogue's cave-aging craft, awards focus and premium artisan model.
• Cypress Grove: California artisan cheesemaker (Humboldt Fog) with national distribution and a Savencia ownership tie, closely comparable in artisan branding, awards and channel mix.
• Maytag Dairy Farms: Iowa producer of iconic American blue cheese sold DTC and via gift boxes, directly overlapping with Rogue's blue cheese specialization and gifting model.
• Beecher's Handmade Cheese: Pacific Northwest artisan cheesemaker with flagship retail, DTC e-commerce and award-winning aged cheddars, closely paralleling Rogue's storefront-plus-online model and cheddar lineup.
• Vermont Creamery: Award-winning artisan creamery (also Savencia-affiliated) with national specialty distribution and premium positioning, comparable in branding and channels.

Broad incumbents

• Rogue's parent Savencia Fromage & Dairy: Large French global cheese group and Rogue's strategic backer, a broad incumbent across the cheese category with overlapping but far wider portfolio and scale.
• Tillamook County Creamery Association: Large Oregon-based dairy cooperative producing cheddar and dairy at national scale; same region and cheddar category but mass-market rather than artisan.

Emerging players

• Sartori Cheese: Wisconsin family cheesemaker producing award-winning specialty aged cheeses for retail and foodservice, overlapping in premium specialty cheese though larger production scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RogueCreamery
• Instagraminstagram.com/roguecreamery

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Rogue Creamery