Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company

What Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company does

Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company is a privately-held artisanal cheese and cracker producer founded in 2009 and headquartered in South Woodstock, Vermont, on an 18-acre dairy farm with a 55-head mixed-breed herd (25% Holsteins, 50% Jerseys, 25% Ayrshire/Milking Shorthorn/Brown Swiss). The company operates a vertically integrated farm-to-creamery model: milk is processed within 12-48 hours of milking in a facility with a 16,000-lb vat yielding approximately 1,600 lbs of cheese per batch (10% yield). Core production technology centers on traditional methods including an imported Peg Mill from England — VFCC is the only scaled North American producer using this method — for authentic English-style cheddar, raw milk cheesemaking, and cave aging facilities. The product portfolio spans Alehouse Cheddar (beer-infused varieties made with Harpoon, The Alchemist, New Belgium, and Lawson's craft beers, aged 8+ months), soft-ripened Lillé Coulommiers and Vermont Farm Brie, flavored Windsordale variants (Blueberry, Cranberry, Vermont Maple Sriracha), traditional aged cheddars (Governor's, Farmstead, Maple, BrickHaus Tilsit), and a Castleton Crackers sub-brand acquired in 2013.

Following the April 14, 2025 acquisition of Grafton Village Cheese Company (a 1892-founded heritage brand with 125+ years of cheesemaking legacy, facilitated by the Windham Foundation), VFCC operates two distinct brand identities sharing production facilities. Revenue is generated through three primary channels: direct-to-consumer via a Shopify e-commerce storefront (with prices ranging from $6.99 for fresh cheddar curds to $149.95 for a Deluxe Cheese & Charcuterie Gift Set), wholesale distribution through Faire and Mable marketplaces plus direct wholesale contact managed by Sales Manager Heidi Emanuel, and retail through the Grafton Village Cheese storefront in Proctorsville, VT following the closure of the Windsor tasting room in 2020. Customers are segmented across individual consumers (primary), wholesale/retail buyers (specialty food stores, cheese shops, restaurants), and food service/hospitality clients, with co-branded craft beer partnerships and Vermont food ecosystem collaborations (Blake Hill Preserves, Vermont Salumi, Sugar Bob's) anchoring a gift-set portfolio that targets the artisan foodie and corporate gifting segments.

Name

Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company

Legal name

The Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company

Website

https://vermontfarmstead.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company is a privately-held, vertically integrated artisanal cheese and cracker producer in South Woodstock, VT, serving individual consumers, specialty retailers, and food service via DTC e-commerce, wholesale marketplaces, and the Grafton Village Cheese retail storefront following its April 2025 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Farmstead Cheese

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing (311821), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Cookies & Crackers (2052)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA), Grated, Shredded & Sliced Cheese Manufacturing (Value-Added Cuts) (AFAHABAF), Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

Keywords

• Artisan cheese production
• Farmstead dairy products
• Specialty cheese retail
• Wholesale cheese distribution
• Handcrafted crackers

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodstock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Artisan Cheese Direct Sales: Direct-to-consumer cheese and cracker sales through Shopify e-commerce storefront. Products include Alehouse Cheddar varieties ($9.95), Lillé Coulommiers ($8.95-$10.95), Grafton aged cheddars ($10.95-$31.99), gift sets ($74.95-$149.95), andSampler sets.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale sales to retailers and distributors through Faire and Mable marketplaces plus direct wholesale contact via sales team. Products sold in bulk quantities to specialty food stores, cheese shops, and restaurants.
3. Gift Set and Bundled Products: Pre-curated gift sets combining cheese, crackers, charcuterie, preserves, and accessories. Includes Cheese & Charcuterie Gift Set ($109.95), DELUXE version ($149.95), and sampler sets featuring Vermont Farmstead and Grafton Village cheeses.
4. Castleton Crackers: Artisanal cracker production acquired in 2013. All-natural, hand-cracked crackers including Alehouse Cheddar flavor incorporating VFCC cheese. Sold separately and as complements to cheese gift sets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company produces and sells artisanal farmstead cheese and handcrafted crackers using milk from its own 55-head mixed-herd dairy in South Woodstock, Vermont. The portfolio includes aged cheddars (Alehouse Cheddar series with craft beer infusions, Maple, Governor's, Farmstead), soft-ripened cheeses (Lillé Coulommiers, Vermont Farm Brie), Windsordale varieties with fruit and flavor infusions, complementary Castleton Crackers, and the Grafton Village Cheese line acquired in April 2025. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce, wholesale through Faire and Mable marketplaces, and through the Grafton Village Cheese retail store.

Product overview

Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company operates as an artisanal cheese and cracker producer offering a diversified portfolio of products spanning their own cheese line, acquired brands (Castleton Crackers acquired 2013, Grafton Village Cheese Company acquired April 2025), and complementary crackers. Their core offerings include raw-milk and pasteurized artisan cheddars (Alehouse Cheddar series with beer infusions, Maple Cheddar, Governor's Cheddar, Farmstead Cheddar), soft-ripened cheeses (Lillé Coulommiers, Vermont Farm BRIE), and specialty Windsordale varieties (Blueberry, Cranberry, Vermont Maple Sriracha). The Grafton Village acquisition expanded their portfolio with aged cheddars (1-5 year varieties), clothbound cheddars, and sheep's milk cheeses (Shepsog, Storyteller, Bismark). Their Castleton Crackers sub-brand offers complementary crackers including Salted Maple, Alehouse Cheddar, Rosemary, Simply Wheat, Sesame Graham, and Multi-Seed Rye varieties. Gift sets and sampler boxes combining their artisan cheeses with local Vermont products (Blake Hill Preserves, Vermont Salumi) round out the product portfolio. The company leverages wholesale platforms Faire and Mable for B2B distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vermont Farmstead Artisan Cheese Line The flagship product line of farmstead and artisan cheeses produced on-site at the South Woodstock creamery from the company's own 55-head mixed-herd milk. The line includes aged cheddars (Alehouse Cheddar craft-beer-infused series aged 8+ months, Maple, Maple Bacon, Governor's, Farmstead), soft-ripened cheeses (Lillé Coulommiers, Vermont Farm Brie), Tilsit-style BrickHaus, fresh Cheddar Curds, and Windsordale varieties with fruit and flavor infusions. Sold to consumers and wholesale buyers.
• Grafton Village Cheese Product Line The Grafton Village Cheese portfolio of aged raw-milk cheddars and sheep's milk cheeses, added to the company's catalog following the April 14, 2025 acquisition. Products include Grafton 1-Year, 2-Year, 3-Year Reserve, and 5-Year Extra Mature cheddars, Grafton Maple Wood Smoked Cheddar, Grafton Smoked Chili Cheddar, Grafton Truffle Cheddar, Clothbound Cheddar (2025 American Cheese Society Gold Medal), Bear Hill, Bismark (sheep's milk), Shepsog (50/50 sheep and cow milk, ACS 1st Place 2023 and 2024), and Storyteller (100% sheep's milk, ACS 2nd Place 2025).
• Castleton Crackers Artisanal, hand-cracked cracker sub-brand acquired in 2013, made from all-natural ingredients. Varieties include Salted Maple, Alehouse Cheddar (made with VFCC cheese), Rosemary (with Vermont maple syrup), Simply Wheat, Sesame Graham, and Multi-Seed Rye. Sold as standalone products and paired with cheese in gift sets.
• Cheese Gift Sets and Sampler Boxes Pre-curated gift bundles pairing artisan cheeses with complementary local Vermont products. Variants include the Sampler Set (4 cheeses with crackers, jam, cutting board, and knife), Cheese & Charcuterie Gift Set (6 cheeses with crackers, jam, salami, cutting board, and knife), DELUXE Cheese & Charcuterie Gift Set (8 cheeses plus Vermont maple syrup), Beer Lover's Six-Pack (6 craft-beer Alehouse Cheddars), Dynamic Duo (two Alehouse Cheddars with crackers), Grafton Village Sampler Set, and the VT Cheddar Project Box (6 cheddars from 6 Vermont cheesemakers).
• Wholesale Cheese and Cracker Distribution Wholesale supply of the Vermont Farmstead, Castleton Crackers, and Grafton Village Cheese product lines to retailers and foodservice buyers through dedicated wholesale marketplaces (Faire and Mable) and direct sales relationships. Volume pricing and sales sheets available upon request.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 pounds milk per cow daily from mixed herd of 55 cows
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and key.

• Grafton Village Cheese CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2025Vermont Farmstead Cheese acquired Grafton Village Cheese Company with Windham Foundation facilitating the sale. Strategic investment strengthens quality, creativity, scale and dependability. Production continues at both Grafton and VFCC creamery in South Woodstock. Both brands maintain distinct identities while sharing resources and driving innovation.
• Citizen CiderminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Cheese and cider pairing event collaboration on April 15, 2021. Joint tasting experience pairing Citizen Cider products with VFCC cheeses. Event included four cans of cider, four 3.5 oz cheese blocks, pairing notes, and swag.
• New Belgium Brewing CompanykeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership to create Fat Tire Amber Ale Alehouse Cheddar and Voodoo Ranger IPA Alehouse Cheddar. Two new additions to popular Alehouse Cheddar series released in 2020.
• Castleton CrackerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013VFCC acquired Castleton Crackers in 2013. Artisanal, rustic-looking crackers made from all-natural ingredients. One flavor (Alehouse Cheddar) incorporates VFCC cheese. Combined entity is first artisanal cheese and cracker company in Vermont.
• Harpoon BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeer partnership for Alehouse Cheddar production. VFCC uses Harpoon Munich Dark and flagship IPA to soak curds during cheese making. Approximately 1.5 kegs of beer per 1500 lbs of cheese. Classic Alehouse Cheddar aged 8+ months.
• The AlchemistkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to create Cheddy Topper - unique Alehouse Cheddar made with Heady Topper IPA (one of most sought-after beers in USA). Limited edition product. Sponsorship of Heady Trotter 4-mile road race.
• Sugar Bob's Vermont Maple SrirachakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Vermont sauce producer providing maple Sriracha for Vermont Maple Sriracha Windsordale cheese. Perfectly balanced sweet heat collaboration featuring local Vermont ingredients.
• Blake Hill PreservesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighbor jam producer featured in VFCC gift sets. Jam included in Cheese & Charcuterie Gift Sets, Sampler Sets, and Deluxe Gift Sets alongside VFCC cheeses and Castleton Crackers.
• Vermont SalumiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Vermont salami producer featured in VFCC Cheese & Charcuterie Gift Sets and Deluxe Gift Sets. Provides charcuterie component to complement artisan cheese offerings.
• Vermont Cheddar Project (Jasper Hill, Plymouth, Shelburne Farms, Cabot)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with 5 other Vermont cheesemakers (Jasper Hill Farm, Plymouth Cheese, Shelburne Farms, Grafton Village Cheese, Cabot Creamery) to create VT Cheddar Project Box featuring 6 different Vermont artisan cheddars. Includes Meet the Maker film by Planet Money co-founder.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cowgirl Creamery: Northern California artisan cheesemaker producing organic, farmstead-style cheeses (e.g., Mt. Tam, Red Hawk). Comparable as a craft farmstead cheesemaker with strong DTC and specialty wholesale channels.
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company: California farmstead cheese producer with an on-site dairy and creamery. Directly comparable in operating model (vertical farm-to-cheese integration) and in premium farmstead positioning, though at larger scale.
• Vermont Creamery: Vermont-based artisan dairy producer of butter, fresh cheese, and cultured dairy. Comparable as a Vermont premium dairy brand with direct farm-to-consumer narrative and specialty retail distribution.
• Shelburne Farms: Vermont farmstead cheddar producer and Vermont Cheddar Project co-member. Directly comparable as an artisanal farmstead cheddar maker with farm-to-table brand positioning and shared VT Cheddar Project distribution collaboration.
• Rogue Creamery: Oregon-based artisanal farmstead cheesemaker famous for cave-aged blues (e.g., Rogue River Blue). Comparable as a US farmstead/cave-aged cheesemaker competing in national specialty cheese competitions and premium retail.
• Plymouth Artisan Cheese: Vermont cheddar maker and Vermont Cheddar Project partner. Comparable as a small-batch Vermont cheddar producer targeting similar premium retail and gift-set channels.
• Jasper Hill Farm: Vermont-based artisanal cheesemaker known for cave-aged raw milk cheeses (e.g., Bayley Hazen Blue, Winnimere). Directly comparable as a Vermont farmstead cheesemaker with cave aging and a similar premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Cabot Creamery: Vermont dairy cooperative producing a wide range of cheeses and dairy products. Comparable as a Vermont cheddar producer but at much larger scale, making it the broad incumbent against which premium players like VFCC differentiate.
• Beecher's Handmade Cheese: Artisanal cheese maker and retailer with flagship locations and national wholesale distribution. Comparable in artisanal cheese production and direct-to-consumer storytelling, with broader geographic reach.

Others

• Murray's Cheese: Iconic New York-based specialty cheese retailer and distributor. Comparable as a curator and distributor of premium artisan cheeses (including Vermont brands) and a useful channel/ecosystem participant for VFCC's wholesale growth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VermontFarmsteadCheeseCo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vermont-farmstead-cheese-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company