Cheese Brothers
Cheese Brothers is a privately held Wisconsin artisanal cheese e-commerce retailer, shipping fresh cheese, gift bundles, and subscriptions nationwide to 50 US states from its Almena, WI headquarters and Barron, WI warehouse, serving individual consumers and small business buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBarron, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cheese Brothers does
Cheese Brothers, Inc. is a privately held, direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer of artisanal Wisconsin cheese, incorporated in Wisconsin and operating from its headquarters in Almena, WI with a dedicated warehouse and fulfillment operation in Barron, WI. The company sells more than 20 SKUs spanning fresh-made-to-order Wisconsin cheese curds (its flagship, $8.95), specialty cheeses (Rhapsody parmesan-cheddar blend, Creamy Gruyere, Golden Baked Bliss, dessert cheese), packaged snacks (string cheese, gourmet cheese sticks), and themed gift assortments (the Brotherhood 8-cheese pack, Ultimate Sampler, 250th USA Anniversary Tin). Orders ship nationwide to all 50 US states using vacuum-sealed packaging and temperature-controlled cold-chain logistics — an operationally distinctive capability for perishable dairy e-commerce. The company does not operate proprietary technology infrastructure; it runs on Shopify and leverages standard organic channels (The Cheesy Journal blog, email newsletter, Instagram, Facebook) plus customer reviews and a points-based loyalty rewards program as its primary acquisition and retention mechanics.
The business generates revenue through four streams: (1) one-time direct e-commerce purchases of individual cheeses and gift bundles priced $8.95-$124.95; (2) recurring subscriptions including the Wisconsin Cheese of the Month Club and a customizable Build-a-Box subscription with a 10% discount; (3) B2B wholesale through the Faire marketplace (cheesebrothers.faire.com) targeting retailers and corporate gifting; and (4) a loyalty rewards program (1 point per $1 spent, redeemable up to $40 off at 800 points). Customer segments are primarily individual consumers purchasing for personal consumption, gifting, entertaining, and outdoor snacking, with a secondary segment of business/corporate buyers for client and employee gifting handled via a dedicated sales inbox. Strategic partnerships with La Quercia (Iowa cured meats), Bushel & Peck's (Wisconsin jams), and Sugar Wood (Wisconsin caramels) extend the product into multi-component charcuterie and gift boxes. The company is family-founded by co-founders Eric Ludy and Gene Graf in 2015, claims heritage tracing to a 1919 Swiss cheesemaking tradition in Eric's family, and operates without disclosed external institutional capital.
Cheese Brothers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cheese Brothers
- Legal name
- Cheese Brothers, Inc.
- Website
- https://cheesebros.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cheese Brothers is a privately held Wisconsin artisanal cheese e-commerce retailer, shipping fresh cheese, gift bundles, and subscriptions nationwide to 50 US states from its Almena, WI headquarters and Barron, WI warehouse, serving individual consumers and small business buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cheese Brothers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisan Cheese & Specialty Food Retail
- NAICS
- Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529), Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers (424430)
- SIC
- Dairy Products (2020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cheese Shops & Fromageries (CRAHAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC)
Keywords
Where Cheese Brothers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barron
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cheese Brothers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: One-time purchases of individual cheeses, cheese bundles, gift boxes, and charcuterie packs sold directly through the website. Products shipped nationwide with temperature-controlled packaging.
- Subscription Service (Cheese of the Month Club): Monthly recurring subscription delivering curated Wisconsin cheese selections. First order ships the month following purchase. Subscription can be managed online.
- Wholesale: B2B wholesale channel accessible through Faire marketplace for retailers and businesses.
- Rewards Program: Points-based loyalty program where members earn 1 point per $1 spent, redeemable for discounts ($5 off at 100 points up to $40 off at 800 points).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual cheese products and bundles |
| Subscription | Monthly | Rewards program redemption tiers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cheese Brothers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cheese Brothers is a Wisconsin-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce company that crafts, curates, and ships artisan cheeses, cheese curds, gift bundles, charcuterie boxes, and a Cheese of the Month Club subscription nationwide. Products are made using family recipes dating to 1919, are rBST-free and all-natural, and are shipped vacuum-sealed with temperature-controlled packaging to all 50 U.S. states. The company also runs a wholesale program via the Faire marketplace for retailers and corporate buyers.
Product overview
Cheese Brothers is an online Wisconsin artisanal cheese retailer offering a diverse portfolio of cheese products and gift offerings. Their core products include fresh Wisconsin cheese curds (made-to-order and shipped daily), specialty artisan cheeses (Rhapsody, Gruyere, Parmesan-based varieties), flavored cheese curds, and dessert cheeses. They operate on a Shopify e-commerce platform and offer multiple subscription options including the Wisconsin Cheese of the Month Club and customizable Build-a-Box subscriptions. Their gift portfolio includes curated charcuterie boxes, deluxe charcuterie packs, themed gift tins, and specialty bundles. They also provide a B2B wholesale program via Faire.com and a loyalty rewards program. The company emphasizes all-natural ingredients, rBST-free milk from Wisconsin family farms, and specialty shipping methods for perishable products nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% five-star rating for flagship Wisconsin Cheese Curds product
Companies that use Cheese Brothers
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cheese Brothers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cheese Brothers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- La QuerciacoreArtisan cured meat partner supplying black peppercorn salami and Americano salami for charcuterie boxes. Founded by Herb and Kathy Eckhouse in 2005 in Des Moines, Iowa. Specializes in premium American prosciutto and cured meats using pork raised humanely without antibiotics.
- Bushel & Peck'sminorWisconsin specialty food producer supplying Cherry Lavender Jam and other artisan accompaniments for gift boxes. Located in Beloit, Wisconsin.
- Sugar WoodminorWisconsin artisan caramel producer supplying caramels for gift boxes. Located in Cumberland, Wisconsin.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cheese Brothers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Harry & David: Large-scale gourmet gift retailer selling premium food gifts (including cheese and charcuterie assortments) directly to consumers and corporate customers. Comparable to Cheese Brothers on curated food gift bundles, B2B/corporate gifting channel, and nationwide shipping model.
- Tillamook: Oregon-based farmer-owned dairy brand with significant cheese and ice cream portfolio sold nationwide via retail and online. Comparable to Cheese Brothers on farmer-owned heritage, branded specialty cheese positioning, and DTC e-commerce operations.
- Cabot Creamery: Vermont-based dairy cooperative producing cheese, butter, and other dairy products with a direct-to-consumer online store. Comparable to Cheese Brothers on artisanal dairy positioning, e-commerce DTC channel, and gift-pack merchandising.
- Wine Country Gift Baskets: Online gourmet gift retailer offering cheese, charcuterie, and food gift assortments nationwide, including B2B and corporate gifting. Comparable to Cheese Brothers on gifting-focused merchandising, nationwide cold-chain shipping, and curated multi-product bundles.
Emerging players
- Chesapeake Bay Gourmet: Online specialty food and cheese retailer offering curated gift baskets and artisan cheese assortments with nationwide shipping. Comparable to Cheese Brothers as a smaller-scale DTC specialty cheese/gift retailer targeting the gifting use case.
Direct peers
- Vermont Creamery: Artisan dairy producer (now part of Land O'Lakes) making cheeses, butters, and creams sold through DTC channels and retail. Comparable to Cheese Brothers on artisan dairy positioning, brand-led specialty cheese offerings, and direct-to-consumer online sales.
- igourmet.com: Online specialty foods retailer offering curated cheeses, meats, and gourmet gifts with nationwide shipping. Comparable to Cheese Brothers as an e-commerce-first specialty cheese and accompaniments retailer serving gifting and personal consumption use cases.
- Murray's Cheese: Specialty cheese retailer (originally founded in Greenwich Village, NYC) with a strong e-commerce presence selling artisanal and international cheeses to consumers nationwide. Directly comparable to Cheese Brothers as a DTC cheese shop with curated assortments, gift offerings, and subscription-style cheese clubs.
- Wisconsin Cheese Company: Wisconsin-focused cheese retailer selling Wisconsin-made artisanal cheeses and gift baskets directly to consumers nationwide. Closely comparable to Cheese Brothers on heritage storytelling, regional cheese specialization, and gift bundle merchandising.
- Beecher's Handmade Cheese: Artisan cheese brand with flagship retail locations and a robust online store shipping handmade cheeses nationwide. Comparable to Cheese Brothers on premium artisan positioning, brand storytelling around craft, and DTC/gift cheese assortment offerings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cheese Brothers social profiles
Digital presenceCheese Brothers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cheese Brothers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cheese Brothers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cheese Brothers 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 Cheese Brothers
What does Cheese Brothers do?
Cheese Brothers is a Wisconsin-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce company that crafts, curates, and ships artisan cheeses, cheese curds, gift bundles, charcuterie boxes, and a Cheese of the Month Club subscription nationwide. Products are made using family recipes dating to 1919, are rBST-free and all-natural, and are shipped vacuum-sealed with temperature-controlled packaging to all 50 U.S. states. The company also runs a wholesale program via the Faire marketplace for retailers and corporate buyers.
Is Cheese Brothers a public or private company?
Cheese Brothers is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cheese Brothers founded?
Cheese Brothers was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cheese Brothers based?
Cheese Brothers is headquartered in Barron, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cheese Brothers make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription Service (Cheese of the Month Club), wholesale and rewards Program.
Who are Cheese Brothers's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Harry & David, Tillamook, Cabot Creamery and Wine Country Gift Baskets. Chesapeake Bay Gourmet is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Vermont Creamery, igourmet.com, Murray's Cheese, Wisconsin Cheese Company and Beecher's Handmade Cheese.
Does Cheese Brothers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cheese Brothers.
What industry is Cheese Brothers in?
Cheese Brothers's product category is Artisan Cheese & Specialty Food Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAGAD, Cheese Shops & Fromageries, with a secondary code of CRADACAC, Cheese (Natural & Processed). Its NAICS code is 44529 and its SIC code is 2020.