Cheese Brothers

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.

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

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

• Artisan cheese delivery
• Wisconsin cheese retail
• Cheese gift baskets
• Cheese subscription service
• Specialty food e-commerce

Headquarters

HQ city

Barron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Wholesale: B2B wholesale channel accessible through Faire marketplace for retailers and businesses.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• La QuerciacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtisan 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'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin specialty food producer supplying Cherry Lavender Jam and other artisan accompaniments for gift boxes. Located in Beloit, Wisconsin.
• Sugar WoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin artisan caramel producer supplying caramels for gift boxes. Located in Cumberland, Wisconsin.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/cheesebrothers
• Instagraminstagram.com/cheesebrothers

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 Cheese Brothers