Laura Chenel

What Laura Chenel does

Laura Chenel is a Sonoma, California–based artisan goat cheese producer founded in 1979 by Laura Chenel, who introduced French farmstead cheese-making techniques to the United States. The company operates a LEED Gold-certified, state-of-the-art creamery and sources fresh pasteurized milk from long-term family farm partners across the western U.S. Its product portfolio spans fresh goat cheese logs in nine flavors (including seasonal extensions such as Mango Habanero and Pear, Wine & Rosemary), Fresh Goat Cheese Pillows/Chabis in four varieties, marinated goat cheese (Thyme & Rosemary, Jalapeño Chili, Black Truffle), aged Creamy Brie, and Chevre en Croute, plus a dedicated food-service bulk line (2lb and 11oz logs, 4lb Chef's Chevre, 2lb crumbles, 3.5lb marinated).

The company sells through three channels: retail grocery (Raley's, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Safeway, Andronico's), direct-to-consumer online via a partnership with Marin French Cheese Co., and a B2B food-service channel supplying restaurants, chefs, and specialty retailers with bulk formats. It maintains a registered trademark, "Laura Chenel's Chevre®," and Kosher certification on key SKUs.

The business is privately held with no disclosed funding, M&A, or parent-company activity; management team data is not available in the source set. Headcount is in the 101–250 range, and the company markets through recipe content, organic social (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), email, and a dedicated B2B trade portal with product photography, sell sheets, and press resources for food-service partners.

Name

Laura Chenel

Legal name

Laura Chenel

Website

https://laurachenel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Laura Chenel is a privately held, Sonoma, California–based artisan goat cheese producer founded in 1979, selling fresh logs, marinated, aged, and specialty cheeses through U.S. retail grocers, food-service operators, and a direct-to-consumer channel via Marin French Cheese Co.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sonoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Cheese Products: Sale of fresh goat cheese logs, fresh goat cheese pillows, marinated goat cheese, aged cheeses, and Chevre en Croute through retail grocery partners and direct online sales.
2. Food Service Products: Bulk cheese products (2lb Original Log, 4lb Chef's Chevre, 2lb Crumbles, 3.5lb Marinated Goat Cheese) sold to restaurants, chefs, and food service operators.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Laura Chenel is an artisan goat cheese manufacturer based in Sonoma, California that produces fresh goat cheese logs, marinated goat cheese, fresh goat cheese pillows (Chabis), aged cheeses, and pastry-wrapped specialties using French farmstead cheese making techniques introduced in 1979. The company operates a LEED Gold certified sustainable creamery that sources fresh pasteurized local goat milk from family farms across the western United States, offering retail formats for grocery shoppers and bulk food service formats for restaurants and professional kitchens.

Product overview

Laura Chenel is a goat cheese company founded in Sonoma, California in 1979, pioneering American farmstead goat cheese using French techniques. The company offers a unified portfolio of fresh, marinated, and aged goat cheese products. The core product lines include: Goat Cheese Logs (fresh logs in nine flavors including Original, Garlic & Chive, Kalamata Olive, Black Truffle, Orange Blossom Honey, Fig & Grapefruit, Cranberry, Mango Habanero, and Pear Wine & Rosemary); Fresh Goat Cheese Pillows/Chabis (small-format fresh cheese in Original, Thyme & Rosemary, Four Peppercorn, and Dill); Marinated Goat Cheese (in Thyme & Rosemary, Jalapeño Chili, and Black Truffle varieties); Creamy Brie (aged goat cheese brie); and Chevre en Croute (pastry-wrapped goat cheese). Food service products include 4 lb Chef's Chevre, 2 lb and 11 oz Original Logs, 2 lb Crumbles, and 3.5 lb Marinated Goat Cheese. All products are made with fresh pasteurized local milk and vegetarian ingredients. The company operates a LEED Gold-certified sustainable creamery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Goat Cheese Logs Award-winning fresh goat cheese logs available in nine sophisticated flavors including Original, Garlic & Chive, Kalamata Olive, Black Truffle, Orange Blossom Honey, Fig & Grapefruit, Cranberry, Mango Habanero, and Pear Wine & Rosemary. Ready to slice, crumble, and roll for any occasion. Targeted at retail consumers and home cooks.
• Fresh Goat Cheese Pillows (Chabis) Fresh goat cheese pillows (also called Chabis) available in four varieties: Original, Thyme & Rosemary, Four Peppercorn, and Dill. Small-format fresh goat cheese ideal for recipes and individual servings.
• Marinated Goat Cheese Fresh goat cheese marinated in olive oil with infusions of Thyme & Rosemary, Jalapeño Chili, or Black Truffle. The marinade slowly infuses rich flavors into the cheese for an incredibly tasty experience. Available in retail and food service formats.
• Creamy Brie An aged goat cheese brie with a mild, nutty flavor featuring hints of mushroom and lemon. The firm velvety interior becomes soft and oozy when served. Targeted at cheeseboards and special occasions.
• Chevre en Croute Goat cheese wrapped in pastry, available in Thyme & Rosemary and Cranberry varieties. A specialty prepared cheese product for elegant occasions and entertaining.
• 4 lb Chef's Chevre Large-format fresh goat cheese in a 4-pound size designed for food service operators and professional chef use.
• 2 lb Original Log Large-format original flavor goat cheese log in a 2-pound size for food service applications such as restaurants, hotels, and catering operations.
• 11 oz Original Log Mid-size original flavor goat cheese log in an 11-ounce format for retail and food service use.
• 2 lb Crumbles Pre-crumbled original goat cheese in 2-pound packaging for food service use, designed to save prep time in professional kitchens.
• 3.5 lb Marinated Goat Cheese Large-format marinated goat cheese in a 3.5-pound size for food service operators and professional kitchen use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Iconic status with Alice Waters and Chez Panisse since 1981

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Marin French Cheese Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnership where Marin French Cheese Co. handles all online ordering for Laura Chenel products. Order through their online shop with cheeses shipping directly from the Laura Chenel creamery.
• Family Farms (Western U.S.)coreOthersLong-term partnerships with family farms across the western United States providing high-quality goat milk for Laura Chenel's artisan cheese products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Jasper Hill Farm: Vermont-based artisan cheese producer with award-winning aged and fresh cheeses. Comparable to Laura Chenel in farmstead craft model, premium specialty retail distribution, and chef-driven brand building.
• Bellwether Farms: Sonoma County artisan cheesemaker producing sheep, cow, and mixed-milk cheeses. Comparable to Laura Chenel in California regional heritage and premium farmstead positioning, though with broader cheese category exposure.

Direct peers

• Cypress Grove: California-based artisan goat cheese maker (acquired by Saputo) producing fresh chévre and aged goat cheese. Direct competitor to Laura Chenel in the U.S. premium goat cheese category with overlapping retail and foodservice customers.
• Vermont Creamery: Artisan cheese and butter maker (acquired by Land O'Lakes) with a strong fresh goat cheese line. Comparable to Laura Chenel in premium positioning, fresh chévre production, and farm-to-creamery sourcing narrative.
• Montchevre: Major U.S. goat cheese manufacturer (acquired by Bel Brands) producing fresh logs and crumbles. Direct competitor in the mass-premium goat cheese segment with significant national retail distribution.
• Haystack Mountain: Colorado-based artisan goat cheese maker offering fresh and aged chévre. Comparable to Laura Chenel in farmstead-style production and specialty retail/foodservice distribution.
• Capriole: Indiana-based artisan goat cheese producer with award-winning fresh and aged chévre. Comparable to Laura Chenel in premium artisanal positioning, chef-driven brand, and national specialty distribution.
• Woolwich Dairy: Canadian goat cheese manufacturer known for fresh chévre logs sold across North America. Comparable to Laura Chenel in fresh log format, flavor extensions, and premium retail distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Marin French Cheese Co. Historic California creamery producing a broad portfolio of soft-ripened and artisan cheeses. Strategic distribution partner of Laura Chenel for DTC and overlapping in the premium artisan cheese retail category.
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese: California farmstead cheese maker with a portfolio spanning cow, blue, and aged cheeses. Comparable to Laura Chenel in California farmstead heritage, premium positioning, and farm-to-creamery storytelling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/laurachenel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laura-chenel
• Instagraminstagram.com/laurachenel

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Laura Chenel