What Calabro Cheese does

Calabro Cheese Corp Granolo USA is a Connecticut-based manufacturer of Italian-style fresh cheeses, founded in 1953 by Sicilian cheesemaker Joseph Calabro. The company operates a 56,000 sq. ft. production facility in East Haven, CT, upgraded in 2024 with state-of-the-art technology, where it produces mozzarella (Fior di Latte, Low Moisture, and di Bufala), burrata, ricotta, mascarpone, cheese curds, and specialty items using traditional stretched-curd and hand-dipping techniques combined with a 2-hour milk-to-processing freshness protocol and 100% locally sourced milk within a 100-mile radius.

Since 2021, Calabro has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Granarolo Group, Italy's largest milk supply chain, which has expanded its portfolio to include imported Italian cheeses distributed under the Granarolo brand alongside its domestic U.S. production. Revenue is generated through B2B sales to foodservice distributors, pizzerias, Italian restaurants, and professional kitchens, complemented by consumer retail distribution through grocery channels in pack sizes ranging from 8 oz consumer units to 30 lb bulk foodservice formats.

The company is led by CEO Frank Belfiore, holds SQF food-safety and Kosher certifications on select lines, and has earned 2025 Gold and Silver recognition at the US Championship Contest plus an ACS Category Winner award. Its operating geography is exclusively the United States, with the Granarolo parent providing implicit access to broader North American distribution and European dairy expertise.

Name

Calabro Cheese

Legal name

Calabro Cheese Corp Granolo USA

Website

https://calabrocheese.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Calabro Cheese is a Connecticut-based, family-founded (1953) Italian-style fresh cheese manufacturer — producing mozzarella, ricotta, burrata, and mascarpone — operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Italy's Granarolo Group and selling through U.S. foodservice distributors and retail grocery channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Italian-Style Cheese Manufacturing

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pasta Filata Cheese Manufacturing (Mozzarella, Provolone, String Cheese) (AFAHABAC), Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA)

Keywords

• Italian cheese manufacturing
• Fresh mozzarella production
• Ricotta and burrata
• Foodservice dairy supplier
• Artisan cheesemaking

Headquarters

HQ city

East Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese Product Sales: Calabro Cheese generates revenue through the sale of its Italian-style cheese products including mozzarella, burrata, ricotta, mascarpone, specialty cheeses, and curd. Products are sold in various pack sizes ranging from consumer retail packs to foodservice bulk sizes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Calabro Cheese manufactures and markets Italian-style fresh cheeses at its 56,000 sq. ft. East Haven, Connecticut production facility. Its core product lines include Fior di Latte mozzarella, low moisture mozzarella, Mozzarella di Bufala, Burrata, Mascarpone, Ricotta, Curd, and specialty cheeses, sold in foodservice bulk and retail pack sizes through wholesale distributors, restaurants, pizzerias, and grocery retailers.

Product overview

Calabro Cheese is a cheese manufacturing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of Italian-style cheeses. The product line centers on mozzarella varieties including Fior di Latte (cow's milk) in multiple formats (Perline, Ciliegine, Bocconcini, Ovoline, Ball, Log) and Low Moisture variants (Whole Milk, Part Skim, Fresh Ball, Smoked, Log, Hand Wrapped, Block, Shredded). Premium offerings include Mozzarella di Bufala (buffalo milk) and an extensive Burrata line (Burratina, Classic, Bufala, Truffle, Smoked, Stracciatella). Supporting products include Mascarpone, Ricotta in multiple formulations (Whole Milk, Part Skim, Fat Free, Hand-Dipped, Impastata, Rosaria, Buffalo), Curd products (White, Pronto), and Specialty cheeses (Rotolini Pepperoni, Rotolini Prosciutto, Scamorza, Smoked Scamorza, Caciocavallo, Basket Cheese). Since joining Granarolo Group in 2021, the company also distributes imported Italian products under the Granarolo brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fior di Latte Mozzarella Traditional cow's milk mozzarella available in multiple formats including Perline (pearls), Ciliegine (cherry-sized), Bocconcini (bite-sized), Ovoline (egg-shaped), Ball, and Log shapes, sold to foodservice operators and retail consumers.
• Mozzarella Low Moisture Lower moisture mozzarella suitable for shredding and melting, available in Whole Milk, Part Skim, Fresh Ball, Smoked, Log, Hand Wrapped, Block, and Shredded varieties for foodservice and retail applications.
• Mozzarella di Bufala Authentic buffalo milk mozzarella including Bufala and Ovoline di Bufala formats, produced from buffalo milk for a richer flavor profile.
• Burrata Fresh Italian cheese with a soft outer shell and creamy interior, offered in Burratina, Classic, Bufala, Truffle, Smoked, and Stracciatella varieties.
• Mascarpone Soft, creamy Italian cheese made from cream and coagulated milk, used in desserts and sauces.
• Ricotta Fresh Italian whey cheese available in Whole Milk, Part Skim, Fat Free, Hand-Dipped, Impastata, Rosaria, and Buffalo formulations, with Kosher certification on selected products.
• Curd Fresh cheese curd products including White Curd and Pronto Curd, used as ingredients in further cheese production.
• Specialty Cheeses Artisanal Italian-style cheeses including Rotolini Pepperoni, Rotolini Prosciutto, Scamorza, Smoked Scamorza, Caciocavallo, and Basket Cheese.
• Granarolo Imported Italian Cheeses Imported Italian cheese products from parent company Granarolo Group, supplementing Calabro's domestic product line with authentic Italian offerings distributed through Calabro's US channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2-hour milk processing from milking
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lactalis (USA operations): Global dairy group owning Sorrento, Polly-O, and other U.S. cheese brands. Broad incumbent in Calabro's exact product space; competes for foodservice accounts and retail shelf with branded and private-label mozzarella/ricotta.
• Grande Cheese Company: U.S. Italian-cheese and whey manufacturer producing mozzarella, provolone, ricotta and pizza-cheese ingredients for foodservice and industrial customers. Overlaps with Calabro's foodservice channel and bulk formats.
• Saputo Inc. Global dairy major with broad U.S. cheese and foodservice operations including mozzarella. Sets competitive pricing pressure across Calabro's category and is an active acquirer of regional Italian/artisan cheese assets in the U.S.
• Leprino Foods: The world's largest mozzarella manufacturer and dominant supplier to U.S. pizza chains. Not a direct artisanal peer but the structural benchmark for mozzarella scale and foodservice share that Calabro competes against.
• Hilmar Cheese Company: Large U.S. cheese and whey ingredients producer with significant mozzarella capacity serving foodservice and ingredient customers. Broad incumbent serving the same pizza/foodservice end-markets as Calabro.

Direct peers

• Polly-O (Lactalis): Lactalis-owned mozzarella brand dominant in U.S. foodservice and shred/loaf applications. Directly competes with Calabro's low-moisture and whole-milk mozzarella SKUs in pizzerias and retail dairy aisles.
• Miceli Dairy Products: Ohio-based Italian cheese manufacturer offering fresh mozzarella, ricotta, provolone, and specialty Italian cheeses to foodservice and retail. Comparable regional-Italian-cheese manufacturer competing for similar pizzeria and Italian restaurant accounts.
• Sorrento Cheese (Lactalis): Owned by Lactalis USA, Sorrento produces Italian-style cheeses including mozzarella, ricotta, and provolone for foodservice and retail. Direct overlap with Calabro's core mozzarella/ricotta portfolio and similar B2B foodservice distribution.
• BelGioioso Cheese Company: Wisconsin-based Italian specialty cheese maker producing fresh mozzarella, ricotta, mascarpone, and burrata for foodservice and retail. Closely comparable in product mix, artisanal heritage, and U.S. foodservice-plus-retail motion — the most direct U.S. competitor to Calabro in Italian-style fresh cheese.

Emerging players

• Vermont Creamery: Craft dairy producer (owned by Land O'Lakes) focused on fresh cheese, cultured butter, and specialty dairy for premium retail and foodservice. Emerging/niche player with overlap on mascarpone, fresh cheese, and the artisanal positioning Calabro competes on at retail.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/calabro_theartofcheesemaking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calabro-cheese-corp

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Calabro Cheese