Henning's Wisconsin Cheese

What Henning's Wisconsin Cheese does

Henning's Wisconsin Cheese is a fourth-generation, family-owned artisan cheese manufacturer founded in 1914 by Otto Henning in Kiel, Wisconsin, currently led by Master Cheesemaker Kerry Henning. The company produces an extensive portfolio of over 50 SKUs centered on cheddar cheese, spanning mild to 13-year aged varieties, specialty flavored cheddars (Hatch Chile, Bourbon Cask, Tomato Basil, Cranberry Chipotle, Aleppo, Black Garlic Peppercorn, etc.), Colby/Monterey Jack variants, cheese curds, mozzarella string cheese, processed spreads, and complementary products including gift boxes, sausages, maple syrup, and branded merchandise. Core production relies on traditional artisan methods — bandaged-wheel style, natural aging in cotton cheese bandages, CHY-MAX vegetarian-friendly enzymes, and Annatto natural coloring — with milk sourced from small local family dairy farms that do not use rBGH or antibiotics.

Revenue is generated through three channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a BigCommerce storefront with FedEx shipping across the United States, wholesale distribution to regional and national grocery and specialty retailers (Whole Foods Market, Hy-Vee, Meijer's, The Fresh Market, Festival Foods, Woodmans Markets, Bristol Farms, Glorioso's, PCC Community Markets) covering 35+ U.S. states plus HEB Mexico locations, and on-site retail at the Kiel, WI Cheese Store & Museum. Pricing is unit-based on a premium tier — standard 13oz cheddars $6.19-$8.29, ultra-aged 7oz cheddars $15.79-$21.99, specialty/infused 8oz blocks $6.49-$7.49, plus gift certificates in preset $15-$100 denominations. Marketing emphasizes brand heritage, family tradition, Master Cheesemaker credentials, and award recognition through the company website, recipe and pairing content (some supplied by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin), email newsletters, and a Facebook presence.

The company has no external investors, no parent, and no subsidiaries; it is privately held by the Henning family and operates with 11-50 employees. Its competitive position rests on a combination of generational brand heritage, Master Cheesemaker expertise, third-party award validation (U.S. and World Cheese Contests), and broad multi-channel distribution, rather than on cost leadership, technology differentiation, or AI capabilities. Key forward-looking signals include continued specialty SKU introduction, expansion of gifting and merchandise programs, and deepening penetration of national specialty grocers.

Name

Henning's Wisconsin Cheese

Legal name

Henning Wisconsin Cheese

Website

https://henningscheese.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Henning's Wisconsin Cheese is a fourth-generation, family-owned artisan cheese manufacturer founded in 1914 in Kiel, WI, producing premium aged and specialty cheddars and related products for direct-to-consumer e-commerce, wholesale grocery and specialty retail in 35+ U.S. states and Mexico, and on-site retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Cheese Manufacturing

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529), Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers (424430)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Cheese Aging/Affineur Services (Maturation & Cave-Aging) (AFAHABAH), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC)

Keywords

• Artisan cheese manufacturing
• Aged cheddar cheese
• Specialty cheese retail
• Wisconsin dairy products
• Cheese wholesale distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

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, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales of cheese products through their BigCommerce storefront with direct shipping to consumers throughout the United States
2. Wholesale Distribution: Bulk sales to retail grocery chains, specialty stores, and supermarkets across 35+ US states
3. Retail Store Sales: In-person sales at their Kiel, WI retail store and on-site Cheese Store & Museum

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Henning's Wisconsin Cheese manufactures and sells artisan Wisconsin cheese products, including aged cheddars (mild through 13-year extra sharp), specialty flavored cheddars, Colby, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, cheese curds, string cheese, and cheese spreads. Products are sold directly to consumers through an e-commerce storefront and on-site retail store, and distributed wholesale to supermarket chains and specialty retailers across 35+ US states and Mexico.

Product overview

Henning's Wisconsin Cheese is a fourth-generation family-owned artisan cheese manufacturer and online retailer founded in 1914, based in Kiel, WI. The company produces an extensive portfolio of cheeses including traditional Cheddar varieties (ranging from Mild to Extra Sharp aged 8-13 years), specialty flavored Cheddars with ingredients like Hatch chiles, bourbon, maple, fruits, and herbs, Colby and Monterey Jack varieties, cheese curds, string cheese, mozzarella, processed cheese spreads, and complementary products including sausages, maple syrup, and branded merchandise. Products are available for online purchase with FedEx shipping throughout the United States, and at retailers nationwide including Whole Foods, Hy-Vee, and specialty cheese shops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Henning's Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese Colored cheddar aged over 18 months with sharp, robust flavor; a customer favorite in the standard cheddar lineup.
• Henning's Sharp Cheddar Cheese - White White cheddar aged over 18 months with a sharp flavor profile, made with pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes, and cultures.
• Henning's Mild White Cheddar Cheese White cheddar aged over 1 month with mild flavor, positioned as a versatile everyday cheese.
• Henning's Aged Cheddar Cheese (White) White cheddar aged over 3 years with rich, complex flavor.
• Henning's Extra Sharp 8 Year Cheddar Cheese Extra sharp cheddar aged over 8 years with pronounced sharpness and flavor crystallization.
• Henning's Extra Sharp 9 Year Cheddar Cheese Extra sharp cheddar aged over 9 years with abundant flavor and salt crystals from the aging process.
• Henning's Extra Sharp 10 Year Cheddar Cheese Extra sharp cheddar aged over 10 years with crystallization and exceptional flavor.
• Henning's 11 Year Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Extra sharp cheddar aged over 11 years with stellar taste.
• Henning's 12 Year Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Colored cheddar aged over 12 years with tremendous taste, drier texture, and crunch from salt crystals.
• Henning's 13 Year Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Colored cheddar aged over 13 years, the longest aged variety offered.
• Henning's Tomato Basil Cheddar Cheese White cheddar blended with tomato and basil; winner of the U.S. Cheese Competition Award.
• Henning's Hatch Chile Cheddar Cheese Cheddar infused with Hatch green chiles from New Mexico; distributed nationwide through Whole Foods Market.
• Henning's Blazing Buffalo Cheddar Cheese Spicy buffalo-flavored cheddar for bold, zesty taste.
• Henning's Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar Cheese Cheddar with cranberry and chipotle for a sweet and smoky flavor profile.
• Henning's Bourbon Cask Cheddar Cheese Cheddar aged in bourbon casks for rich, oaky flavor notes.
• Henning's Colby Cheese Traditional Colby cheese with mild, smooth flavor.
• Henning's Colby Jack Cheese Combination of Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses with mild flavor.
• Henning's Mozzarella Cheese Classic Monterey Jack cheese with mild, buttery flavor.
• Henning's Mozza Whips String cheese product made from mozzarella, popular for snacking.
• Henning's Traditional Cheese Curds Fresh cheese curds, the signature snack of Wisconsin dairy country with squeaky texture.
• Henning's Garlic & Dill Cheese Curds Cheese curds with garlic and dill seasoning.
• Henning's Cajun Cheese Curds Cheese curds with Cajun seasoning for spicy flavor.
• Aged Brick Cheese Aged brick cheese cured with special smear, tangy and pungent with continued aging potential.
• Limburger Cheese Traditional Limburger cheese with strong, distinctive aroma.
• Smoked Cheddar Cheese Processed smoked cheddar with smooth, smoky flavor.
• Smoked Provolone Cheese Smoked provolone cheese with firm texture and mild, buttery flavor.
• Henning's Hatch Pepper Cheese Spread Hatch pepper flavored cheese spread for Southwestern dishes.
• Henning's Pico de Queso Cheddar Cheese Pico de gallo inspired cheddar with tomato and pepper flavors.
• A Taste of Wisconsin Gift Box Curated gift box featuring a taste of Wisconsin artisan cheeses.
• The Big Cheese Gift Box Premium gift box featuring a selection of Henning's finest cheeses.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates available in $15, $25, $50, $75, and $100 denominations, emailed to recipients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recognized with multiple awards at United States and World Cheese Contests
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dairy Farmers of WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipes and photos on the Henning's Cheese website are courtesy of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. The partnership provides curated recipes using Henning's Wisconsin Cheese, enhancing content marketing and consumer engagement.
• Wisconsin Cheese (wisconsincheese.com)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWisconsin Cheese branding appears on the Henning's website as a partner/member of the Wisconsin cheese marketing ecosystem, providing promotional support for Wisconsin-made cheese products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sartori Cheese: Family-owned Wisconsin cheese maker founded in 1939, specializing in artisan cheeses including aged cheddars, with national retail distribution. Highly comparable as a multi-generational Wisconsin specialty cheese producer competing for similar retail shelf space and DTC customers.
• BelGioioso Cheese: Family-owned Wisconsin specialty cheese manufacturer producing artisan and Italian-style cheeses including aged varieties. Directly comparable in business model and Wisconsin heritage, though larger in scale and broader in product range.
• Widmer's Cheese Cellars: Fourth-generation family-owned Wisconsin brick and aged cheese maker founded in 1922. Closely comparable in heritage, craft focus, aging expertise, and specialty/retailer distribution model.
• Beecher's Handmade Cheese: Artisan cheese maker with flagship aged cheddar (Flagship Reserve), retail stores, online sales, and foodservice distribution. Comparable in craft cheddar focus, DTC + retail strategy, and premium positioning, though not Wisconsin-based.
• Emmi Roth USA: Specialty cheese producer with Wisconsin manufacturing footprint producing aged and specialty cheeses for retail and foodservice. Comparable in Wisconsin cheese manufacturing and aged/specialty product portfolio, though owned by Swiss parent Emmi Group.

Broad incumbents

• Sargento Foods: Large Wisconsin-headquartered cheese company producing natural and specialty cheeses for retail and foodservice. Comparable in Wisconsin cheese manufacturing and retail channel presence, but far broader in scale and product portfolio than Henning's artisan focus.
• Crystal Farms (Michael Foods): Established Wisconsin-based cheese and dairy products manufacturer with broad retail distribution. Comparable in cheese category and Midwest origin, though operating at meaningfully larger scale across mainstream and specialty lines.
• Tillamook County Creamery Association: Farmer-owned cooperative producing aged cheddar and other cheeses with strong national retail distribution and DTC e-commerce. Comparable in craft cheese production, aging expertise, and farm-to-product narrative, though significantly larger and more consumer-marketing intensive.
• Cabot Creamery: Farmer-owned cooperative producing aged cheddars and other cheeses with national distribution and a strong heritage/award narrative. Comparable in aged cheddar focus and farm-owned authenticity story, though larger and more diversified across dairy categories.

Emerging players

• Organic Valley: Farmer-owned cooperative producing organic cheeses and dairy with strong clean-label positioning. Comparable in farm-sourced, additive-free cheese story and award-winning positioning, though much larger and broader across dairy categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/henningscheese

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 Henning's Wisconsin Cheese