Cono Kaasmakers

What Cono Kaasmakers does

CONO Kaasmakers is a private dairy cooperative founded in 1901 and headquartered in Westbeemster, North Holland, Netherlands, owned by approximately 390 member dairy farmers who collectively supply 419 million kilograms of milk annually. The cooperative operates a single modern cheese factory called 'De Tijd' (opened 2014) located in the UNESCO World Heritage Beemster Polder, producing around 34,000 tonnes of cheese per year and generating approximately €339 million in annual revenue. Its core technology blends traditional Dutch cheesemaking methods — hand-stirred curds and natural aging on wooden planks — with energy-efficient production equipment including sustainable ice-water cooling and steam/hot water systems, and the facility is already climate-neutral certified.

The business centers on the Beemster® brand, which spans PDO North Holland Gouda varieties from young (Jong) to extra-old (X-O-), specialty lines such as Royaal Grand Cru (2026 World Champion Cheese at 98.68/100 points), goat cheese, seasonal Grass Cheese, and packaged snack formats. All cheeses are made from 100% pasture-raised milk (175 grazing days/year average) and are GMO-free, with most cheeses now vegetarian. CONO generates revenue through three primary streams: branded retail cheese sales, enterprise foodservice supply (Beemster voor professionals), and B2B ingredient supply to the food industry — most notably milk supplied to Ben & Jerry's — with a fourth stream added in May 2026 through the acquisition of premium butter company Van de Koe.

Go-to-market is multi-channel: direct enterprise foodservice sales, specialty cheese shops and markets, retail supermarkets, global food-industry ingredient customers, and direct-to-consumer farm stores supported by community events and the Proef CONO storytelling initiative. The cooperative's commercial strategy rests on premium positioning, sustainability differentiation (most sustainable cheese brand per Dutch consumers in the Sustainable Brand Index for six consecutive years), and supply-chain transparency through the Caring Dairy program. Sustainability commitments include a 30% CO2 reduction target by 2030, a 50% lower carbon milk collaboration with Unilever, Nestlé, Vreugdenhil, and Wageningen UR, and a transition to fully electric milk transport via Danmel.

Name

Cono Kaasmakers

Legal name

CONO Kaasmakers

Website

https://cono.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CONO Kaasmakers is a 1901-founded Dutch dairy cooperative of ~390 member farmers operating the De Tijd cheese factory in the Beemster Polder, producing €339M of premium Beemster® Gouda cheese annually for retail, foodservice, and food-industry ingredient customers including Ben & Jerry's.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Dutch Cheese Production

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (112120), Creamery Butter Manufacturing (311512)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC), Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA), Butter & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Sour Cream, Kefir) Wholesale (AFAIAEAB), Farm-to-Consumer Cooperative Markets (Local Producer Co-ops) (CRAHALAG)

Keywords

• Artisan cheese production
• Premium Dutch Gouda
• Dairy cooperative manufacturing
• Foodservice cheese supply
• Dairy ingredient supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Westbeemster

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese Production and Sales: CONO produces and sells cheese under brands like Beemster, with products ranging from young to aged varieties (30+, X-O-). Sales occur through specialty cheese shops, supermarkets, foodservice, and farm stores.
2. Food Industry Ingredients: CONO supplies distinctive ingredients to the food industry, including supplying milk that goes into Ben & Jerry's ice cream products.
3. Butter Production: Following the acquisition of premium butter company Van de Koe in May 2026, CONO expanded into premium butter production.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CONO Kaasmakers produces and sells premium Dutch cheese — chiefly under the Beemster brand — from 100% pasture-raised milk supplied by ~390 member dairy farmers at its 'De Tijd' cheese factory in the Beemster Polder, North Holland. The portfolio spans young (Jong) through extra-old (X-O-) Gouda, flagship Royaal Grand Cru (2026 World Champion), goat's cheese (Geit), Grass Cheese, foodservice-specific SKUs, and (since May 2026) premium butter from acquired brand Van de Koe. The cooperative also supplies dairy ingredients to food manufacturers (including Ben & Jerry's) and sells direct to consumers via farm stores.

Product overview

CONO Kaasmakers is a dairy cooperative founded in 1901, operating a cheese-making facility called 'De Tijd' in the Beemster polder (UNESCO World Heritage site) in North Holland. The company produces a portfolio of cheese products centered around the premium Beemster® brand, which includes PDO North Holland Gouda varieties ranging from young (Jong) to extra old (X-O-), specialty lines like Royaal Grand Cru (World Champion 2026), seasonal Grass Cheese, and goat cheese. Beyond branded retail products, CONO supplies ingredients to food industry customers including Ben & Jerry's and operates farm store channels. In May 2026, CONO expanded into premium butter through the acquisition of Van de Koe. The cooperative employs approximately 390 member farmers and 225 cheese makers (fte), producing 34,000 tonnes of cheese annually from 419 million kg of milk, with €339 million annual revenue. All products are made from 100% pasture-raised milk, with full vegetarian and GMO-free certifications achieved in recent years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beemster®: Premium cheese brand of CONO Kaasmakers, including varieties such as Beemster Jong, Beemster Oud 30+, Beemster Royaal, Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, Beemster X-O-, and Beemster Geit. Awarded as most sustainable cheese brand according to Dutch consumers in the Sustainable Brand Index.

Products and services

• Beemster Cheese (Beemster®) Premium PDO North Holland Gouda cheese brand produced by CONO Kaasmakers, sold through foodservice, specialty cheese shops, supermarkets, and farm stores in multiple aged varieties (Jong, Belegen, Oud 30+, X-O-, Royaal Grand Cru). Made from 100% pasture-raised milk from member farms in the Beemster polder.
• Beemster Royaal Grand Cru Flagship premium PDO North Holland Gouda cheese aged to perfection; 2026 World Champion Cheese (98.68/100). Distinguished by traditional hand-stirred curds and natural aging on wooden planks; produced from pasture-raised CONO milk.
• Beemster Cheese for Professionals and Foodservice Channel-specific Beemster cheese range marketed and packaged for professional chefs, restaurants, catering businesses, and foodservice distributors, differentiated from retail SKUs.
• CONO Cheese (White Cheese) at Specialty Cheese Shops and Markets House-brand CONO cheese range sold at independent cheese specialty stores, market stalls, and farm stores across the Netherlands.
• Beemster Signature Borrelstukken Specialty cheese snack portions (borrelstukken) introduced by Beemster for appetizer occasions; winner of Best Introduction 2024 from Levensmiddelenkrant.
• Grass Cheese (Graskaas) Seasonal specialty cheese made from milk of cows grazing on first spring grass, with a smooth, soft, characterful taste; produced in collaboration with Brams Nature.
• Beemster Geit (Goat Cheese) Specialty cheese made from goat's milk, awarded gold at the 2022 World Cheese Awards and recognized for quality at multiple international competitions.
• Van de Koe Premium Butter Premium butter product line acquired by CONO Kaasmakers in May 2026, extending the cooperative's portfolio beyond cheese into premium dairy spreads.
• Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Dairy Ingredients B2B supply of distinctive dairy ingredients — notably milk — to food manufacturers such as Ben & Jerry's (Unilever) for use in branded consumer products.
• Sustainable Cheese Paper 100% recyclable cheese wrapping paper made from chlorine-free bleached cellulose fibers with water-soluble seal coating; used in cheese specialty stores and farm shops to wrap freshly cut cheese while allowing it to breathe.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.68 out of 100 points at World Championship Cheese Contest 2026
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DanmelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Milk transporter for CONO. Together they launched the Netherlands' first all-electric Rijdende Melk Ontvangst (RMO) milk truck in 2023. Also previously introduced LNG trucks with battery trailers for sustainable milk transport.
• Wageningen University & ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research partner in the dairy chain collaboration working toward 50% lower carbon footprint of milk. Also conducted study of 19 international sustainability standards ranking Caring Dairy in top three.
• Duynie FeedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Sustainable feed specialist collaborating on the 'Concentrated feed and by-products' pilot project as part of CONO's climate ambition, investigating feeding co-products and regional residue streams.
• KoenisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Compound feed supplier participating in the pilot project to reduce concentrate feed use and improve sustainability.
• PPP-Agro adviesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Agricultural advisory firm involved in the concentrated feed and by-products pilot project.
• Ben & Jerry'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONO supplies milk that goes into Ben & Jerry's ice cream products as a key ingredient. This is a significant partnership for CONO, with the dairy chains of Unilever (Ben & Jerry's) and CONO working together on sustainability goals including a 50% lower carbon footprint target for milk.
• Water, Land & DijkenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature association collaborating on the 'Beemster in bloom' biodiversity project, sowing bee ribbons and improving biodiversity in the Beemster region.
• RabobankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined the 'Beemster in bloom' collaboration in 2024 to further fulfill the mission of improving biodiversity in the Beemster region.
• De BeemsterlingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Beemster in bloom' biodiversity collaboration project.
• Municipality of PurmerendminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Beemster in bloom' biodiversity project, collaborating on improving biodiversity in the Beemster region.
• Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (HHNK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater board collaborating on sustainable water treatment solutions for wastewater from cheese production. Achieved 12% reduction in water usage.
• LiandercoreTechnology or IntegrationEnergy grid operator working with CONO to install a new thick power cable (expected early 2027) to support the transition from gas to electric/hot water production systems for climate-neutral cheese making.
• Stichting WeidegangminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation managing grazing standards. CONO is advocating for modified grazing assessment standards to better reflect modern milking practices through a pilot project.
• NZO (Nederlandse Zuivel Organisatie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Dairy Association. CONO's Tijs Roeland contributed to NZO article about how the entire cheese chain works together for a more sustainable future.
• UnilevercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Ben & Jerry's. CONO participates in Unilever's sustainability programs working toward 50% lower carbon footprint of milk through the dairy chain collaboration with Wageningen UR.
• NestléminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDairy company also participating in the dairy chain collaboration with CONO, Unilever, and Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods working with Wageningen UR toward 50% lower carbon footprint.
• Vreugdenhil Dairy FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDairy company participating alongside CONO in the dairy chain collaboration with Unilever and Nestlé, working with Wageningen UR toward 50% lower carbon footprint of milk.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hochland: Hochland is a German family-owned cheese manufacturer specializing in processed and cream cheese, serving European retail and foodservice. It is comparable to CONO through its specialization in branded specialty cheese across European markets.
• Tillamook County Creamery Association: Tillamook is a US farmer-owned dairy cooperative known for branded cheese, butter, and ice cream with strong sustainability messaging. It is comparable to CONO via its cooperative governance, premium branded cheese, and farmer-story-driven marketing.
• Arla Foods: Arla Foods is a large farmer-owned international dairy cooperative headquartered in Denmark with strong cheese brands (e.g., Castello, Lurpak). It is comparable to CONO through its cooperative ownership structure, premium cheese portfolio, and sustainability focus.
• Royal A-ware: Royal A-ware is a leading Dutch privately held cheese manufacturer producing both branded and private-label cheeses. It is the most direct comparable to CONO in terms of geography, scale, and customer mix across retail and foodservice.
• FrieslandCampina: FrieslandCampina is the largest Dutch dairy cooperative, owned by member farmers and producing cheese, milk, and ingredients. It is comparable to CONO via its cooperative governance, member-farmer supply, and broad cheese/ingredients portfolio.

Regional players

• Emmi Group: Emmi is Switzerland's largest dairy processor with branded cheese, dairy, and ingredients businesses. It is comparable to CONO through its premium dairy positioning and European footprint, though it serves a different home geography.
• Sargento Foods: Sargento is a US privately held specialty cheese company focused on natural cheese snacks and foodservice. It is comparable to CONO through its premium cheese focus and foodservice channel strength, though primarily serving the North American market.

Broad incumbents

• Lactalis: Lactalis is the world's largest dairy group with extensive cheese operations (Président, Galbani, etc.). It is comparable to CONO as a broad incumbent in premium cheese manufacturing with global distribution, though vastly larger and more diversified.
• Kerrygold (Ornua): Ornua is an Irish dairy marketing cooperative best known for the Kerrygold brand across butter and cheese. It is comparable to CONO through its cooperative structure, pasture-based dairy story, and premium branded positioning in European and US markets.
• Bel Group: Bel Group (The Laughing Cow, Babybel, Boursin) is a major global branded cheese company. It is comparable to CONO as a broader incumbent in branded cheese, though Bel operates at significantly larger scale and with broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3sNKDWk_N5CZ-l48207GOw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CONOKaasmakers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cono-kaasmakers/?originalSubdomain=nl
• Xx.com/conokaasmakers

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Cono Kaasmakers