Lioni Latticini

What Lioni Latticini does

Lioni Latticini is a family-owned manufacturer and distributor of authentic Italian fresh mozzarella and specialty cheese products, founded in 1980 by Salvatore and Giuseppe Salzarulo after immigrating from Lioni, Italy. The company operates a manufacturing facility in Union, New Jersey and a distribution warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, employing 51-100 staff, and produces over 100 SKUs spanning traditional fresh mozzarella formats (hand-wrapped, logs, braids, loaves, sliced, vacuum-packed, ovoline, bocconcini, ciliegine), burrata varieties (with panna, with truffle, smoked), bufala mozzarella and ricotta from 100% grass-fed Italian buffalo milk, stracciatella, smoked and dry mozzarella, fresh ricotta, Fior di Latte for pizza applications, and aged styles such as Caciocavallo di Salvatore.

The business model is wholesale-driven: Lioni sells through contact-based pricing to upscale specialty food retailers, gourmet supermarket chains (including Whole Foods as a disclosed enterprise account), independent grocers, and broadline foodservice distributors serving restaurants and pizzerias such as Una Pizza Napoletana and Lucali. Revenue mechanics are product-based (no subscription or platform component), with marketing conducted via the Summer Fancy Food Show, the annual Summer Mozzarella Tour tasting program at retail venues, earned media in publications such as the New York Times and Martha Stewart, and Instagram content.

The company's strategic positioning is built on craft authenticity and award validation rather than scale. Partnerships with Caseficio Mandara (Italian DOP-area buffalo milk, 2016) and Urbani Truffles (truffle burrata, 2017) anchor ingredient quality, while 30+ international cheese awards, including multiple World Cheese Awards Gold medals and the 2023 Specialty Food Association Hall of Fame induction for the co-founders, reinforce premium positioning. Following co-founder Salvatore Salzarulo's death in 2024, second-generation family members Teresa Conforte and Giovanni Salzarulo continue operations, launching the Caciocavallo di Salvatore aged cheese in June 2024 as both a product extension and a memorial tribute.

Name

Lioni Latticini

Legal name

Lioni Latticini, Inc.

Website

https://lionimozzarella.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lioni Latticini is a family-owned Italian fresh mozzarella manufacturer founded in 1980, producing 100+ SKUs of mozzarella, burrata, bufala, and specialty cheeses for national wholesale distribution to specialty retailers, gourmet supermarkets, and foodservice operators across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Mozzarella and Specialty Italian Cheese Manufacturing

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Pasta Filata Cheese Manufacturing (Mozzarella, Provolone, String Cheese) (AFAHABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA), Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC), Cheese Byproduct & Waste Stream Processing (Whey Routing, Brine Management) (AFAHABAK)

Keywords

• Fresh mozzarella manufacturing
• Specialty Italian cheese
• Burrata production
• Bufala mozzarella
• Artisan cheesemaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Union

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Mozzarella and Specialty Cheese Products: Lioni generates revenue through the manufacture and distribution of fresh mozzarella cheese products, including burrata, stracciatella, bufala mozzarella, ricotta, smoked mozzarella, and other Italian specialty cheeses sold to retailers and foodservice operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lioni Latticini manufactures and distributes authentic Italian fresh mozzarella and specialty cheese products. The company produces over 100 SKUs including hand-wrapped fresh mozzarella in various formats (logs, braids, loaves, slices, vacuum-packed balls), fresh mozzarella in water (ovoline, bocconcini, ciliegine, noccioline, perle, perline, medallions), burrata variants (con panna, con tartufo, con stracciatella affumicata), buffalo milk products (Bufala Fresca, Bufala Ciliegine, Ricotta di Bufala), stracciatella, smoked mozzarella, dry/smoked dry mozzarella, Fior di Latte, fresh ricotta, Caciocavallo, and marinated mozzarella. Products are sold wholesale to upscale specialty stores, gourmet supermarket chains, and broadline foodservice distributors across the United States.

Product overview

Lioni Latticini is a family-owned manufacturer and distributor of authentic Italian fresh mozzarella cheese products. The company operates as a single unified product line focused on premium fresh mozzarella and related dairy products. The core offerings include traditional fresh mozzarella in various formats (hand-wrapped, logs, braids, loaves, sliced, vacuum-packed), fresh mozzarella in water in multiple sizes (Ovoline, Bocconcini, Ciliegine, Noccioline, Perle, Perline, Medallions), premium burrata products (Burrata Con Panna, Burrata Con Tartufo, Burrata Con Stracciatella Affumicata), buffalo milk products (Bufala Fresca, Bufala Ciliegine, Ricotta di Bufala), stracciatella products (Stracciatella Panna di Latte, Stracciatella Affumicata), smoked mozzarella, dry/smoked dry mozzarella, Fior di Latte for pizza, fresh ricotta, and specialty products like Caciocavallo di Salvatore and Mozzarella Roll With Prosciutto. All products are made from 100% whole cow's milk or 100% grass-fed buffalo milk imported from Italy, with strict attention to traditional Italian cheesemaking methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hand Wrapped Fresh Mozzarella Traditional hand-wrapped fresh mozzarella cheese made from 100% whole cow's milk, with strict attention to detail from milk selection to final packaging. Sold to retailers and foodservice operators.
• Fresh Mozzarella Log Fresh mozzarella logs available in various sizes, vacuum-packed for extended freshness.
• Fresh Mozzarella Braid Hand-crafted fresh mozzarella in braided format using traditional Italian methods.
• Fresh Mozzarella Loaf Fresh mozzarella in loaf form, ideal for slicing and cooking applications including pizza.
• Sliced Fresh Mozzarella Pre-sliced fresh mozzarella for convenient serving and meal preparation.
• Vacuum-Packed Mozzarella Ball Fresh mozzarella balls vacuum-packed for extended shelf life while maintaining quality.
• Ovoline Ovoline-shaped fresh mozzarella in water, a traditional Italian format.
• Bocconcini Small bite-sized fresh mozzarella balls packed in water.
• Ciliegine Cherry-sized fresh mozzarella balls in brine, second place winner at the 2015 American Cheese Society Competition.
• Noccioline Small nut-sized fresh mozzarella pieces in water.
• Perle Pearl-sized fresh mozzarella in brine.
• Perline Tiny pearl-sized fresh mozzarella pieces.
• Medallions Fresh mozzarella medallions, first place winner at the 2014 World Dairy Expo Championship Product Contest.
• Burrata Con Panna Fresh mozzarella filled with cream (panna); gold medal winner at 2012 World Cheese Awards and second place at 2023 American Cheese Society Competition.
• Burrata Con Tartufo Burrata filled with authentic Italian cream and black summer truffles; Super Gold at 2015 World Cheese Awards among World's 62 Best Cheeses and first place at 2019 ACS Competition.
• Burrata Con Stracciatella Affumicata Burrata filled with Italian panna and delicately smoked pasta filata; Silver medalist at 2025 World Cheese Awards.
• Bufala Fresca Premium mozzarella made from 100% grass-fed Italian buffalo milk; Gold Medal winner at both the 2018 and 2023 World Cheese Awards.
• Bufala Ciliegine Bufala Ciliegine made from 100% grass-fed Italian buffalo milk; Bronze medalist at 2025 World Cheese Awards.
• Stracciatella Panna di Latte Shreds of fresh mozzarella cheese combined with authentic Italian cream (panna di latte); first place winner at 2022 ACS Competition and Bronze at 2022 World Cheese Awards.
• Stracciatella Affumicata Smoked Stracciatella made with Italian cream; Gold medalist at 2025 World Cheese Awards and Silver medalist at 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest.
• Ricotta di Bufala Ricotta made from 100% grass-fed buffalo milk imported from Italy; Silver medalist at 2023 World Cheese Awards.
• Fresh Ricotta Fresh ricotta made from 100% whole cow's milk.
• Smoked Mozzarella Smoked fresh mozzarella in various formats including hand-wrapped, bocconcini, and loaf; smoked on premises using all-natural wood chips.
• Dry/Smoked Dry Mozzarella and Primo Sale Aged mozzarella with lower moisture content including Dry Mozzarella, Primo Sale, and Smoked Dry varieties.
• Fior di Latte Fresh mozzarella made from 100% Jersey cow's milk, specifically designed for pizza applications.
• Caciocavallo di Salvatore Caciocavallo cheese named in remembrance of Co-Founder Salvatore Salzarulo, aged approximately 3 months with a buttery flavor and creamy texture; third place winner at 2025 ACS Competition.
• Mozzarella Roll With Prosciutto Mozzarella roll filled with prosciutto.
• Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Fresh mozzarella marinated with olive oil and various seasonings, including Marinated Ciliegine with Olive Oil and Marinated Ciliegine with Sun-dried Tomato.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won 30+ major cheese awards including Gold at World Cheese Awards 2025 and 2023, Gold at World Championship Cheese Contest 2018
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Specialty Food AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Lioni co-founders Giuseppe and Salvatore Salzarulo were inducted into the SFA Hall of Fame recognizing 30+ years of contributions to the specialty food industry.
• Urbani TrufflescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2017Partnership to produce Urbani's Truffle Burrata, described as the 'Queen of Italian Cheeses with a Truffle twist'. Product received acclaim from retailers.
• Caseficio MandaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2016Collaboration with Caseficio Mandara, leading innovators and purveyors of exceptional buffalo milk from the DOP area of Campania, Italy, to recreate authentic Italian bufala mozzarella in the US market.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Vermont Creamery: Artisan dairy producer of fresh cheeses, butter, and cultured products. Comparable as a small-scale premium dairy manufacturer focused on traditional methods and clean-label positioning, though focused on different product categories.

Regional players

• Murray's Cheese: Specialty cheese retailer and wholesaler based in NYC with strong presence in the Northeast. Comparable in curating premium and artisanal cheeses for specialty retail, though operates primarily as a retailer/distributor rather than manufacturer.
• Di Bruno Bros: Philadelphia-based specialty cheese retailer and wholesaler carrying premium and artisanal Italian cheeses. Comparable in the premium Italian cheese retail segment with similar Northeast regional concentration.

Broad incumbents

• Sargento: Larger US cheese manufacturer producing shredded, sliced, and snack cheese products. Competes in adjacent cheese categories with significantly greater scale, broader product portfolio, and national retail penetration.
• Saputo: Large multinational dairy conglomerate producing a wide range of cheese products including Italian-style varieties. Competes in the broader specialty and commodity cheese markets with significant scale advantages.
• Lactalis: World's largest dairy company and parent of Galbani and Polly-O. Represents the consolidated competitive threat in the Italian cheese category, with the scale to invest heavily in premium Italian cheese lines that compete with Lioni's positioning.
• Galbani: Iconic Italian cheese brand owned by Lactalis, producing mozzarella, ricotta, mascarpone, and other Italian cheeses. Comparable product portfolio but operates as part of Lactalis's global dairy portfolio with vastly greater resources and distribution.

Direct peers

• Calabro Cheese: Family-owned Italian cheese manufacturer in Connecticut producing fresh ricotta, mozzarella, and other Italian specialties. Directly comparable to Lioni in family ownership, Italian heritage, and specialty Italian cheese focus with similar mid-sized scale.
• Polly-O: Italian-style mozzarella brand owned by Lactalis, producing fresh and processed mozzarella products widely distributed in US retail. Direct competitor in the mozzarella category with much larger scale and broader retail distribution.
• BelGioioso Cheese Company: Family-owned US manufacturer of Italian specialty cheeses including fresh mozzarella, burrata, and ricotta. Directly comparable to Lioni in product mix, Italian heritage positioning, and premium specialty cheese focus, though significantly larger in scale with multiple production facilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lionilatticini

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Lioni Latticini