What Polly-O does

Polly-O is a heritage Italian-style cheese brand founded in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York by Giuseppe Pollio, currently owned and operated by BelGioioso Cheese, Inc. (a privately held Wisconsin corporation headquartered in Green Bay) since its acquisition at the end of December 2021. The brand produces a broad portfolio of Italian-style cheeses — low-moisture mozzarella (whole milk, part skim, smoked, and pizza-specific blends), fresh mozzarella (fior di latte and string cheese variants), Grade-A whole milk curd, six differentiated ricotta preparations, plus provolone, parmesan, romano, asiago, a three-cheese blend, and blue cheese — from a dedicated manufacturing plant in Campbell, New York that has been in operation since 1938.

The company's underlying technology is anchored in traditional Italian hand-crafting methods: high-butterfat, vinegar-set low-moisture mozzarella formulations delivering characteristic stretch and melt; pasteurized milk-fat-treated Grade-A cow's milk curd designed for both raw and applied use; and largely hand-stirred ricotta production. Product formulations are explicitly natural — free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives — and are developed for specific culinary applications including New York-style and grandma-style pizza. The portfolio is organized into both foodservice-oriented bulk formats (5 lb bags, 6 lb loaves, 30 lb bags, bulk diced/shredded) and consumer retail pack sizes (8 oz to 24 oz).

Polly-O's business model is dual-channel. The primary revenue stream is foodservice distribution, with the brand selling bulk cheese products through food distributors and wholesalers to restaurants, pizzerias, delis, hotels, hospitals, and schools. The secondary stream is retail, with consumer-packaged products sold through grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores; the website includes a product locator tool to drive retail conversion. Marketing centers on the 125-year brand heritage, the revived Polly the Parrot mascot, recipe content (17 recipes on the website), and downloadable foodservice collateral (sell sheets and full-line brochures). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; foodservice pricing is negotiated with distributors by volume, and retail pricing varies by retailer. The company serves the United States market exclusively.

Name

Polly-O

Legal name

BelGioioso Cheese, Inc.

Website

https://polly-o.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Polly-O is a 125-year-old Italian-style cheese brand, owned by BelGioioso Cheese, producing mozzarella, ricotta, fresh curd, string cheese, and assorted Italian cheeses at its Campbell, New York plant, sold primarily through foodservice distributors to restaurants and pizzerias with secondary retail grocery distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Italian-Style Cheese Manufacturing

NAICS

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

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC)

Keywords

• Italian-style cheese manufacturing
• Mozzarella cheese production
• Foodservice cheese supplier
• Ricotta cheese products
• Pizza cheese blends

Headquarters

HQ city

Campbell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Cheese Sales: Primary revenue from selling cheese products to foodservice operators including restaurants, pizzerias, delis, and institutional kitchens. Products sold in bulk foodservice packaging (5 lb bags, 6 lb loaves, 30 lb bags, bulk diced/shredded formats).
2. Retail Consumer Cheese Sales: Secondary revenue from retail consumer sales through grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. Products available in consumer-friendly pack sizes including 8 oz, 12 oz, 15 oz, and 16 oz packages.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Polly-O manufactures and sells a comprehensive line of Italian-style cheeses using traditional hand-crafting methods with Grade-A cow's milk. The product portfolio spans low moisture mozzarella (whole milk, part skim, smoked, pizza blends), fresh mozzarella, fresh curd, multiple ricotta varieties, string cheese, provolone, parmesan, romano, asiago, three-cheese blend, and blue cheese, distributed primarily to foodservice operators and secondarily through retail grocery channels.

Product overview

Polly-O is a cheese company offering a comprehensive portfolio of authentic Italian-style cheeses. The product lineup consists of multiple distinct product categories: Low Moisture Mozzarella (available in chunk, diced, shredded, and loaf formats including pizza-specific Perfect Pizza variants and smoked varieties); Fresh Mozzarella (including Fior di Latte in various sizes from pearls to balls, logs, and specialty shapes like Ciliegine, Bocconcino, and Ovolini); Fresh Curd (Grade-A whole milk curd for home mozzarella making); Ricotta (offered in Original, Part Skim, New York Style, Old Fashioned, Ricottone, and dense Impastata varieties); String Cheese (in part-skim, whole milk, reduced fat, and twists formats); and Assorted Cheeses (including Provolone, Parmesan in multiple cuts, Romano, Asiago, a Three Cheese Blend, and Blue Cheese). The company also offers Pizza Cheese blends designed specifically for New York Style and Grandma Style pizzas. All products are made using traditional Italian methods with simple, natural ingredients, and are primarily distributed through foodservice channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Low Moisture Whole Milk Mozzarella Low moisture mozzarella made with high butterfat levels and flavor-enhancing vinegar set, delivering fresh rich flavor with excellent stretch and even, uniform melt. Designed for pizza, sandwiches, and entrees.
• Low Moisture Part Skim Mozzarella Low moisture part skim mozzarella with high butterfat content, offering excellent stretch and uniform melt for pizzas, sandwiches, and entrees.
• Perfect Pizza Mozzarella (Loaf/Shredded/Diced) Pizza-specific cheese combining low moisture whole milk and part skim mozzarella, developed for traditional New York style pizza with superior melt, stretch, and browning. Available in loaf, shredded, and diced formats.
• Smoked Whole Milk Low Moisture Mozzarella Naturally hickory smoked low moisture whole milk mozzarella with rich, savory flavor and smooth, melty texture.
• Fresh Mozzarella (Fior di Latte) Premium fresh mozzarella renowned for consistently moist, delicate texture, creamy-fresh taste, and stretch when melted. Available in various portion sizes including pearls, balls, logs, and specialty shapes.
• Whole Milk Fresh Curd Grade-A cow's milk curd for making authentic hand-stretched fresh mozzarella at home, backed by over a century of cheesemaking expertise.
• Original Ricotta Traditional ricotta with creamy, fresh flavor, free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Suitable for pasta bakes, cheesecakes, and snacking.
• Part Skim Ricotta Lower fat ricotta option with creamy, fresh flavor for cooking and baking applications.
• New York Style Ricotta Made with only three simple ingredients, featuring light naturally sweet flavor without preservatives, additives, or dyes, with firm yet smooth texture ideal for baking or cooking.
• Old Fashioned Ricotta Traditional style ricotta with creamy, fresh flavor suitable for pasta bakes to cheesecakes, natural and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
• String Cheese Classic string cheese snacks in various formats including part-skim, whole milk, reduced fat, fresh mozzarella, and twisted shapes, made with simple wholesome ingredients. Available in multiple pack sizes from 1 oz to 24 oz.
• The Original Pizza Cheese Blend Pizza cheese blend for New York style pizza combining mozzarella, Parmesan, and Romano, designed for large thin-crust pizza with foldable slices.
• The Classic Pizza Cheese Blend Pizza cheese for grandma style pizza with thick, airy crust and crispy edge, topped with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.
• Provolone Provolone with mild yet fuller flavor than mozzarella, versatile for slicing on sandwiches, shredding over salads, or melting on pizzas and entrees.
• Parmesan (Shredded, Grated, Shaved) Aged 10 months for rich, nutty flavor, available in shredded, grated, and shaved forms in various sizes from 5 oz cups to 5 lb bags.
• Romano (Grated and Shredded) Bold, tangy Romano cheese aged 5 months, free from cellulose and natamycin, delivering distinctive taste that elevates pizzas and pastas.
• Asiago (Shredded) Aged 5 months for rich, nutty flavor, suitable for adding to pastas, pizzas, salads, and soups.
• Shredded Three Cheese Blend Blend combining Parmesan (aged 10 months), Romano (aged 5 months), and Asiago (aged 5 months) in a convenient resealable cup.
• Blue Cheese

Segments2 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

One partnership is on record.

• BelGioioso Cheese Inc.coreOthers · 1 December 2021BelGioioso Cheese Inc. acquired the Polly-O brand at the end of December 2021. BelGioioso is an established producer of award-winning specialty cheeses made in the U.S.A. BelGioioso maintains and operates the dedicated Polly-O plant in Campbell, New York, continuing the operation while adding innovations. The acquisition brought back Polly the Parrot mascot, creating a nostalgic connection to Polly-O's heritage while celebrating the brand's evolution.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Leprino Foods: Leprino is the dominant U.S. mozzarella supplier to pizza chains and foodservice operators. While more commodity-focused, it competes head-to-head with Polly-O in low-moisture mozzarella for pizzerias and institutional foodservice.
• Hilmar Cheese: Hilmar Cheese is one of the largest U.S. cheese producers including Italian-style mozzarella, ricotta and cheddar, supplying both foodservice and ingredients to other manufacturers. Direct overlap with Polly-O in the mozzarella and dairy ingredient space.
• Galbani: Galbani (owned by Lactalis) is one of the most recognizable Italian-style cheese brands in the U.S., offering mozzarella, ricotta, provolone, and Parmesan at retail and foodservice. Direct overlap with Polly-O on product line, brand heritage positioning, and dual foodservice-retail go-to-market.
• Grande Cheese Company: Grande Cheese is a Wisconsin-based Italian specialty cheese manufacturer known for mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, and provolone targeted at pizzerias and Italian restaurants. Strong foodservice overlap with Polly-O and similar brand heritage positioning.
• Bel Brands USA: Bel Brands (Laughing Cow, Mini Babybel, Merkts, Boursin) operates cheese brands across retail and foodservice with overlapping Italian and snack-cheese categories. Comparable brand-led go-to-market and CPG distribution model.
• Sargento Foods: Sargento is a leading U.S. natural cheese brand with strong presence in shredded Italian-style cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, ricotta), sold primarily through retail grocery. Direct retail-channel peer to Polly-O's consumer SKUs.
• BelGioioso Cheese: BelGioioso is the parent company of Polly-O and a major U.S. specialty Italian cheese producer (mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, mascarpone, gorgonzola). Operates the dedicated Polly-O plant in Campbell, NY; comparable product portfolio and foodservice focus.

Broad incumbents

• Saputo: Saputo is a multinational dairy manufacturer with significant U.S. cheese operations across Italian-style cheese, mozzarella, ricotta and string cheese. Broad incumbent competing with Polly-O on foodservice pizza cheese and retail specialty Italian cheese.
• Lactalis American Group: Lactalis American Group is the U.S. arm of Lactalis, the world's largest dairy company, producing Italian-style cheese (Galbani, Precious, Bel Paese) across both retail and foodservice. Broader scale and portfolio than Polly-O but directly overlapping.

Emerging players

• Calabro Cheese: Calabro is a smaller Connecticut-based fresh mozzarella and ricotta maker serving premium retail and foodservice channels. Direct overlap with Polly-O's fresh mozzarella segment but at smaller scale and narrower distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/polly-o-cheese

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 Polly-O