Ladismith Cheese

What Ladismith Cheese does

Ladismith Cheese Company (Pty) Ltd is a South African dairy manufacturer headquartered in Ladismith, Western Cape, operating since June 1999 and building on a cheese-making tradition in the region dating to 1940. The company processes over 200,000 liters of milk per day (up from 15,000 liters/day at inception) into approximately 700 tons of cheese and 200 tons of butter per month, sourcing raw milk from producers across the Southern Cape, Overberg, and Eastern Cape under relationships spanning 8-20 years. Its core product portfolio spans cheese variants (Cheddar, White Cheddar, Mature Cheddar, Gouda, White Gouda, Ladismither, Edam, Mozzarella — including sliced, grated, and frozen SKUs), butter (salted, unsalted, Spreado spreadable), milk powders (whey, skimmed milk, buttermilk, full fat, and Megga coffee creamers), animal milk replacers (Equilac, Novilam, Milk Bar), and the Peroxsil® water hygiene product line. Manufacturing is integrated through the wholly-owned Ladismith Powder Company subsidiary (formed 2004), which converts whey and buttermilk byproducts into commercial powder products.

Revenue is generated through multi-channel distribution across South Africa and selected Sub-Saharan African markets: retail shelf placement at SPAR, Pick n Pay, Checkers, and Shoprite; direct supply to food service operators (restaurants, hotels, caterers); wholesale distribution; and bulk ingredient supply to food production manufacturers. Distribution is supported by depots in Kraaifontein (Cape Town) and Krugersdorp (Johannesburg), with expansion into Polokwane and Mokopane. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; products are sold in retail sizes (125g-800g) and bulk formats (2.5kg-25kg). Marketing is conducted via Facebook, Instagram, a recipe website, email newsletters, and community sponsorship including a 16-year main sponsorship of the Ladsmith Cheese Seweweekspoort Mountain Bike and Trail Running race. The company holds FSSC22000 food safety certification, Halaal and Kosher certifications, Level 1 B-BBEE status, and has accumulated multiple SA Champion Awards at the South African Dairy Championships. As of May 10, 2026, Ladismith Cheese is owned by Fairfield Dairy, a subsidiary of Woodlands Dairy Group, following the completion of its acquisition from Sea Harvest.

Name

Ladismith Cheese

Legal name

Ladismith Cheese Company (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://ladismithcheese.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Ladismith Cheese is a South African dairy manufacturer producing cheese, butter, milk powders, and milk replacers for retail chains (SPAR, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Shoprite), food service operators, food production companies, and Sub-Saharan export markets, with manufacturing based in Ladismith, Western Cape.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Products Manufacturing

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Butter & Ghee Manufacturing (AFAKAKAD), Cheese Powder, Sauce & Flavor Systems Manufacturing (AFAHABAE), Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI)

Keywords

• Dairy product manufacturing
• Cheese production
• Butter manufacturing
• Milk powder processing
• Animal milk replacers

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese Production and Sales: Manufacturing and sale of various cheese products including Cheddar, White Cheddar, Mature Cheddar, Gouda, White Gouda, Ladismither, Edam, and Mozzarella in retail sizes (125g to 800g) and bulk formats (2.5kg to 20kg).
2. Butter Production and Sales: Production and sale of salted butter, unsalted butter, and Spreado butter spread in retail (500g) and bulk (5kg, 25kg) packaging.
3. Powder Products: Sale of milk powders including Sweet Whey Powder, Skimmed Milk Powder, Buttermilk Powder, Full Fat Milk Powder, and coffee creamers in bulk 25kg packaging and retail sizes.
4. Animal Milk Replacers: Production and sale of milk replacer products for foals (Equilac), lambs and kids (Novilam), and calves (Milk Bar) in various pack sizes from 5kg to 25kg.
5. Peroxsil Water Hygiene Products: Sale of Peroxsil water hygiene and sanitation products for industrial and commercial use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ladismith Cheese manufactures and sells a diversified range of dairy products including specialty cheeses (Cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Mozzarella, Ladismither, Mature Cheddar, White Cheddar, White Gouda) in retail and bulk formats, butter products (salted, unsalted, Spreado spreadable), milk powders and coffee creamers, animal milk replacers (Equilac, Novilam, Milk Bar), and the Peroxsil water hygiene product. Products are produced at the Ladismith, Western Cape factory from over 200,000 litres of milk daily and sold through retail chains, food service, wholesale and food production channels across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Product overview

Ladismith Cheese is a South African dairy manufacturer offering a diversified portfolio of cheese, butter, and powder products. The product line includes multiple cheese varieties (Cheddar, White Cheddar, Mature Cheddar, Gouda, Ladismither, Edam, Mozzarella) available as blocks, slices, and grated formats; butter products including salted, unsalted, and spreadable variants; and milk powder products including whey, skimmed milk, buttermilk, full fat milk powders, and various coffee creamers. Additionally, the company offers animal milk replacers (Equilac for foals, Novilam for lambs/kids, Milk Bar for calves) and a water hygiene product (Peroxsil®). Products are sold through retail, food services, wholesale, and food production industries throughout South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ladismith Powder: Powder products including sweet whey powder, skimmed milk powder, buttermilk powder, full fat milk powder blends, and various coffee creamers
• Peroxsil®
• Equilac
• Novilam
• Milk Bar
• Spreado

Products and services

• Ladismith Cheddar Cheese Firm cheddar cheese with mild to sharp taste in rich yellow colour. Available in multiple sizes from 125g retail to 20kg bulk for food service and manufacturing customers.
• Ladismith White Cheddar Cheese Firm white cheddar with mild to sharp taste, contains no colourant. Available in 300g to 20kg bulk formats for retail and industrial customers.
• Ladismith Mature Cheddar Cheese

Quantifiable outcome

• Milk intake increased from 15,000 liters per day at inception to over 200,000 liters daily
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fairfield Dairy (subsidiary of Woodlands Dairy Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2026Fairfield Dairy, a subsidiary of Woodlands Dairy Group, completed the acquisition of Ladismith Cheese from Sea Harvest following competition authority approval. This represents a strategic acquisition that brings Ladismith Cheese under new ownership as part of a dairy industry consolidation.
• Milk Producers (Southern Cape, Overberg, Eastern Cape)coreOthersLadismith Cheese sources milk from producers throughout the Southern Cape, Overberg, and coastal areas of the Eastern Cape. These partnerships allow cheese production to be increased with relationships spanning 8 to 20 years. Close to 20% of milk is procured from black-owned, previously disadvantaged community trusts. Farms practise free grazing principles.
• Oakdale Agricultural SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLadismith Cheese has been supporting previously disadvantaged learners with full scholarships from Grade 8 to 12 at Oakdale Agricultural School for the past 12 years as part of corporate social investment.
• Amazing BrainzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with two other local businesses, Ladismith Cheese is on a 3-year journey with Amazing Brainz focused on early childhood development, helping pre-schools get formally structured, registered, and trained.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Kerrygold: Kerrygold is the Irish dairy brand known globally for its butter and cheese. While not present in South Africa at scale, it serves as an international reference point for a heritage butter/cheese brand and represents a comparable branded dairy model to Ladismith.

Regional players

• Polar Ice Cream: Polar Ice Cream is a South African frozen dessert and dairy manufacturer. While primarily focused on ice cream, it competes for freezer-cabinet space and foodservice dairy dollars overlapping with Ladismith's frozen grated cheese range.

Broad incumbents

• Danone Southern Africa: Danone operates in Southern Africa with yogurt and dairy products through brands like Danone and Inkomazi. While more focused on yogurt and cultured dairy, it is a relevant broad competitor in the South African dairy category.
• Parmalat South Africa: Parmalat SA is part of Lactalis and manufactures and distributes a wide range of dairy products including cheese, butter, and milk under multiple brands. It competes directly with Ladismith in cheese and butter categories while also serving broader dairy categories.
• Nestlé South Africa: Nestlé SA is a major multinational food manufacturer with dairy-adjacent product lines including milk powder (Nido), coffee creamers, and processed cheese. Its powder/coffee creamer portfolio most directly overlaps with Ladismith Powder's offerings.

Direct peers

• Lancewood: Lancewood is a South African cheese and dairy specialist known for processed and natural cheese, cream cheese, and yogurt. Its cheese-led portfolio and national retail presence make it a focused peer for Ladismith's cheese business.
• Clover: Clover is South Africa's largest dairy company, producing a broad range of cheese, butter, milk, and other dairy products for retail and foodservice. It is the most direct comparable to Ladismith in terms of product mix, customer base (major SA retailers), and distribution model.
• Fair Cape Dairies: Fair Cape Dairies is a Western Cape-based dairy producer with cheese, butter, milk, and cream ranges sold through major South African retailers. Its regional Western Cape footprint and product portfolio overlap closely with Ladismith.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ladismithcheese
• Instagraminstagram.com/ladismithcheese
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ladismith-cheese-south-africa

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ladismith Cheese