What InterCheese does

InterCheese AG is a Swiss cheese cellar, affineur and B2B cheese distributor headquartered in Beromünster, Switzerland. Founded in 2005 (with predecessor roots to 1972), the company aggregates cheese from more than 120 partner dairies across Switzerland and offers more than 400 varieties, maturing select specialties for up to 36 months in a Minergie-certified ~50,000 m³ production facility. Its core services are affinage and ripening, processing into portions/slices/cubes/blocks/grated cheese and blends, flexible packaging (bags, trays, flow packs, thermoformed), private-label development, and custom recipe/blend creation for fondue, raclette and specialty applications.

The business sells primarily B2B into four segments — retail, food service/HoReCa, industry and export — supported by a direct field sales force (Head of Field Sales René Müller), a dedicated export division (Head of Export Sales & Industry Willy Berger), an owned delivery fleet and a B2B online catalog at products.intercheese.ch. A small direct-to-consumer channel runs through the Chääsbox retail shop at the Beromünster site (Wed–Fri 12–18h, Sat 8–12h) and through branded consumer SKUs such as the 2022-launched Natour range, Wilde Hilde and the Odermatt co-branded fondue. Pricing is quote-based across the board, with no public tiers.

Revenue and customer mix are not publicly disclosed. Operations are gated by a dense certification stack (FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, Bio Suisse, Demeter, Suisse Garantie, IP-Suisse, Halal, Minergie, Echt Entlebuch, Swiss Parks, Mountain & Alpine Ordinance, Hydropower) that effectively functions as market access in retail, food service and export. Ownership changed in spring 2026 when Peter Häfeli sold the company to Swiss Food and Cheese AG (Zug) in a staged succession, retaining Häfeli as Chairman of the Board and the existing management team (Managing Director Leonhard Wey, Head of Finance & Systems Daniel Giger, Head of Procurement Roland Unternährer, Head of Sales & Marketing Mathias Lustenberger).

Name

InterCheese

Legal name

InterCheese AG

Website

https://intercheese.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

InterCheese AG is a Swiss cheese cellar and B2B distributor based in Beromünster that matures, processes, packages and distributes more than 400 cheese varieties from 120+ partner dairies to retail, food service, industry and export customers, with branded consumer ranges Natour, Wilde Hilde and Odermatt Fondue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Cheese Processing & Distribution

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese Aging/Affineur Services (Maturation & Cave-Aging) (AFAHABAH), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC), Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI)

Keywords

• Cheese affinage maturation
• Specialty cheese distribution
• Cheese processing portioning
• Private label cheese
• Swiss cheese wholesale

Headquarters

HQ city

Beromunster

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Cheese Sales: B2B wholesale distribution of Swiss and international cheeses to retail, food service, industry, and export markets. Revenue generated through sale of cheese products in various formats (whole wheels, portions, slices, grated, cubes, blocks, fondue) and private label arrangements.
2. Chääsbox Retail Sales: Direct-to-consumer retail sales through the company's Chääsbox cheese shop located at the Beromünster premises. Open Wed-Fri 12-18h, Sat 8-12h.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

InterCheese AG is a Swiss cheese affineur and B2B processor that sources raw cheese from 120+ partner dairies, matures cheeses in its Beromünster cellars for up to 36 months, and processes, packages, and distributes 400+ cheese varieties to retail, food service, industry, and export customers. The company delivers value-chain services including affinage, portioning, packaging, private label manufacturing, and custom recipe/blend development, complemented by its own consumer brand Natour, the Wilde Hilde cream cheese, Odermatt Fondue, and the Chääsbox retail shop.

Product overview

InterCheese AG is a cheese cellar and cheese partner based in Beromünster, Switzerland, offering a comprehensive portfolio centered around Swiss and international cheeses. The company operates through multiple product lines: (1) Consumer brands including NATOUR – Käsekellerei Beromünster (launched 2022), Wilde Hilde (cream cheese), and Odermatt Fondue; (2) Swiss Cheese Classics portfolio featuring AOP-protected varieties like Emmentaler, Le Gruyère, Sbrinz, Appenzeller®, Tilsiter, Vacherin Fribourgeois, and Tête de Moine; (3) Cheese Specialities with unique recipes and flavour profiles; (4) Fondue & Raclette products including ready-made options; (5) Chääsbox retail shop for direct consumer sales. Beyond products, InterCheese provides processing services including affinage/ripening (up to 36 months), portioning & packaging, Private Label solutions, and custom recipes & blends. The company sources from 120+ dairies offering 400+ cheese varieties, serving retail, food service, industry, and export markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Natour: Consumer brand 'Natour – Käsekellerei Beromünster' launched in 2022, offering cheese products including Eidgenossenkäse, Swissina, Brie Sandwich Deluxe, and Bio Bergblumenkäse.
• Chääsbox

Products and services

• Cheese Affinage & Maturation Services Expert cheese ripening and refinement in InterCheese's Beromünster cellars; cheeses mature for up to 36 months, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern cellar technology including hand and technology-assisted care, turning, and quality control. Sold to cheese producers and industry customers seeking maturation capacity.
• Cheese Portioning & Packaging Services Processing cheese into customer-specific units including whole wheels, halves, quarters, portions, slices, cubes, and blocks, using state-of-the-art equipment for grating and mixing. Custom packaging formats include bags, trays, flow packs, and thermoformed packaging tailored to product and customer requirements. Sold to B2B customers requiring format flexibility.
• Private Label Cheese Solutions End-to-end private label development covering cheese selection, recipe, packaging, and brand-appropriate execution so that retailers, food service operators, and industrial customers can market cheese products under their own brands.
• Custom Cheese Recipes & Blends Development of fondue recipes, grated cheese solutions, specialty blends, and flavoured cheese creations matching customer-specific taste, functionality, and practical application requirements. Sold to food service and industrial buyers needing bespoke cheese recipes.
• Natour – Käsekellerei Beromünster (Consumer Brand) InterCheese's own consumer-facing brand of Swiss cheese specialties sold via retail and the Chääsbox shop, including products such as NATOUR Eidgenossenkäse and NATOUR Swissina. Targeted at end consumers seeking Swiss specialty cheeses with branded provenance.
• Wilde Hilde Cream Cheese A slightly tangy, pleasantly full-bodied, strong creamy cheese from the Wängi dairy, marketed as a popular mild cheese for the whole family.
• Odermatt Fondue Sporty branded fondue product leveraging the Odermatt sponsorship association, offered as part of InterCheese's fondue and raclette portfolio.
• Swiss Cheese Classics Portfolio Distribution portfolio of traditional Swiss AOP-protected and classic cheeses including Emmentaler AOP, Le Gruyère AOP, Sbrinz AOP, Appenzeller®, Tilsiter, Vacherin Fribourgeois, and Tête de Moine, sourced from 120+ partner dairies. Sold to retail, food service, and export customers.
• Cheese Specialities Portfolio Selected cheese creations with special recipes, carefully chosen ingredients, and distinctive character — each bringing its own story and taste profile, including specialties aged up to 36 months. Distributed to retail and food service.
• Fondue & Raclette Products Fondue and raclette specialities featuring creamy melt and fine flavor, available in classic, mild, bold varieties, and refined with herbs, pepper, chilli, truffle, or garlic; includes ready-made fondue options. Sold to retail, food service, and export customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ cheese varieties available from 120+ partner dairies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gourmino AG: Gourmino is a Bernese cheese affineur specializing in Swiss raw-milk and alpine cheeses with retail and foodservice customers in Switzerland—same domain-specialist positioning as InterCheese, including cellar maturation expertise and a curated cheese portfolio.
• Hardegger Käse AG: Hardegger is a long-established Swiss cheese affineur and distributor serving retail, foodservice, and industry with Swiss and international cheeses—overlapping closely with InterCheese's affinage, portioning, and B2B wholesaling activities.
• Fromalp AG: Fromalp is a Swiss cheese affineur, processor, and B2B distributor serving retail and foodservice with a multi-cheese portfolio and own dairy network—virtually identical business model to InterCheese, including private label, affinage, and portioning services for the Swiss market.
• Mifroma SA: Mifroma is a Swiss cheese trader/affineur and Emmi subsidiary that matures, processes, and distributes Swiss and international cheeses to retail and foodservice, with strong export channels—directly comparable to InterCheese in affinage expertise and B2B distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Emmi Group: Emmi is the largest Swiss dairy processor and a multinational with broad dairy, cheese, and fresh products businesses; via its Mifroma affiliate it overlaps directly with InterCheese in Swiss cheese distribution, but operates at far greater scale and across many product categories beyond cheese.
• Bel Group: Bel is a global branded cheese and healthy snack company (Laughing Cow, Babybel, Boursin, The Laughing Cow) with broad cheese processing and distribution capabilities; it competes for branded and processed cheese shelf space but focuses on mass-market brands rather than Swiss heritage affinage.
• Hochland SE: Hochland is a European cheese producer specializing in processed, cream, and specialty cheeses for retail and foodservice, including private label—comparable to InterCheese's processed/portioned cheese offering but without InterCheese's Swiss heritage affinage focus.
• Savencia Fromage & Dairy: Savencia is a France-headquartered international cheese specialist with broad retail and foodservice cheese portfolios; it competes with InterCheese for premium/private-label cheese slots in European and global retailers but operates across many categories and geographies.
• Lactalis Group: Lactalis is the world's largest dairy company with deep specialty cheese and private-label capabilities globally; it overlaps with InterCheese in retail/private-label cheese manufacturing and distribution but is vastly larger and diversified across many cheese categories and geographies.

Others

• Arla Foods amba: Arla is a farmer-owned European dairy cooperative with broad cheese and dairy product portfolios; it touches InterCheese's space via foodservice cheese, but its primary focus is fluid milk and commodity dairy rather than Swiss affineur services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/InterCheeseAG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intercheese-ag

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 InterCheese