Vern's Cheese
Vern's Cheese is a family-owned Wisconsin cheese retailer and specialty foods distributor operating two retail stores in Chilton and Green Bay, plus a nationwide e-commerce platform and wholesale distribution to Midwest businesses, offering 140+ cheese varieties and 40+ Wisconsin-made products.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersChilton, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Vern's Cheese does
Vern's Cheese, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned Wisconsin cheese retailer and specialty foods distributor headquartered in Chilton, Wisconsin, founded in 1964 by Vern and Edith Knoespel. The company operates a multi-channel business combining two physical retail stores (Chilton and Green Bay), a nationwide e-commerce storefront at vernscheese.com with temperature-controlled shipping, and wholesale distribution of Wisconsin-made cheese and specialty products to retail businesses throughout the Midwest. Its product portfolio spans over 140 cheese varieties and 40+ Wisconsin-made products, including signature house-made string cheese (fresh, smoked, and whips), an aged cheddar program offering 2 to 12 year varieties, Port Wine and Pine River cheese spreads, cured meats (Nueske's bacon, Silver Creek summer sausage), gift boxes, and complementary specialty items from Wisconsin brands such as Sartori, Grande, BelGioioso, Sprecher, Door Peninsula Winery, and New Glarus Brewing Company.
The business model is direct-to-consumer and wholesale hybrid, with revenue generated through one-time purchases at retail, online orders shipped via UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS Next Day Air, or Spee-Dee Delivery (cooler and ice-pack fees of $11.00 per order), and wholesale orders placed via the accounting team. Product pricing is unit-based, ranging from $6.32 for string cheese whips to $27.30 for a 5lb bag of shredded mozzarella and $30-$80 for curated gift boxes. Primary customer segments include individual consumers across the United States (for personal consumption and gifting) and wholesale/retail businesses in the Midwest (for resale). The company is family-owned and currently led by Ben and Lindsey Novak, who acquired ownership in 2023; Ben Novak holds Wisconsin Cheese Grader License #520, the same credential number as his grandfather William, reflecting multi-generational cheese expertise underpinning the operation.
Vern's Cheese firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vern's Cheese
- Legal name
- Vern's Cheese, Inc.
- Website
- https://vernscheese.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vern's Cheese is a family-owned Wisconsin cheese retailer and specialty foods distributor operating two retail stores in Chilton and Green Bay, plus a nationwide e-commerce platform and wholesale distribution to Midwest businesses, offering 140+ cheese varieties and 40+ Wisconsin-made products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vern's Cheese industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Cheese Retail and Distribution
- NAICS
- Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529), Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers (424430)
- SIC
- Dairy Products (2020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cheese Shops & Fromageries (CRAHAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC), Processed Cheese & Cheese Spreads Manufacturing (Slices, Loaves, Spreadable) (AFAHABAD), Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA)
Keywords
Where Vern's Cheese is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chilton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Vern's Cheese business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Store Sales: In-person sales at two retail store locations in Chilton and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Customers shop directly for cheese, meats, specialty items, candy, wines, and craft beers.
- E-commerce/Online Sales: Direct online ordering through the company website with shipping throughout the United States. Orders shipped Monday-Wednesday via UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS Next Day Air, or Spee-Dee Delivery.
- Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution of Wisconsin cheese and specialty products to retail businesses throughout the Midwest.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Product Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Vern's Cheese product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vern's Cheese is a Wisconsin-based retailer and distributor that produces, curates, and ships specialty cheese and complementary gourmet foods. Its core assortment centers on Vern's branded string cheese (fresh, smoked, and whips), an aged cheddar program ranging from 2 to 12 years, and signature cheese spreads, complemented by cured meats, crackers, snacks, craft beverages, and gift boxes. Products are sold through two Wisconsin retail stores, a nationwide temperature-controlled e-commerce storefront, and wholesale distribution to Midwest retailers and foodservice businesses.
Product overview
Vern's Cheese is a Wisconsin-based cheese retailer and distributor offering a unified e-commerce and retail platform. The core product portfolio centers on their signature string cheese (fresh, smoked, and whips), aged cheddar collection (2-12 year varieties), and cheese spreads. The company also distributes complementary products including cured meats (summer sausage, bacon, meat sticks), specialty items (crackers, snacks), and gift boxes. With over 140 cheese varieties and 40+ Wisconsin-made products, the offering is a curated marketplace combining their own branded products with distributed brands like Pine River, Grande, Sartori, and Nueske's.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vern's Fresh String Cheese 1lb Vern's signature string cheese with a mild flavor, peel-ability, soft texture, and a more pronounced salty flavor with a dry, firm texture for added depth. Sold by the pound to consumers and available through retail stores and e-commerce.
- Vern's Smoked String Cheese 1lb Vern's string cheese with pronounced salty flavor and dry, firm texture, naturally smoked for added depth and smokiness. Sold by the pound to consumers via retail and online.
- Vern's String Cheese Whips 10oz Soft, mild cheese in long, thin whip form, marketed as a fun snacking cheese for consumers. Available in 10oz retail and online units.
- Vern's Port Wine Cheese Spread 12oz Classic cheese spread with a swirl of colors and rich port wine flavor, designed to be spreadable on crackers. Sold in 12oz units to consumers.
- Vern's Chicken Soup Cheese 12oz Jack cheese flavored with the seasoning and spices of homemade chicken soup, designed as a specialty cheese for enthusiasts. Sold in 12oz units to consumers.
- Grande Shredded Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese 5lb Shredded whole milk mozzarella with rich flavor, soft and creamy texture, and excellent melting properties for pizza and other dishes. Sold in 5lb bulk units to consumers and foodservice buyers.
- Vern's 12 Year Aged Cheddar Cheese 12oz Premium aged cheddar offering bold and intense flavors with creamy-sweetness, incredible texture, and a clean finish; best served at room temperature. Sold in 12oz units.
- Pine River Cheese Spreads (Multiple Flavors) Line of flavored cheese spreads including Cherry Cheesecake, Kickin' Dill Pickle, Cranberry Cheddar, Garden Vegetable, Pepper Jack, Hot Habanero, Aged Asiago, Chunky Blue, Swiss Almond, Vintage Reserve, Maple Bacon, and Smokey Bacon. Distributed through Vern's Cheese retail and online channels.
- Cured Meats (Summer Sausage, Bacon, Meat Sticks) Assortment of cured meats including Nueske's Applewood Smoked Bacon, Silver Creek Specialty Meats summer sausages (venison, cranberry & cherry, beer & cheese), Jim's Blue Ribbon meats, and Old Wisconsin turkey and beef snacks. Sold as accompaniments to cheese.
- Wisconsin Cheese Gift Boxes Curated gift box collections including Holiday Haul, Cheese & Meat Charcuterie, Farmer's Collection, The Wisco Box, and For the Love of Cheese. Targeted at gifting use cases for cheese enthusiasts.
- Specialty Items (Crackers, Snacks) Gourmet crackers and specialty snacks including Dare Breton Crackers, Capeachio's Multigrain Wheat and Butter Crackers, and Pinah's Garlic and Original Rye Chips. Sold as accompaniments to cheese assortments.
- Aged Cheddar Cheese Collection (2–12 Year) Extensive selection of aged cheddars ranging from 2 to 12 years, including mild, medium, and sharp varieties with intensifying flavors and complexity based on aging duration.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 happy customers served daily
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Vern's Cheese
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Vern's Cheese technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Vern's Cheese partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GrandecoreGrande is a Wisconsin-based cheese manufacturer whose products are distributed through Vern's Cheese. Products include shredded mozzarella cheese, whole milk mozzarella loaves, and part-skim mozzarella varieties. Vern's receives fresh Grande products every Tuesday night.
- Pine RivercorePine River is a Wisconsin cheese company specializing in cheese spreads. Vern's distributes their full line of flavored cheese spreads including Cherry Cheesecake, Dill Pickle, Cranberry Cheddar, Garden Vegetable, Pepper Jack, Hot Habanero, Aged Asiago, Chunky Blue, Swiss Almond, Vintage Reserve, Maple Bacon, Smokey Bacon, Jalapeno, Port Wine, Horseradish, and Sharp varieties.
- SartoricoreSartori is a Wisconsin cheese company whose products are distributed through Vern's. Products include Parmesan, Asiago, Rosemary & Olive Oil Asiago, Black Pepper BellaVitano, Balsamic BellaVitano, Merlot BellaVitano, Espresso BellaVitano, Original BellaVitano (Gold), Montamore Cheddar, and SarVecchio Parmesan cheeses.
- Nueske'scoreNueske's is a Wisconsin meat company known for applewood smoked meats. Vern's distributes their Applewood Smoked Sliced Canadian Bacon, Applewood Smoked Sliced Bacon, and smoked bacon products used in recipes and retail sales.
- BelGioiosocoreBelGioioso is a Wisconsin-based Italian cheese manufacturer. Products distributed through Vern's include their full range of Italian-style cheeses.
- SprecherminorSprecher is a Wisconsin craft brewery whose products are available at Vern's retail stores.
- Door Peninsula WineryminorDoor Peninsula Winery is a Wisconsin winery whose wines are available at Vern's retail stores for cheese pairing.
- Wollersheim WineryminorWollersheim Winery is a Wisconsin winery whose wines are available at Vern's retail stores for cheese pairing.
- Silver Creek Specialty MeatsminorSilver Creek Specialty Meats is a Wisconsin meat company whose products are distributed through Vern's including Venison Summer Sausage, Cranberry & Cherry Summer Sausage, and Beer & Cheese Summer Sausage.
- New Glarus Brewing CompanyminorNew Glarus Brewing Company is a Wisconsin craft brewery whose beers are available at Vern's retail stores.
- AgropurcoreAgropur is a major dairy cooperative with Wisconsin operations. Their products are distributed through Vern's Cheese.
- Land O'LakescoreLand O'Lakes is a major American dairy cooperative whose products are distributed through Vern's Cheese.
- Carr Valley CheesecoreCarr Valley Cheese is a Wisconsin artisan cheese company whose products are distributed through Vern's Cheese.
- MapleleafcoreMapleleaf is a Wisconsin cheese company whose flavored cheddar cheeses including Cherry White Cheddar, Blueberry White Cheddar, Cranberry White Cheddar, and Naturally Smoked Cheddar are distributed through Vern's.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vern's Cheese competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vern's Cheese social profiles
Digital presenceVern's Cheese financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vern's Cheese leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Vern's Cheese funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vern's Cheese M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vern's Cheese
What does Vern's Cheese do?
Vern's Cheese is a Wisconsin-based retailer and distributor that produces, curates, and ships specialty cheese and complementary gourmet foods. Its core assortment centers on Vern's branded string cheese (fresh, smoked, and whips), an aged cheddar program ranging from 2 to 12 years, and signature cheese spreads, complemented by cured meats, crackers, snacks, craft beverages, and gift boxes. Products are sold through two Wisconsin retail stores, a nationwide temperature-controlled e-commerce storefront, and wholesale distribution to Midwest retailers and foodservice businesses.
Is Vern's Cheese a public or private company?
Vern's Cheese is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Vern's Cheese founded?
Vern's Cheese was founded in 1964. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vern's Cheese based?
Vern's Cheese is headquartered in Chilton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vern's Cheese make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Store Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce/Online Sales and wholesale Distribution.
Does Vern's Cheese have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vern's Cheese.
What industry is Vern's Cheese in?
Vern's Cheese's product category is Specialty Cheese Retail and Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAGAD, Cheese Shops & Fromageries, with a secondary code of AFAKAKAB, Cheese Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 44529 and its SIC code is 2020.