DeJong Cheese

What DeJong Cheese does

DeJong Cheese is a family-owned Dutch specialty cheese manufacturer headquartered in Alphen, North Brabant, Netherlands, producing artisanal soft, fresh, and (as of 2025) hard cheese specialties from both goat and cow milk. Operations began in 1995 under the name Kaasmakerij de Jong, and the company rebranded to DeJong Cheese in 2013 alongside the launch of its proprietary Alphenaer brand, which is anchored to the local heritage of Alphen. The product portfolio spans Brie, MiniBrie, fresh and aged goat cheese, spreadable cheese, crumbles, schnitzels, pucks, pearls, and industrial inputs such as wrongel (cottage cheese base) in 15kg bags, with all Alphenaer products manufactured under traditional recipes that combine artisanal methods with modern food safety certifications including BRC, IFS, GMP+, EG-hygiène, Halal, Kosher, and SKAL.

The company operates a hybrid B2B business model. The Alphenaer branded line is sold through retail, foodservice, and wholesale distribution, while a parallel private-label manufacturing business supplies enterprise customers including Albert Heijn, HelloFresh, Makro, Superunie, Hanos, and Vandersterre with custom-formatted cheese products. Distribution is segmented into three go-to-market channels: Retail (supermarkets, packaged specialty cheese), Foodservice & Wholesale (horeca, cheese specialty shops, markets), and Industry / B2B (food processors using cheese as an ingredient). The company sells in more than 45 countries and participates in major international trade shows such as SIAL, Anuga, and Gulfood, with a sales-led motion supported by direct account management and a network of regional distributors. In 2023, DeJong Cheese added a direct-to-consumer channel by opening the Alphenaer Winkel vol Lekkers retail store, and in 2025 it expanded into a new product category with the launch of Alphenaer hard goat cheeses.

Name

DeJong Cheese

Legal name

Kaasmakerij de Jong

Website

https://dejongcheese.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DeJong Cheese is a family-owned Dutch specialty cheese manufacturer producing traditional artisanal soft, fresh, and hard (goat) cheese under the Alphenaer brand and via private label, supplying retail, foodservice, and industrial customers across more than 45 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Cheese Manufacturing

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Pasta Filata Cheese Manufacturing (Mozzarella, Provolone, String Cheese) (AFAHABAC), Private Label & Contract Cheese Manufacturing (AFAHABAJ), Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI), Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB), Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC)

Keywords

• Specialty cheese manufacturing
• Goat cheese production
• Private label dairy
• Artisanal cheese products
• Fresh soft cheese

Headquarters

HQ city

Alphen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Alphenaer Branded Products: Sale of proprietary Alphenaer brand soft and aged (goat) cheese specialties including Brie, Camembert, fresh and aged cheeses, Cheese Crumbles, spreadable fresh cheese, and Cheese Schnitzels under the company's own Alphenaer label
2. Private Label Manufacturing: Custom cheese manufacturing for other brands and retailers under private label arrangements, providing bulk packaging for the processing industry

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DeJong Cheese is a Dutch family-owned cheese manufacturer producing fresh and soft (goat and cow) milk cheese specialties under its proprietary Alphenaer brand, including Brie, Camembert, fresh and aged goat cheeses, cheese crumbles, spreadable cheese, cheese pucks, and pearls. The company also offers private label manufacturing for retail, foodservice and industrial customers, supplying bulk cheese and whey (wrongel) ingredients to food processors worldwide.

Product overview

DeJong Cheese is a family-owned cheese manufacturer specializing in fresh and soft (goat) cheese specialties. The company operates primarily under the Alphenaer brand, which encompasses a portfolio of artisanal cheese products including Brie, MiniBrie, fresh goat cheese, aged goat cheese, spreadable cheese, cheese crumbles, and pucks/pearls. All Alphenaer products are made using traditional recipes from goat milk or cow milk sourced from local farms. The company also offers private label manufacturing for retail, foodservice, and industrial customers, producing bulk cheeses and wrongel base for food processors. In 2025, DeJong Cheese expanded into hard goat cheese production, marking a new category beyond their traditional soft cheese offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alphenaer Brie

Quantifiable outcome

• Cheese sold in more than 45 countries worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• De WalhoevecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 199627-year partnership with farm shop in Goirle. De Walhoeve sells Alphenaer cheeses in their store and hospitality sector. Corné van Roessel is co-creator of the Alphenaer Brie Fenegriek 'Broodje Walhoeve' with Restaurant-Lunchroom Vrijthof 16 in Hilvarenbeek
• Ontdek de GeitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the goat dairy promotion organization to support sustainable goat dairy practices and consumer awareness about goat cheese
• CittaslowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the slow food and sustainable living movement in Alphen, Netherlands
• KwaligeitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChain quality certification system for goat dairy. 100% of DeJong Cheese's milk suppliers are connected to Kwaligeit, ensuring quality and sustainability standards
• Platform MelkgeitenhouderijcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Duurzame GeitenZuivel Keten (DGZK) initiative focused on animal health & welfare, energy & climate, and sector transparency. 100% of DeJong Cheese's milk suppliers are part of DGZK
• Albert HeijncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Dutch supermarket chain distributing Alphenaer cheese products under private label arrangements
• MakrocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMetro/Makro wholesale retail chain distributing Alphenaer products in Netherlands
• HanoscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHospitality wholesale distribution partner for Alphenaer cheese products
• HelloFreshcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMeal kit delivery service offering private label cheese products
• SuperuniemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDutch independent retailers cooperative distributing Alphenaer products
• VandersterremajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCheese distribution partner for Alphenaer products
• DupontminorOthersPartner company distributing cheese products
• King CuisineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Alphenaer products
• Aware Food GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Alphenaer products
• MaazminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Alphenaer products

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hochland: Hochland is a German family-owned cheese manufacturer producing processed and specialty cheeses for European retail and foodservice. Comparable in family-owned governance, private label orientation, and specialty cheese portfolio.
• Bel Group: Bel Group (The Laughing Cow, Babybel, Boursin, Kiri) is a major French cheese manufacturer with broad branded and private label offerings including soft cheeses. Comparable in product format (soft cheese specialties) and global retail distribution.
• Savencia Fromage & Dairy: Savencia is a French cheese and dairy group with specialty cheese brands and significant private label manufacturing across Europe. Comparable in soft and specialty cheese manufacturing and B2B/private label business model.
• Lactalis: Lactalis is the world's largest dairy group, owner of brands like Président and Galbani with extensive soft and specialty cheese manufacturing. Provides a global benchmark for cheese manufacturing scale and private label supply.
• Royal FrieslandCampina: FrieslandCampina is the largest Dutch dairy cooperative with extensive cheese production including goat cheese (e.g., Holland Master brand). Provides scale benchmark for cheese manufacturing and private label supply in Benelux retail.
• Arla Foods: Arla Foods is a large European dairy cooperative producing cheeses (including Castello specialty cheese brand). Comparable in broad cheese manufacturing scale, retail distribution across Europe, and international certification standards.

Direct peers

• Bettinehoeve: Bettinehoeve is a Dutch specialty goat cheese producer based in Etten-Leur, North Brabant — in the same region as DeJong — operating a branded portfolio of fresh and aged goat cheeses with private label capabilities. Directly comparable in product mix, geography, and customer profile.
• Henri Willig: Henri Willig is a Dutch family-owned cheese company producing cow, goat, and sheep milk cheeses under its own brand and private label, with international retail distribution and farm-shop DTC. Comparable specialty cheese positioning, branded retail presence, and export focus.

Emerging players

• Montchevre: Montchevre is a US-based goat cheese specialist producing fresh and flavored goat cheese logs and crumbles for retail and foodservice. Highly comparable in fresh goat cheese SKU mix and US retail distribution, though geographically focused on North America.

Others

• Vandersterre Groep: Vandersterre is a Dutch cheese distributor and ripening specialist. While it operates as both a distribution partner and competitor in aged cheese categories, it overlaps with DeJong Cheese in the Dutch specialty cheese value chain.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alphenaer
• Facebookfacebook.com/Alphenaer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dejong-cheese

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 DeJong Cheese