Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG

What Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG does

Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG is a fourth-generation, family-owned raw milk cheesemaker (GmbH & Co. KG) headquartered in Oster-Ohrstedt, North Frisia, Germany. Operating a Bioland-certified organic farm since 1989 and producing cheese since 1991, the company runs an integrated dairy operation with approximately 450-500 cows, a cheesery workforce of around 40 employees, and roughly 20 employees in agriculture and livestock. Its core technology is traditional raw milk cheesemaking (Rohmilchkäserei) — milk is not pasteurized and no additives such as nitrate or calcium chloride are used; cheeses ripen with natural rinds, and signature products include the mite-ripened Deichkäse Gold (aged 14-16 months) and the 'piking'-technique Friesisch Blue. The portfolio spans Rohmilchkäse, Ziegen & Schafskäse, Blauschimmelkäse, Schnitt & Hartkäse, halbfester Schnittkäse, and Weichkäse, complemented by farm-made jams, chutneys, and mustards, plus curated partner products and accessories.

The business model is a hybrid direct-to-consumer and B2B operation. Revenue streams include online cheese sales via the Shopify-powered backensholz.de storefront with DHL shipping (€6.90 per order, free from €75, no minimum order value), an on-site Hofladen (farm store) and bistro with catering, B2B supply to restaurants and market stand operators directly from the farm, paid farm tours (€150 for groups of 10-30), cheese events and tastings, gift boxes and the build-your-own 'Genuss Schatzkiste' configurator, voucher sales, and resale of partner products. Customers comprise individual consumers (primary segment), the gastronomy/HoReCa sector, and retail/market traders. International D2C shipping extends to Denmark, Poland, Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Distribution is supported by a digital marketing stack including Shopify, Klaviyo email automation, Meta Pixel retargeting, Google Analytics and Ads, and a Smile.io loyalty program ('Hofpunkte'). Subsidiary and affiliated entities include Hofladen Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG, Biolandhof Backensholz, Biogasanlage Backensholz, Hofkindergarten Backensholz e.V., and Hof Buschröh GbR; ownership rests with the Metzger-Petersen family, with Thilo Metzger-Petersen as Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) and Martina Metzger-Petersen credited as founder of the cheesery.

Name

Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG

Legal name

Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://backensholz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG is a fourth-generation, family-owned German Bioland-certified dairy that produces artisanal raw milk cheeses from its own 450-500 cow herd, selling direct-to-consumer via Shopify e-commerce, an on-site farm store and bistro, and B2B to restaurants and market traders across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Cheese Production

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Artisanal raw milk cheese
• Organic farm dairy
• Bioland certified cheesemaking
• Specialty cheese production
• Farm-direct cheese retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Oster-Ohrstedt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese Sales (Online): Direct-to-consumer online sales of raw milk cheeses through own e-commerce platform. Products include various cheese types: raw milk cheese, goat & sheep cheese, semi-hard cheese, cutting & hard cheese, blue cheese, and soft cheese.
2. On-site Farm Store (Hofladen): Physical retail sales at the farm store including own cheese, delicatessen items, organic wines, and meat from own cattle.
3. Bistro & Restaurant: Food service operations serving lunch buffet and daily business at the on-site bistro. Also provides catering for events.
4. Events & Tours: Revenue from farm tours (Hofführungen), cheese events, market days, team events, seminars, and birthday/private celebrations.
5. B2B/Gastronomy Supply: Supply to business customers, market stands, and gastronomy directly from the farm with no minimum order value.
6. Agricultural Products: Sale of farm-made products including jams, ketchup, chutneys, mustards, meat from own cattle.
7. Gift Boxes & Packages: Sale of gift boxes, cheese packages, and voucher products.
8. Third-party Products: Resale of partner products including wines, salamis, vinegars, oils, preserves, honey, cheese accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz is an artisanal on-farm raw milk cheesemaker that produces hand-crafted, unpasteurized milk cheeses from its own Bioland-certified dairy herd. The company operates a diversified farm business encompassing cheesemaking, dairy farming, a farm store, bistro, farm tours, B2B gastronomy supply, and resale of curated partner delicatessen and wine products.

Product overview

Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz operates a diversified farm-based cheese and specialty food business. The core product is artisanal raw milk cheese produced from the farm's own Bioland-certified dairy herd of approximately 450-500 cows. Cheese offerings span multiple categories: Rohmilchkäse (raw milk cheese) as the primary line, including Schafsgold (sheep milk cheese), Kleiner Deichkäse, Kleiner Husumer, Deichkäse jung (4 months aged), Deichkäse alt (12 months aged), Deichkäse Gold (14-16 months mite-ripened), and Friesisch Blue (blue cheese). Additional product categories include Ziegen & Schafskäse (goat and sheep cheese), Blauschimmelkäse (blue cheese varieties), Weichkäse (soft cheese), and Halbfester/Schnitt & Hartkäse (semi-hard, slicing, and hard cheeses). Complementing the cheese line are Hofgemachtes (farm-made products) including jams, ketchup, chutneys, and mustard; Weine & mehr (curated wines and spirits); Käsepapier & Zubehör (cheese accessories); and Genuss Schatzkiste (build-your-own gift boxes). The business also offers on-farm experiences including a farm store, bistro, farm tours, and events. All products carry Bioland organic certification and are produced using traditional craftsmanship dating back to 1989.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rohmilchkäse (Raw Milk Cheese) Hand-crafted raw milk cheeses made from unpasteurized milk sourced from the farm's own dairy cows. Available in multiple varieties including semi-hard slicing, slicing, and hard cheese types. Produced without additives like nitrate or calcium chloride.
• Deichkäse alt (12-Month Aged) Aged Deichkäse hard cheese matured for 12 months with strong, fruity, nuanced flavor. Made with mountain cheese cultures following North Frisian recipe. Available in 250g, 500g, and 4.5kg formats at €8.50 (€34.00/kg). Minimum 50% fat in dry matter.
• Deichkäse Gold (Mite-Ripened) Premium milestone-aged cheese matured 14-16 months. After approximately 12 months of aging, cheese mites naturally settle on the wheel, breaking open the rind and creating an intense, aromatic umami flavor. Won gold medal at World Cheese Awards 2025-26. Available in 500g whole wheel format.
• Deichkäse jung (4-Month Aged) Young Deichkäse aged 4 months. Semi-hard slicing cheese with milder flavor compared to aged variants. Priced at €7.50 (€30.00/kg).
• Friesisch Blue (Raw Milk Blue Cheese) Blue cheese made from raw cow's milk with pungent, noble-sweet flavor and creamy texture. Produced using 'piking' technique where needles create holes for noble mold growth. Won gold medal at World Cheese Awards 2024-25. Available in 250g, 420g, and 1.7kg formats at €8.00 (€32.00/kg).
• Schafsgold (Sheep Milk Cheese) Premium sheep's milk raw milk cheese with distinct flavor profile characteristic of non-cow milk sources. Priced at €24.00 per unit (€48.00/kg).
• Ziegen & Schafskäse (Goat & Sheep Cheese) Cheeses made from goat and sheep milk, including Schafsgold and other varieties with distinct flavor profiles characteristic of non-cow milk sources.
• Weichkäse (Soft Cheese) Soft-ripened cheeses including Baruther Urstromtaler. Few weeks of aging with lower water content than fresh cheese and distinct natural rinds.
• Hofgemachtes Marmeladen & Ketchup Farm-made jams and ketchup products including strawberry jam and other preserves, produced on the farm from high-quality organic ingredients.
• Hofgemachtes Chutneys & Senf Farm-made chutneys and mustard varieties, designed to pair with cheese selections.
• Käsepakete & Geschenkkörbe (Cheese Gift Packages) Pre-packaged cheese gift sets and baskets for gifting occasions, including ready-made selections and customizable Genuss Schatzkiste gift boxes.
• Weine & mehr (Wines & Spirits) Curated wine and spirits selection including white wine, red wine, rosé, dessert wines, sparkling wines, non-alcoholic wines, and spirits. Includes products like Chablis 2022 and Prosecco.
• Käsepapier & Zubehör (Cheese Accessories) Cheese accessories including specialized cheese paper, knives, slicers, and cutting boards for home cheese presentation and storage.
• Von Freunden (Partner Delicatessen Products) Curated selection of partner products including Salamis, ham, vinegars, oils, pickled vegetables, nuts, crackers, salt, spices, honey, and specialty items from regional partners like Kebe Berlin.
• Farm Tours & Events (Hofführungen & Käsetage) Guided farm tours (€150 flat rate for groups of 10-30 people), cheese days (Käsetage), cheese evenings with Thilo (Käseschnack mit Thilo), team events, seminars, market days, and birthday/private celebrations.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration29 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bioland e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic farming certification partner. All farm operations (agriculture, cheesery, affiliated farms) are certified by Bioland and operate under their strict organic guidelines.
• Slow Food DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Slow Food Deutschland association supporting traditional and artisanal food production with regional identity.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform provider for website hosting and online store functionality. Shopify International Limited provides the technical infrastructure for the online shop.
• Deutsche Post DHLcoreTechnology or IntegrationShipping partner for order fulfillment. DHL handles temperature-controlled cheese shipments with tracking capabilities.
• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing service for online transactions.
• Shopify PaymentscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrated payment processing through Shopify for credit cards and other payment methods.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, Google Ads, and YouTube integrations for web analytics, marketing, and video content.
• Meta Platforms (Facebook/Instagram)coreTechnology or IntegrationMeta Pixel integration for retargeting and custom audiences, plus Instagram feed integration for marketing.
• ABCERTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic certification inspection body for verifying compliance with EU organic standards.
• Käsestraße Schleswig-HolsteinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cheese trail network promoting cheese producers in Schleswig-Holstein.
• Nationalpark WattenmeerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Wadden Sea National Park supporting environmental protection and sustainable tourism.
• LemundominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFull-service digital agency and e-commerce consulting partner for website and digital marketing.
• IT-Recht KanzleiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal services provider for terms, privacy policy, and legal compliance documentation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hofmeister Käsewerk GmbH: German artisan cheesemaker producing handcrafted raw milk and specialty cheeses from its own dairy. Comparable as a small-scale, farm-integrated German cheese producer focused on quality and traditional methods rather than industrial volume.
• Bauer Käse GmbH (Bauer Schöppingen): German family-run cheese producer making traditional raw milk and semi-hard cheeses from on-farm dairy. Comparable farm-to-cheese model with similar focus on traditional craftsmanship and specialty cheeses.
• Sennerei Algäu / Die Sennerei: Small-to-mid German alpine/raw milk cheesemaker producing Bergkäse-style and specialty raw milk cheeses. Directly comparable as an artisanal German cheese producer focused on traditional methods and farm provenance.

Broad incumbents

• ÖMA Beer Cheese / ÖMA Organic: German organic dairy processor producing a broad range of organic cheeses including raw milk varieties. Competes in the same organic/artisanal cheese category with much broader SKU and retail coverage.
• Bergpracht-Milchwerk GmbH & Co. KG: Established German dairy processor producing cheese specialties including regional raw milk cheeses. Overlaps in raw milk and specialty cheese categories, but at industrial scale with broader retail distribution.
• Allgäu Milch Käse eG: Large cooperative dairy producing a wide range of Allgäu-region cheeses including raw milk varieties. Comparable product overlap (artisanal and raw milk cheese), but operates at much greater scale and broader portfolio than Backensholz.
• Herdwick / Neal's Yard Dairy (UK artisan affineurs): Iconic UK affineur and retailer specializing in traditional, raw-milk, farm-made cheeses. Comparable in its championing of small-farm, traditional-method cheeses to a discerning premium audience.

Regional players

• Meyer Lemon Hill / Vermont Creamery: US farm-based artisan dairy producing award-winning fresh and aged cheeses from a small-herd organic model. Comparable farm-to-cheese vertical integration, premium positioning, and direct-to-consumer plus specialty retail distribution.
• Jersey Dairy (Jersey Organic): Channel Island dairy producing premium raw and organic cheeses from a single-farm model. Comparable artisanal positioning, terroir-driven brand, and farm-to-consumer storytelling, though geographically UK/Channel Islands rather than Germany.
• Fromagerie Berthaut (France): French farm-based raw milk cheesemaker producing Époisses and Burgundian specialties. Highly comparable in traditional-method raw milk cheese production, on-farm dairy, and premium foodservice positioning, though French regional rather than German.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/backensholzer_hof
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rohmilchk%C3%A4serei-backensholz

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Rohmilchkäserei Backensholz GmbH & Co. KG