What Karikaas does

Karikaas Natural Dairy Products Limited is a privately held, family-owned New Zealand artisan cheesemaker and dairy producer founded in March 1984 by Dutch immigrants Karin and Rients Rypma in Loburn, North Canterbury. The company was established because of the clean, uncontaminated local water and produces authentic Dutch-style cheeses (Gouda, Leyden/Cumin, Maasdam, Pepper, Edam, Feta, Goat, Whiterock, Friesian/Spice, Herb, Garlic, and Vegetarian Cumin) across age categories from young (~2 months) to vintage (5+ years), using traditional European hand-craftsmanship and maturation on white pine boards. The product portfolio extends to European-style fresh dairy including natural yoghurt with probiotic cultures, kwark (fresh low-fat cheese), and cultured buttermilk, all free from preservatives, stabilisers, and colourings. Sub-brands include the BRaid Series, a conservation-linked line where packaging features endangered NZ braided river birds and a portion of proceeds supports the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining a part-time factory shop at the Loburn premises (open Monday–Wednesday 11am–3pm), a full e-commerce storefront at karikaas.co.nz with nationwide New Zealand delivery via NZ Post Trackpack and Oxford Couriers, and a direct wholesale B2B channel supplying restaurants and shops (managed by owner Diana Hawkins). Fresh dairy products are additionally distributed through South Island supermarkets. Pricing is unit-based, with cheese selection boxes priced between NZD $12 and $42 and premium wheels between NZD $175 and NZD $540. The company is run by a team of approximately 5 employees based entirely on the Loburn premises, has won gold and silver medals at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards every year since 1995, and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024. The legal entity is Karikaas Natural Dairy Products Limited, incorporated in New Zealand, with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, or parent company; operations are bootstrapped and self-funded.

Name

Karikaas

Legal name

Karikaas Natural Dairy Products Limited

Website

https://karikaas.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Karikaas is a privately owned New Zealand artisan cheesemaker producing authentic Dutch-style cheeses and European-style fresh dairy products in Loburn, North Canterbury. It serves individual consumers via e-commerce and a factory shop, plus restaurants and South Island supermarkets through wholesale and retail distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Cheese and Dairy

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI), Fresh/Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Unripened & Soft) (AFAHABAA)

Keywords

• Artisan cheese production
• Dutch-style cheesemaking
• Aged cheese varieties
• Fresh dairy products
• Specialty cheese maker

Headquarters

HQ city

Loburn, North Canterbury

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales through karikaas.co.nz with nationwide courier delivery. Products include cheeses sold by weight (Small, Medium, Large, Wheel sizes) and selection boxes at fixed prices. Fresh dairy products sold by unit (1L bottles, 350g pots, 1kg bags).
2. Factory Shop Retail: On-site retail sales at the Loburn factory shop, open Monday to Wednesday 11am–3pm. Consumers can purchase cheese and dairy products directly.
3. Wholesale B2B: Wholesale supply of cheese to restaurants and retail shops, handled by Diana Hawkins directly. Dedicated wholesale contact provided on the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Karikaas hand-crafts traditional Dutch-style cheeses using European methods at its Loburn, North Canterbury facility, aging wheels on white pine boards from two months to over five years. Its core range includes Gouda, Leyden/Cumin, Maasdam, Pepper, Edam, Feta, Goat, Whiterock, Friesian/Spice, Herb, Garlic, Pumahana, and Vegetarian Cumin, sold at multiple age tiers and pack sizes. The company also produces European-style fresh dairy (cultured Buttermilk, Kwark, Natural and Fruit of the Forest Yoghurts) and prepackaged cheese selection boxes, distributing via the Loburn factory shop, the karikaas.co.nz e-commerce site with nationwide courier delivery, and direct wholesale to restaurants and shops.

Product overview

Karikaas is a New Zealand-based artisan cheese and dairy company producing authentic Dutch-style cheeses and European-style fresh dairy products. The product portfolio includes core cheese offerings (Gouda, Leyden/Cumin, Maasdam, Pepper, Edam, Feta, Goat, Whiterock, Friesian/Spice, Herb, Garlic, and Vegetarian options) sold in various age categories from young to vintage. The Braid Series is a sub-brand featuring vintage cheeses packaged with endangered braided river bird conservation messaging, with proceeds supporting the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group. Pre-packaged cheese selections (Vintage, Young, Mixed Age, Flavoured Goudas, 3-Cheese, 4-Cheese, and Fondue) offer curated variety packs. Fresh dairy products include Buttermilk, Kwark (fresh cheese), and Natural and Fruit yoghurts, all free from preservatives, stabilisers, and colourings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Braid Series: A line of premium cheeses partnered with the Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group, featuring New Zealand braided river birds on packaging. A portion of proceeds from each purchase supports the conservation group. Includes Vintage Gouda (Wrybill), Vintage Cumin (Wrybill), Vintage Spice (Banded Dotterel), and Pumahana (Black-fronted tern).

Products and services

• Gouda Traditional Dutch Gouda cheese with creamy texture and mild flavour when young and intense, complex flavours with firm texture when vintage, available across four age categories (young around 2 months, mature around 4 months, aged around 8 months, and vintage). The Braid Series Vintage Gouda (Wrybill, ngutu pare) variant contributes proceeds to the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group. Sold in Small (~250g), Medium (~550g), Large (~1kg), and Wheel (~5.5kg) sizes for individual consumers and wholesale customers.
• Leyden / Cumin Traditional Dutch cheese flavoured with cumin seed for aromatic, complementary notes on a creamy, buttery base. Available across four age categories from young to vintage, including a Vegetarian Cumin variant that is low fat and cholesterol-conscious for those who want the cumin profile without the traditional rennet.
• Maasdam Dutch version of Swiss Emmental; sweet, nutty cheese with typically large holes and good melting properties that complement sweet fruit flavours. Awarded Champion European Cheese in 2020 by the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.
• Pepper Mild, creamy cheese with added blended peppercorns; versatile for salads, sandwiches, and melting over vegetables. A Gold medal winner at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards in 2025.
• Edam Reduced-fat, vegetarian traditional Dutch Edam with smooth texture and mild, clean flavour; widely versatile with good melting properties, suitable for consumers across age categories and dietary preferences.
• Feta Cows-milk feta developed with Greek expertise; firm texture that holds shape well on cutting, with lightly salted flavour and excellent melting for pizza, tomato soup, and Mediterranean dishes.
• Goat Cheese (Imported Dutch Goat Gouda) Imported Dutch goat Gouda offering a mild, smooth goat cheese alternative for consumers who enjoy goats cheese flavour or who are dairy-intolerant and seeking variety beyond standard goat feta.
• Whiterock English-style, high-acidity cheese produced using Dutch cheesemaking techniques for English consumers who prefer sharp, tangy cheese profiles like Cheshire, Lancashire, and Wensleydale. Available in young and aged versions.
• Friesian / Spice Traditional cheese flavoured with cumin and cloves, with provenance from the Friesland region of the Netherlands. Aged at least eight months for an unusual but delicately flavoured aged profile. The Vintage Spice variant (Braid Series, Banded Dotterel tuturiwhatu) contributes proceeds to the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group.
• Herb Young cheese blended with four garden herbs and a hint of garlic. Versatile for salads, creamy cheese sauces, bread, or for mashing into hot potatoes.
• Garlic Young, creamy cheese with a definite garlic flavour, positioned for platters and entertaining; released in 2024 to commemorate Karikaas's 40-year anniversary.
• Vegetarian Cumin Low-fat, vegetarian version of Leyden/Cumin for consumers who want cumin-flavoured cheese without cholesterol or animal rennet concerns. Full-flavoured and aromatic with fresh taste.
• Pumahana (BRaid Series, Black fronted tern tarapirohe) Fine-aged cheese blended with peppercorns and a pinch of chilli, balancing warmth with vintage cheese flavour. Awarded NZ Original Trophy winner in 2024. Part of the BRaid Series; a portion of each sale supports Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group conservation work protecting braided river birds.
• Vintage Cumin 5+ Years Premium long-aged Vintage Cumin with over five years of maturation, delivering deep caramelisation, complex flavour, and rich aroma. Available in 250g, 550g, 1kg, and 9-10kg wheel formats.
• Cultured Buttermilk 1L 1L cultured buttermilk made from whole milk and fermented for over a day before churning, differing from typical NZ supermarket buttermilk. Marketed to consumers of European heritage who drink buttermilk on its own and to home cooks, with chilled transport options for commercial addresses.
• Kwark 350g Pot Versatile, low-fat European-style fresh cheese for cheesecakes, tarts, quiches, savoury baking, sandwiches, or eating with fresh fruits and nuts. Sold in 350g retail pot format.
• Kwark Bagged 1kg 1kg cost-effective bulk format of the same fresh low-fat European-style cheese, made to order (Mon/Tues production, Wed dispatch). Targeted at higher-volume home and commercial users.
• Natural Yoghurt 1L Natural yoghurt with cultures L. acidophilus, L. bifidus, and Bacillus laterosporus, free from colours, preservatives, and stabilisers. Health Star rated 4/5. Sold via e-commerce, factory shop, and South Island supermarkets.
• Fruit of the Forest Yoghurt 1L Natural yoghurt base with cultures L. acidophilus, L. bifidus, and Bacillus laterosporus, blended with 100% NZ-grown fruit from Barkers of Geraldine. Health Star rated 3.5/5.
• Vintage Cheese Selection Box Curated selection of three long-aged vintage cheeses (Vintage Cumin 5+ years matured, Vintage Whiterock, and 5-year-aged Friesian), each at least 150g, targeted at cheese enthusiasts and gifting.
• Young Cheese Selection Box Curated selection of four young cheeses (Young Gouda, Young Cumin (Gold 2025), Pepper (Gold 2025), and Maasdam), 150-200g each, sold as a stand-alone bundle for eating alone, melting on pasta bakes, or flavouring sauces.
• Mixed Age Cheese Selection Box Selection of cheeses spanning age ranges (Mature Gouda, Pepper, Vintage Cumin/Leyden, Maasdam), 150-200g each, designed to suit varied palates within one household.
• Flavoured Goudas Selection Box Selection of three flavoured young Goudas (Garlic, Herb with garlic hint, and Pepper), each at least 200g, bundled for entertaining and platter use.
• Karikaas 3 Cheese Selection Box Three best-selling young cheeses (Pepper, Cumin, Maasdam, all Gold/Silver medal winners) bundled together and paired with tasting notes for Greystone Wines. Targeted at gifting and casual entertaining.
• Karikaas 4 Cheese Selection Box Versatile four-cheese selection featuring gold-medal-winning Vintage Gouda, Pepper, Young Cumin, and Maasdam, positioned as a varied introduction to the Karikaas range.
• Fondue Cheese Selection Box Selection of cheeses (Young Gouda, Maasdam, Vintage Gouda) bundled with recipe instructions for cheese fondue; 800g-1kg per pack, targeted at home entertaining.

Quantifiable outcome

• Champion of Champions Best Cheese in NZ 2005 — Karikaas Vintage Leyden
• +4 more outcomes

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

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Greystone WinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKarikaas formed a relationship with Greystone Wines, a Waipara (North Canterbury) winery that has received accolades from around the world for their wines. The partnership created a line of selection boxes featuring Karikaas cheeses paired with Greystone wines, complete with tasting notes. The collaboration combines two premium North Canterbury artisan producers.
• Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group (ARRG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKarikaas partnered with the Ashley-Rakahuri Rivercare Group (a member of BRaid) to create the BRaid Series of cheeses. Each cheese in the series features endangered NZ braided river birds on its packaging, with information about the birds' habitat, threats, and endangered status. A portion of proceeds from every BRaid Series cheese sale goes to support ARRG's conservation work protecting nesting birds on the Ashley River.
• Barkers of GeraldineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBarkers of Geraldine supplies 100% New Zealand-grown fruit for Karikaas' Fruit Yoghurts. The fruit is sourced directly and used in the Fruit of the Forest Yoghurt. This is an ingredient supply relationship rather than a co-branded partnership.
• Julie Merhtens (Oxford Dairy Farm)coreOthersSince the late 1980s, Julie Merhtens from Oxford has supplied milk directly to Karikaas to ensure quality standards are maintained. This direct milk supply relationship is foundational to Karikaas' award-winning product quality, replacing the earlier arrangement with the local Christchurch Milk Company.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mainland Cheese: New Zealand's most widely distributed cheese brand, owned by Fonterra. Comparable to Karikaas as a competing NZ cheese producer, but operates at massive scale across mainstream retail with broader portfolio beyond specialty/artisan cheeses.
• Vermont Creamery: A US-based specialty dairy producer known for artisanal cheeses and cultured dairy products. Comparable to Karikaas in artisan scale, traditional methods, fresh and aged cheese production, and direct-to-consumer plus foodservice distribution.
• Cypress Grove: An established US artisan cheesemaker known for award-winning cheeses including aged varieties. Comparable to Karikaas in artisan positioning, award recognition, and aged cheese capability, though operating at larger scale with broader US distribution.
• Kapiti Cheese (Fonterra Brands): A long-established New Zealand premium cheese brand owned by Fonterra, offering a broader cheese range including aged Goudas. Comparable to Karikaas as a competing NZ cheese brand, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader distribution with a wider product portfolio.

Direct peers

• Meyer Gouda: A New Zealand-based Gouda producer with Dutch cheesemaking roots. Closely comparable to Karikaas in product category (Dutch-style Gouda), target market (NZ specialty cheese consumers), and traditional European methods. Operates as a similar boutique scale producer.
• Whitestone Cheese: A North Canterbury artisan cheesemaker producing award-winning cheeses from local milk. Comparable to Karikaas in scale, regional location, and direct-to-consumer model with restaurant supply. Shares the NZ specialty cheese awards circuit and similar boutique positioning.
• Biddy Early: Small NZ artisan cheesemaker producing traditional-style cheeses. Comparable to Karikaas in artisan scale, traditional methods, direct-to-consumer and farmer's market presence, and participation in NZ specialty cheese awards.

Emerging players

• Caron's Cheesemaking: A small New Zealand cheesemaker offering traditional handmade cheeses through direct and specialty channels. Comparable to Karikaas in artisan scale, traditional methods, and small-batch specialty positioning in the NZ market.
• Mahoe Cheese: A small New Zealand artisan cheesemaker producing traditional handmade cheeses. Comparable to Karikaas in product approach (traditional methods), boutique scale, and target market of NZ specialty cheese consumers.

Regional players

• Puhoi Valley Cheese: A New Zealand artisan cheese and dairy brand based north of Auckland. Comparable to Karikaas in NZ artisan positioning, traditional cheesemaking approach, and direct retail presence, though focused in the North Island rather than South Island.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ashleyrivercare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/karikaas

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 Karikaas