Beemster

What Beemster does

Beemster is a premium Dutch cheese producer and the US-market brand of farmer-owned cooperative CONO Kaasmakers, founded in 1901 in the Beemster Polder of North Holland (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The company produces a portfolio of approximately 17 cheese SKUs spanning robust aged Gouda varieties (Royaal Grand Cru, Signature, XO aged 26 months), mellow cheeses (Mild, Farmers' Choice, Vlaskaas), and specialty or seasonal offerings (Smoked, Garlic, Truffle, Pumpkin Spice, Graskaas, Goat Gouda). All cheeses are made exclusively from milk sourced from cooperative member cows and goats grazing on the nutrient-dense polder pastures, using traditional methods (hand-stirred curds, aging on centuries-old wooden planks in historic stone warehouses) combined with modern energy-efficient dairy processing.

The core production technology rests on proprietary aging and curd-washing techniques that naturally remove lactose, yielding cheeses that are typically safe for lactose-intolerant consumers when aged four months or longer. The 'De Tijd' dairy facility, opened in 2014 and recognized as the most sustainable building in the Netherlands, employs ice-water cooling, vacuum centrifuges, plate heat exchangers, and water recycling. Beemster holds PDO North Holland Gouda certification and the Royal Appointment as Purveyor to the Royal Court of the Netherlands, and in 2026 its Royaal Grand Cru was named World Champion Cheese at the World Championship Cheese Contest.

The business model is one-time consumer product sales through multi-channel retail distribution in the US and Canada, including grocery chains, specialty cheese shops, and online retailers, with no direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront on the company website. US operations are run from Elizabeth, New Jersey through CONO USA, Inc., a 11–50-employee sales and marketing entity. Primary customer segments are retail consumers (home cooks, cheese enthusiasts), with secondary segments in foodservice (restaurants such as DVine Bar and DVine Pie) and specialty retailers. Revenue is generated at the unit level through retail markups on premium-priced cheese; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Content marketing (Beemster Bites blog, recipe library, educational FAQ) and social media drive top-of-funnel demand, while a store locator tool drives bottom-of-funnel conversion to retail purchase.

Name

Beemster

Legal name

CONO USA, Inc.

Website

https://beemstercheese.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Beemster is the US-market brand of Dutch farmer-owned cooperative CONO Kaasmakers, producing premium aged Gouda and specialty cheeses from Beemster Polder milk. It sells through grocery, specialty, and online retail channels across the US and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Dutch Cheese

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (112120)

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 industry

Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC)

Keywords

• Premium Dutch cheese
• Artisanal cheesemaking
• Aged gouda varieties
• Specialty dairy products
• Sustainable cheese production

Headquarters

HQ city

Elizabeth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cheese product sales: Beemster generates revenue through the sale of premium Dutch cheese products distributed via retail grocery stores, specialty cheese shops, and online retailers across the United States and Canada.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Beemster produces and sells premium Dutch cheeses made exclusively from milk of cows and goats grazing on the Beemster Polder, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in North Holland. The lineup includes aged Goudas (Mild, Farmers' Choice, Signature, Royaal, Royaal Grand Cru, XO), goat-milk and style varieties (Swiss, Paradiso Reserve, Goat Gouda, Premium Goat), and specialty/seasonal offerings (Smoked, Garlic, Truffle, Pumpkin Spice, Smoked Hatch Pepper, Graskaas, Slimkaas). Products are sold through grocery retailers, specialty cheese shops, and online retailers across the United States and Canada, with secondary foodservice distribution.

Product overview

Beemster is a premium Dutch cheese company offering a diverse portfolio of cheese products all made exclusively with milk from Beemster cows and goats grazing on the nutrient-dense pastures of the Beemster Polder (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The product line spans three main categories: Robust cheeses (Signature, Classic, XO aged 26 months, Royaal Grand Cru aged 12 months) characterized by rich, complex flavors and crystallization; Mellow cheeses (Mild, Farmers' Choice, Vlaskaas) offering creamy, smooth profiles; and Specialty & Seasonal offerings (Smoked, Garlic, Truffle, Pumpkin Spice, Smoked Hatch Pepper, Graskaas). The company holds royal appointment as Purveyor to the Royal Court of the Netherlands and produces both cow's milk and goat milk varieties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Royaal by Beemster: A special line of cheeses developed to honor Beemster's Appointment as Purveyor to the Royal Court of the Netherlands
• Royaal Grand Cru
• Vlaskaas
• XO

Products and services

• Vlaskaas A mellow, semi-soft cheese traditionally made once a year during the flax harvest festival, now available year-round. Butter and semi-soft with sweet-milk flavor, almond notes, and a touch of sharpness; aged around 5 months. Made exclusively from Beemster cow's milk.
• Beemster Mild A young, creamy, mild-flavored cheese aged 2 months that showcases the rich sweetness of Beemster milk. Soft texture makes it an excellent melting cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches and everyday use.
• Farmers' Choice Beemster's most consumed cheese, creamy and buttery with tanginess on the finish from six months of aging. Golden yellow interior with smooth, semi-soft texture.
• Royaal, Aged 4 Months PDO North Holland Gouda with farm-fresh sweet cream flavor, notes of almond, and dense creamy texture aged 4 months. Honors Beemster's Appointment as Purveyor to the Royal Court of the Netherlands.
• Royaal Grand Cru, Aged 12 Months World Champion 2026 cheese, PDO North Holland Gouda with rich, nutty, regal flavor. Firm texture with crystallization. Aged 12 months to honor the Royal Court of the Netherlands appointment.
• Signature Hand-selected by master cheesemaker as an exceptional representation of Beemster's craft. Aged minimum 12 months with firm, smooth texture, salty-sweet crystallization, and deep caramel notes.
• XO (Extra Old), Aged 26 Months Extra-aged cheese revered for rich flavors of butterscotch, whiskey, and pecan. Deep ocher interior with firm, crumbly texture and crunchy protein crystals. Aged 26 months. Requires more than 30 gallons of milk per wheel.
• Beemster Swiss Alpine style cheese made in Holland with characteristic eyes (holes) that develop during aging. Mildly tangy and nutty with fruity notes. Ideal for fondue and Reuben sandwiches.
• Paradiso Reserve Italian-style cheese made from North Holland cow's milk. Creamy and sweet with firm texture and crystallization; tangy, savory, and zesty notes. Aged 10 months.
• Smoked Young Beemster Mild naturally slow-smoked over hickory wood in the USA. Mild and creamy with soft texture and toasty smokiness reminiscent of campfires.
• Pumpkin Spice (Seasonal) Savory seasonal cheese delivering autumn flavor with pumpkin spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger) blended into mild, young Gouda. Limited-time seasonal offering.
• Garlic Garlic-infused Gouda made using Beemster Mild, dotted with garlic throughout for a rich and aromatic flavor that is intense yet sweet and subtle.
• Truffle Rich, creamy, nutty Beemster cheese speckled with genuine truffles. Earthy and nutty profile with no artificial flavors, aromas, or perfumes.
• Smoked Hatch Pepper (Seasonal) Made in Holland with Certified Hatch Valley Chile Peppers and naturally smoked over hickory wood in the USA. Smoky with nutty, creamy Gouda flavor; peppery notes with heat on the finish.
• Graskaas (Seasonal Exclusive) Young cheese made from cow's first spring milk. The creamiest cheese of the year, aged only one month to preserve spring flavor with fresh, grassy notes. Beemster exclusive, made once yearly.
• Goat Gouda Semi-firm aged Goat Gouda with sophisticated flavor while preserving smooth texture. Sweet taste with clean finish. Serves as an introduction to goat milk cheeses.
• Slimkaas (Lite) Lower fat cheese made with 2% milk. 100% natural, complex and full of great flavor, part of healthy diet recipes. Aged around 5 months.
• Premium Goat Semi-firm aged Goat Gouda with sweet taste and clean finish. Sophisticated flavor while maintaining smooth texture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.68 out of 100 points scored at 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Climate Neutral GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeemster partners with Climate Neutral Group for CO2 compensation programs. This partnership enables Beemster to neutralize remaining CO2 emissions through forest conservation projects in Brazil, which create jobs, improve the environment, and reduce CO2 emissions. The partnership supports Beemster's climate neutral certification achieved January 1, 2020.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Vermont Creamery: Artisan dairy producer of fresh and aged cheeses and cultured butter. Comparable premium positioning with US specialty retail and foodservice distribution.
• BelGioioso Cheese: Family-owned Wisconsin specialty cheese maker producing Italian-style and aged varieties. Comparable on premium specialty cheese portfolio and US retail/foodservice distribution.
• Sartori Cheese: Family-owned Wisconsin producer of premium artisan cheeses including aged cheddar, Parmesan-style, and Italian varieties. Directly comparable as a premium, award-focused cheese brand distributed through US grocery and specialty channels.
• Cypress Grove: California-based artisan cheese maker known for fresh and aged goat cheeses and signature varieties like Humboldt Fog. Comparable premium positioning, awards profile, and specialty retail distribution.
• Murray's Cheese: NYC-based specialty cheese retailer and brand (owned by Kroger) with strong foodservice and e-commerce presence. Comparable on premium cheese curation, US specialty distribution, and brand storytelling.
• Roth Cheese (Emmi Roth): Specialty Wisconsin cheese maker producing aged Gouda, Gruyère, and Italian-style varieties. Direct comparable on premium aged-cheese portfolio and US retail/foodservice distribution.
• Old Amsterdam: Premium Dutch aged Gouda brand from Westland Kaas, distributed internationally. Closest direct competitor in aged Dutch Gouda with similar PDO-adjacent positioning and US grocery presence.

Broad incumbents

• Tillamook: Oregon dairy farmer-owned cooperative producing cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. Broader portfolio and mass-market positioning versus Beemster, but structurally similar cooperative model with premium brand-building.
• Boar's Head: Premium deli meat and specialty cheese brand with strong US grocery deli presence. Comparable premium positioning and grocery distribution, though cheese is a secondary line and product is domestic.
• Cabot Creamery: Vermont dairy cooperative producing cheddar, butter, and other dairy products. Comparable cooperative structure and US retail distribution, though broader portfolio and lower price tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/beemstercheese
• Facebookfacebook.com/BeemsterCheese
• Instagraminstagram.com/beemstercheese
• Pinterestpinterest.com/beemstercheese
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beemster-cheese

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Beemster