What Kraft Natural Cheese does

Kraft Natural Cheese is a US natural cheese brand owned and operated by Lactalis Heritage Dairy, Inc., a subsidiary of global dairy conglomerate Lactalis Group, which licenses the KRAFT trademark from Kraft Foods. The brand produces and markets a broad portfolio of natural cheese products — including shredded, chunk/block, sliced, string, stick, cubes, cracker cuts, crumbles, Parmesan, reduced-fat, cream-cheese-blended, and Signature premium shredded formats — sold through national grocery retailers across the United States. Core technology centers on conventional natural-cheese production from fresh milk, cheese culture, salt, and enzymes, with two notable formulation extensions: a lactase-enzyme treatment that yields a lactose-free line (0g lactose) using real dairy, and a high-protein formulation delivering 17g of protein per serving with 50% less fat than traditional cheese sticks in its Protein Cheese Sticks line.

The business is a classic consumer packaged goods (CPG) model: one-time retail purchase revenue through grocery and supermarket distribution, with pricing at standard CPG price points (not publicly disclosed). Go-to-market is product-led via retail shelf presence and supported by content marketing on the brand's website, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest channels, plus recipe-driven brand storytelling. Customer segments are horizontal — health- and protein-conscious consumers, lactose-intolerant consumers, and family households seeking versatile cheese for home cooking and entertaining. The brand is actively expanding its product surface in 2026 with the Protein Cheese Sticks (launched February 2026) and Lactose-Free line (launched May 2026), and has experimented with limited-time seasonal flavors (e.g., a 2025 holiday Mac & Cheese Apple Pie activation with actor Jason Biggs). The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois (Lactalis Heritage Dairy, Inc., 540 W. Madison Street, Suite 300), serves only the US market, and operates as part of a larger private dairy conglomerate with no independent venture backing.

Name

Kraft Natural Cheese

Legal name

Lactalis Heritage Dairy, Inc.

Website

https://kraftnaturalcheese.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kraft Natural Cheese is a US natural cheese brand under Lactalis Heritage Dairy, producing shredded, sliced, snacking, and specialty cheeses for retail grocery consumers nationwide, with recent expansion into high-protein and lactose-free lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Cheese / Consumer Dairy Products

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB), Grated, Shredded & Sliced Cheese Manufacturing (Value-Added Cuts) (AFAHABAF), Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI)

Keywords

• Natural cheese products
• Shredded cheese varieties
• Lactose-free cheese
• Protein cheese snacks
• Consumer dairy foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: Kraft Natural Cheese generates revenue through the sale of cheese products to consumers via retail grocery stores and supermarkets. Products include shredded cheese, block/chunk cheese, slices, string cheese, stick cheese, crumbles, and Parmesan cheese in various varieties including lactose-free and protein-enriched options.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kraft Natural Cheese produces and markets a broad portfolio of natural cheese products under the Kraft brand, including shredded cheese, chunk/block cheese, natural sliced cheese, string cheese, stick cheese, cubes, cracker cuts, crumbles, Parmesan, lactose-free varieties, and high-protein cheese sticks. Products are sold primarily through U.S. national retail grocery chains for at-home cooking, snacking, and entertaining.

Product overview

Kraft Natural Cheese is a consumer food products company owned by Lactalis Heritage Dairy, Inc. that offers a comprehensive portfolio of natural cheese products. The company operates as a single unified brand rather than a platform architecture, organized around multiple product lines including Shredded Cheese (with numerous varieties and specialty blends), Lactose-Free Cheese (made with added lactase enzyme), Chunk Cheese (blocks for shredding and slicing), String Cheese and Stick Cheese (snacking formats), Cubes and Cracker Cuts (entertainment formats), Natural Sliced Cheese (sandwich-ready slices in Big Slice and Slim Cut variants), Crumbles (for toppings), Parmesan Cheese (shredded, grated, and refrigerated), and Kraft Signature premium shredded blends. The company has recently expanded into functional nutrition with Protein Cheese Sticks and Big Cheese Snack Protein+ offering 17g protein per serving with reduced fat content. The products are marketed for home cooking, snacking, entertaining, and ingredient use, with distribution through national retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shredded Cheese Comprehensive line of natural shredded cheeses for home cooking, melting, and topping across many flavor varieties. For family households and home cooks shopping at U.S. national grocery retailers.
• Lactose-Free Cheese Natural cheese made with real dairy and treated with added lactase enzyme to break down lactose, providing 0g lactose while maintaining regular cheese taste. Available in Cheddar, Mozzarella, and String varieties. For lactose-intolerant consumers and households.
• Chunk Cheese Natural cheese blocks in multiple varieties for shredding, slicing, or entertaining. For families and home cooks who want flexible block-format cheese.
• Natural Sliced Cheese Pre-sliced natural cheese in many varieties including Big Slice and Slim Cut options. For sandwiches, burgers, and quick meal assembly by family households.
• String Cheese Snackable natural string cheese in Mozzarella and Mozzarella & Cheddar varieties for on-the-go snacking by families and individuals.
• Stick Cheese Snackable cheese sticks in Cheddar, Colby Jack, Mozzarella, and Pepper Jack varieties for portable, individual consumption.
• Protein Cheese Sticks High-protein cheese sticks delivering 17g of protein per serving with 50% less fat than traditional cheese sticks, in Mild Cheddar and Pepper Jack varieties. For health-conscious consumers seeking convenient, protein-enriched on-the-go snacks.
• Big Cheese Snack Protein+ Innovative protein snack delivering 17g of protein per serving, marketed for workouts, busy workdays, and travel. For active and time-pressed consumers seeking portable high-protein dairy snacks.
• Cubes Pre-cut natural cheese cubes in Cheddar & Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, and Mild Cheddar for snacking and entertaining occasions.
• Cracker Cuts Pre-sliced natural cheese portions sized for crackers and appetizers in Colby Jack and Sharp Cheddar varieties. For entertaining and snack-platter use.
• Crumbles Pre-crumbled natural cheese in Blue Cheese, Feta, and Three Cheese varieties for salad toppings, cooking, and garnishes.
• Parmesan Cheese Parmesan cheese in shredded, grated, and refrigerated formats, including Parmesan & Romano and Three Cheese Blend. For topping pastas, pizzas, salads, and family dishes.
• Kraft Signature Shredded Cheese Premium shredded cheese sub-brand with thicker-cut, restaurant-quality blends in Cheddar Blend, Mexican Blend, and Mozzarella Blend for superior melt and richer flavor in home cooking.
• Expertly Paired Cheese Blends Pre-blended shredded cheese combinations tailored to specific dishes such as Mac & Cheese, pizza, pasta, and tacos. For home cooks seeking convenient dish-specific blends.
• Reduced Fat and Fat-Free Cheese Lower-calorie and fat-free natural cheese options including 2% Milk, Fat Free Cheddar, Fat Free Mozzarella, and Reduced Fat variants. For calorie-conscious consumers.
• Cheese with Cream Cheese Natural cheese varieties blended with a touch of cream cheese for enhanced creaminess, available across multiple flavor profiles (Colby Jack, Mild Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, Mozzarella, Three Cheese, Triple Cheddar, Italian Five Cheese, Mexican Style Four Cheese). For home cooks seeking creamier melt.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17g protein per serving with 50% less fat than traditional cheese
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jason BiggsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Actor Jason Biggs partnered with Kraft Natural Cheese for a limited-time Kraft Mac & Cheese Apple Pie flavor launched for the 2025 holiday season. This was a celebrity endorsement/marketing partnership to create buzz around a seasonal product variation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Saputo: Global dairy manufacturer with substantial US cheese and dairy-alternative operations across retail and foodservice. Larger incumbent serving overlapping customers and product categories with broader portfolio scale than Kraft Natural Cheese.
• Great Lakes Cheese: Major US cheese manufacturer and private-label supplier producing natural cheese for retail and foodservice. Competes with Kraft Natural Cheese as both a branded and store-brand producer in overlapping categories.
• Schreiber Foods: Large private dairy company producing natural and process cheese for retail and foodservice, including private-label programs. Larger incumbent operating in adjacent product categories and channels to Kraft Natural Cheese.

Direct peers

• Boar's Head: Premium deli cheese and prepared foods brand in US grocery. Directly competes with Kraft Natural Cheese on sliced cheese and increasingly on protein-forward snacking offerings.
• Bel Brands USA: US arm of Bel Group producing Laughing Cow, Babybel, and Boursin. Competes with Kraft in snack-and-portion cheese formats (string, wedges, spreads) across similar retail customers.
• Tillamook: Premium-positioned US cheese brand with shredded, sliced, block, and snack cheese sold through national grocery. Overlaps directly with Kraft Natural Cheese on product format and channel, competing on quality and brand premium.
• Crystal Farms: Manufacturer of natural cheese (shredded, sliced, snack) and other dairy products sold in US grocery. Direct competitor on the same product formats and value tier as Kraft Natural Cheese.
• Sargento: US-based natural cheese manufacturer offering shredded, sliced, string, and snack cheese products through grocery and club channels. Directly competes with Kraft Natural Cheese across the same retail format set and shopper occasions.
• Cabot Creamery: Farmer-owned US cooperative producing natural cheeses (block, shredded, sliced) sold through grocery. Direct brand competitor to Kraft Natural Cheese in the same shelf-stable natural cheese segment.

Emerging players

• Daisy Brand: US dairy company known for sour cream and cottage cheese, expanding into adjacent natural cheese formats. Comparable in retail positioning and parent-company (private) structure to Kraft Natural Cheese.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KraftNaturalCheese
• Instagraminstagram.com/kraft.naturalcheese
• Pinterestpinterest.com/kraftnaturalcheese
• Xx.com/kraftcheese

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kraft Natural Cheese