1000 Islands River Rat Cheese, Inc.

What 1000 Islands River Rat Cheese, Inc. does

1000 Islands River Rat Cheese, Inc. is a privately held, single-location artisan cheese retailer operating from 242 James St in Clayton, New York, in the 1000 Islands tourism region. The company sells New York State Cheddars ranging from mild to a 20-year-aged sharp variety, alongside cheese curds (notably Croghan cheese valued for its squeak), flavored cheeses, cheese spreads, imported cheeses, meats, maple syrup and other regional specialties, sweets, gift cards, and curated gift packages priced between $8 and $48.

The business runs a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront that ships across the United States, supplemented by a physical retail store on James Street. Online ordering is paused during summer months to protect product quality during warm-weather shipping, with customers directed to the in-person store or third-party retailers listed on a 'Where to Buy' page.

Revenue is generated through four streams: one-time direct product sales via DTC and in-store, wholesale distribution to restaurants and specialty retailers, dedicated corporate gifting orders, and a fundraising program for schools, clubs, and organizations. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional ownership, no funding history, and no management team publicly listed. Marketing is limited to email newsletter capture, a single Facebook page, and on-site content; payment options are standardized via Shopify integrations including Shop Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major card networks.

Name

1000 Islands River Rat Cheese, Inc.

Legal name

1000 Islands River Rat Cheese, Inc.

Website

https://riverratcheese.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Cheese

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB), Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI), Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC), Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)

Keywords

• Artisan cheddar cheese
• New York State cheese
• Cheese curds retail
• Aged cheddar varieties
• Specialty food gifts

Headquarters

HQ city

Clayton

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, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of artisanal cheeses and gourmet food products through e-commerce storefront and physical retail location in Clayton, NY. Products include aged cheddars, cheese spreads, flavored cheeses, curds, maple syrup, meats, and gift packages.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale channel for bulk orders to retailers and other businesses.
3. Corporate Orders: Bulk corporate orders for businesses and organizations.
4. Fundraising Program: Fundraising program allowing organizations to sell River Rat Cheese products to raise funds.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

1000 Islands River Rat Cheese, Inc. sells New York State Cheddars (aged from mild to 20-year-old sharp), cheese curds (including Croghan cheese known for its squeak), flavored cheddars, cheese spreads, imported cheeses, plus complementary products such as maple syrup, meats, sweets, gift cards, and curated gift packages. Sales occur through a physical retail location in Clayton, NY and a Shopify-powered online storefront, with additional wholesale, corporate, and fundraising channels.

Product overview

River Rat Cheese is a traditional cheese retail company operating as a single-location storefront in Clayton, New York, selling primarily New York State Cheddars through an e-commerce platform. The product portfolio centers on aged cheddar cheeses ranging from mild to 20-year-old sharp varieties, complemented by cheese curds (including the notable Croghan cheese known for its squeak), flavored cheddars, imported cheeses, and cheese spreads. Additional offerings include maple syrup products, meats, gift packages, and sweets. The company operates a Shopify-powered online store for direct sales and maintains a physical retail location on James Street in Clayton.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3 Year Old XXX Cheddar Aged cheddar cheese aged for 3 years, featuring tyrosine crystals characteristic of well-aged cheeses. Sold from $8.00.
• 20-Year-Old Cheddar Sharp aged cheddar aged for 20 years, positioned as a premium sharp variety with a strong bite. Priced at $20.00 (regularly $25.00).
• Mean & Nasty (8 oz) Sharp flavored cheddar cheese in an 8 oz package. Priced at $8.00.
• Dynamic Duo Curated package combining cheese curd and Croghan cheese products. Priced at $26.99.
• Executive Trio Curated selection of premium cheese offerings, positioned for executive gifting. Priced at $23.99.
• Fisherman's Dream Specialty cheese package offering. Priced at $37.99.
• Lumberjack Special Large-format specialty cheese package. Priced at $47.99.
• Aged Cheddars (collection) Selection of aged cheddar cheeses ranging from mild to sharp varieties.
• Cheese Spreads (collection) Spreadable cheese products.
• Flavored Cheeses (collection) Cheddar cheeses with added flavors for various occasions.
• Imported Cheeses (collection) International cheese selections complementing the domestic offerings.
• Cheese Curd (collection, including Croghan) Fresh squeaky cheese curds, including Croghan cheese known for its signature squeak.
• Maple Syrup & Rita's Products Local maple syrup and related specialty products from the 1000 Islands region.
• Meats (collection) Selection of meats to pair with cheese offerings.
• Gift Packages (collection) Curated gift sets featuring cheese selections and complementary products for gifting occasions.
• Gift Cards (collection) Stored-value cards for gifting River Rat Cheese products.
• Sweets (collection) Sweet treats to accompany cheese plates.
• Wholesale Program Wholesale channel for restaurants, retailers, and specialty food stores to purchase River Rat Cheese products in bulk.
• Corporate Orders Program Dedicated program for businesses placing bulk orders for employee gifts, client appreciation, and corporate events.
• Fundraising Program Program allowing schools, clubs, and organizations to sell River Rat Cheese products as a fundraising vehicle.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Saputo: Global dairy conglomerate with a portfolio of cheese brands across retail and foodservice. Relevant as a scaled incumbent that can acquire or replicate regional artisan cheese businesses and dominate distribution.
• Sargento: Large national packaged cheese brand with broad retail distribution. Not a direct competitor in artisan aged cheddars, but a benchmark for shelf-space, pricing pressure, and scale in the broader cheese category.

Direct peers

• Murray's Cheese: New York City-based artisan cheese retailer and wholesaler with a similar DTC + wholesale model, curated gift programs, and aged-cheese portfolio. Most directly comparable on retail/gifting format and customer mix, though operating at much larger scale.
• Cabot Creamery: Vermont/New England dairy cooperative producing aged cheddar (including extra-sharp varieties) and other cheeses. Highly comparable product overlap on aged cheddar, with retail and wholesale distribution channels aimed at similar consumer segments.
• Vermont Creamery: Artisan dairy/cheese producer with retail, foodservice, and gift channels. Comparable on small-batch artisan positioning and curated product portfolio aimed at specialty retailers and consumers.
• Rogue Creamery: Oregon-based artisan cheese producer specializing in aged and blue cheeses with national DTC shipping. Highly comparable on aged-cheese differentiation and premium gifting SKUs, with a more mature e-commerce and wholesale operation.
• Tillamook: Oregon-based farmer-owned dairy brand known for cheddar and cheese curds, with a strong direct-to-consumer and retail presence. Comparable on cheese-curd hero SKU and aged-cheddar line, but at substantially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Beecher's Handmade Cheese: Artisan cheese maker-retailer operating flagship stores and an online store, with curated gift packages and aged cheese offerings. Comparable on retail/showroom + e-commerce hybrid model and premium positioning, though with a broader national footprint.
• iGourmet: Online specialty cheese and gourmet food retailer offering curated assortments and gift packages. Directly comparable on e-commerce-led DTC, gifting SKUs, and multi-cheese assortment strategy.

Regional players

• Croghan Borshch (Croghan Cheese tradition): Croghan, NY-based cheese tradition referenced via River Rat's Croghan cheese curd line. Regionally and culturally adjacent small-batch cheese producer; useful comparison for local sourcing and community-rooted branding rather than direct retail competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/riverratcheese
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1000-islands-river-rat-cheese-inc

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 1000 Islands River Rat Cheese, Inc.