HELER FOODS PACKING LIMITED

What HELER FOODS PACKING LIMITED does

Heler Foods Packing Limited (legal entity: Joseph Heler Ltd) is a UK-based, family-owned cheese manufacturer and packing company founded in 1957 by Joseph Heler in Nantwich, Cheshire, and now led by Chairman Mike Heler and CEO George Heler. The business operates three UK sites — the Nantwich creamery (headquarters), a BRC AA+ packing facility at Penrhyndeudraeth, and the Lymn Bank Farm waxed cheese and smoking facility in the Lincolnshire Wolds — and sources milk from over 100 local farms, 90% within 45 miles of the creamery. Production combines traditional open-table cheesemaking with integrated whey processing and high-specification flexible packing capable of block, sliced, grated, mini portions, blends, and bespoke formats.

The company's portfolio spans six sub-brands: Joseph Heler (traditional British classics), Cheshire Cheese Company (waxed truckles and gift hampers), Eatlean Protein (high-protein, low-fat), Tex-Mex Cheese Co., Flava Smiths (250+ flavour innovations), and The Italian Cheese Co. Revenue is generated through four streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via helerfoods.com with UK-wide home delivery; B2B foodservice and ingredients sales to manufacturers, meal solution providers, foodservice operators, and wholesalers; licensed brand products such as PizzaExpress Pizza Cheese distributed through 322 Sainsbury's stores and Slimming World Cheese Bites; and contract packing services for selected partners. Certifications include BRC AA+, Red Tractor, and Halal compliance capability, with operating markets spanning the UK, USA, and Spain.

Name

HELER FOODS PACKING LIMITED

Legal name

Joseph Heler Ltd

Website

https://helerfoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Heler Foods Packing Limited is a family-owned UK cheese manufacturer and packing company, founded in 1957, serving retail, foodservice, and B2B customers through traditional cheesemaking, branded sub-brands, licensed partnerships, and contract packing across three UK sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cheese Manufacturing & Contract Packing

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese Byproduct & Waste Stream Processing (Whey Routing, Brine Management) (AFAHABAK)

Keywords

• Cheese manufacturing
• Contract packing services
• Dairy products
• Foodservice ingredients
• Protein cheese

Headquarters

HQ city

Minffordd

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-consumer cheese sales: Online retail sales through helerfoods.com/shop, offering British Classics, Cheddar, Waxed Cheese Truckles, Eatlean Protein Cheese, and Butter products directly to consumers with home delivery.
2. B2B Foodservice & Ingredients: Partnership with manufacturers, meal solution providers, foodservice operators, and wholesalers. Solutions tailored to application, functionality, cost targets, and format needs with scalable capabilities from bespoke runs to full industrial volumes.
3. Licensed brand products: Manufacturing licensed products for established brands such as PizzaExpress Pizza Cheese distributed through Sainsbury's and Slimming World Cheese Bites sold through Slimming World Kitchen.
4. Contract packing: Contract packing services for selected partners at the BRC AA accredited packing facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Heler Foods Packing is a UK cheese manufacturer and packing company that crafts traditional British cheese (Cheddar, Cheshire, Red Leicester, Double Gloucester) and high-protein low-fat Eatlean cheese at its Nantwich creamery, while operating a high-specification BRC AA+ accredited packing facility in Penrhyndeudraeth that provides cutting, blending, slicing, grating, waxing, mini-portioning and bespoke packing for retail, foodservice and manufacturing customers. The group also runs a Foodservice & Ingredients division supplying tailored cheese solutions to UK manufacturers, meal solution providers, foodservice operators and wholesalers, plus a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store delivering British Classics, Waxed Cheese Truckles, Eatlean Protein Cheese and Butter to UK homes.

Product overview

Heler Foods operates as a multi-brand cheese manufacturing and packing company with a diversified portfolio of sub-brands and products. The core offering includes traditional British cheese classics under the Joseph Heler brand (Red Leicester, Cheddar, Cheshire varieties), health-focused Eatlean Protein cheese (high-protein, low-fat range), and specialty sub-brands including Tex-Mex Cheese Co., Flava Smiths (250+ flavours), The Italian Cheese Co., and The Cheshire Cheese Co. (waxed truckles and gift hampers). Products are available in multiple formats including blocks, waxed truckles, grated, sliced, diced, shredded, ropes, and shapes. The company also operates a B2B Foodservice & Ingredients division serving manufacturers and foodservice operators with tailored cheese solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eatlean Protein: Highest-protein, lowest-fat cheese range in the UK. Perfect for health-led meal solutions and NPD.
• Cheshire Cheese Company
• Joseph Heler
• Tex-Mex Cheese Co.
• Flava Smiths
• The Italian Cheese Co.

Products and services

• Eatlean Protein High-protein, low-fat cheese range positioned as the highest-protein, lowest-fat cheese in the UK market. Includes blocks, grated, sliced, spreadable, protein bars and cheese bites for health-conscious consumers. Eatlean Protein Block contains 35% more protein and 70% less fat than full fat cheddar; Original Protein Cheese Block contains 40% more protein and 90% less fat.
• Tex-Mex Cheese Co. Fully flavoured cheese blends for Mexican and world cuisines, targeting QSR (quick-service restaurant), street food and nachos markets.
• Flava Smiths Flavour innovation cheese brand offering over 250 flavours of cheese for creative applications across retail and foodservice.
• Joseph Heler (British Classics Cheddar, Cheshire, Red Leicester, Double Gloucester) Traditional handcrafted British cheese classics including award-winning Red Leicester, zesty Cheshire, Blackstone Cheddar, and Double Gloucester, made at Laurels Farm using time-honoured family recipes on traditional open tables.
• The Italian Cheese Co. Italian-inspired cheese range featuring Mediterranean flavours for pizzas, pasta and Italian cuisine applications.
• The Cheshire Cheese Co. (Waxed Truckles & Gift Hampers) Waxed cheese truckles and gift hampers featuring traditional Cheshire cheese recipes and award-winning taste infusions, including Black Bob, Reserva, Smokewood, Old Hag, Charcoal, Shamrock, Masala, Gincello, Hunter, Italiano, Pesto and Jerk Spice flavours.
• Black Bob Waxed Cheese Truckle Extra Mature Cheddar waxed truckle, the signature Cheshire Cheese Company product aged slowly for a rich, robust and slightly sweet flavour. From £5.50 per 200g.
• Cheshire Waxed Cheese Truckle Traditional Creamy Cheshire cheese waxed truckle with smooth texture and distinctive Cheshire tang, handmade by the Heler family since 1957.
• Reserva Waxed Cheese Truckle (Caramelised Onion & Rioja Cheddar) Caramelised Onion & Rioja Cheddar waxed truckle featuring Spanish Rioja red wine, sweet caramelised onions and creamy extra-mature Cheddar.
• Smokewood Waxed Cheese Truckle (Smoked Aged Red Leicester) Naturally smoked and aged Red Leicester cheese, smoked over wood chips for subtle smokiness in waxed truckle format.
• Old Hag Waxed Cheese Truckle (Ale & Mustard Cheddar) Mature Cheddar blended with Old Hag Porter-Stout Ale and wholegrain mustard, waxed truckle format and Farm & Deli Product Award Winner.
• Eatlean Original Protein Cheese Block (200g) High-protein, low-fat cheese block (200g) with 40% more protein and 90% less fat than standard cheddar, priced from £2.75.
• Eatlean Original Protein Grated Cheese (180g) Conveniently grated high-protein, low-fat cheese in a 180g pack for melting in meals.
• Eatlean Protein Cheese Bar (60g) First-ever protein cheese bar with 20g protein, 1.4g carbs and 70% less fat than full fat cheddar in a 60g on-the-go format, from £1.25.
• Eatlean Protein Cheese Bites (Variety Pack) Baked cheese bites with 11g protein per 20g pack, less than 4g fat and 83 kcal. Available in Original, Chilli and Truffle flavours, from £4.95 per variety pack.
• Cheshire Salted Butter (250g) Butter made with 100% Cheshire Cream, Great Taste Award winner 2021 and Gold Award at International Cheese Awards 2019, sold in 250g packs from £3.00.
• Cheese Lovers Gift Hamper Gift hamper containing four cheese varieties, gourmet chutney and savoury biscuits in a black magnetic gift box, priced at £34.95.
• Taste of Cheshire Gift Hamper Premium hamper featuring five award-winning cheese truckles, two artisan chutneys and complete biscuits for cheese collection, priced at £59.95.
• Cheese & Red Wine Gift Box (Duo of Cheese Truckles with Malbec) Duo of Cheshire Cheese Company waxed cheese truckles with Caramelised Onion biscuits and Argentinian Malbec in a wooden hamper, priced at £37.95.
• Foodservice & Ingredients Division (B2B Cheese Solutions) B2B cheese solutions service for UK manufacturers, meal solution providers, foodservice operators and wholesalers, offering grated, diced, sliced, block, custom blends, pizza ropes and shapes with scalable capabilities from bespoke runs to full industrial volumes.
• Contract Packing Service Contract cheese cutting, blending and packing service for selected brand partners, delivered at the BRC AA+ accredited Heler Foods Packing facility in Penrhyndeudraeth.
• PizzaExpress Cheddar & Mozzarella Pizza Cheese (Licensed Brand) Licensed brand Cheddar & Mozzarella Pizza Cheese manufactured for PizzaExpress, distributed through 322 Sainsbury's stores nationwide.
• Slimming World Cheese Bites (Licensed Brand) Cheese Bites manufactured by Heler Foods for the Slimming World Kitchen add-on shop, developed as a licensed brand collaboration focused on healthy snacking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eatlean Protein contains 35% more protein and 70% less fat than full fat cheddar
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Heler Foods team showcased their family of brands on the AHDB stand at IDDBA 2026 in Orlando, USA. AHDB supports British agriculture and promotes British food products at international events.
• PizzaExpresscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHeler Foods manufactures Cheddar & Mozzarella Pizza Cheese for PizzaExpress, distributed through 322 Sainsbury's stores nationwide. This represents a licensed brand partnership where Heler's manufacturing capabilities support PizzaExpress's retail expansion.
• Slimming WorldcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHeler Foods manufactures Cheese Bites for Slimming World's Kitchen add-on shop. This collaboration demonstrates innovation in producing healthy snack options for weight management consumers.
• PLMA (Private Label Manufacturers Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational trade association for private label manufacturers. Heler Foods participates in PLMA trade shows to showcase their full product offering from private label expertise to branded portfolio strength.
• Local Dairy Farmers (100+ farms)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeler Foods sources milk from over 100 local farms, with 90% within a 45 mile radius of their Nantwich creamery. Many farms are on the Cheshire plain, known for exceptional dairy farmers. These are longstanding relationships often spanning generations, with Heler working hand in hand sharing knowledge, resources and innovative ideas.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Leprino Foods: World's largest producer of mozzarella and pizza cheese, supplying major QSR and retail pizza brands globally. Direct competitor to Heler for pizza cheese supply contracts such as the PizzaExpress licence and for foodservice volumes into pizza and ready-meal manufacturers.
• Wyke Farms: Family-owned UK cheddar and specialty cheese producer based in Somerset, supplying major UK retailers and foodservice operators. Closely comparable to Heler as an independent British cheesemaker with similar B2B and own-brand channels and heritage positioning.
• Barber's Cheese: Independent UK cheddar maker supplying multiple major British retailers with block, sliced, and grated formats. Comparable to Heler as a long-established, family-led British cheese brand with national grocery and foodservice reach.
• Appleby's Cheese: Independent UK cheesemaker producing traditional hard cheeses for retail and wholesale markets. Comparable to Heler as another smaller-scale British heritage cheesemaker with own-brand and wholesale channels competing for the same shelf space and specialty retailer customers.
• First Milk: UK dairy farmer-owned cooperative producing cheese, butter, and milk powder with British retail and B2B customers. Comparable to Heler through its UK-cheese manufacturing focus, dairy-farmer governance, and retail/foodservice distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Bel Group: French multinational cheese maker known for The Laughing Cow and an extensive branded and portioned cheese portfolio in UK and global retail. Comparable to Heler in offering branded and licensed cheese formats into UK and European grocery, though from a vastly larger multinational base.
• Saputo Dairy UK (formerly Dairy Crest): Canadian-owned dairy group operating in the UK, with leading cheese brands such as Cathedral City plus dairy ingredients and bulk cheese supply. Comparable to Heler as a large UK cheese manufacturer serving the same supermarkets, foodservice operators, and pizza chains under both branded and private-label.
• Arla Foods: Farmer-owned dairy cooperative and one of the largest producers of cheese, butter, and dairy ingredients in the UK and globally. Comparable to Heler as a dominant UK cheese manufacturer with broad branded, private-label, and foodservice portfolios; same end customers but vastly larger scale.
• Lactalis Group: French-headquartered global dairy and cheese group with multiple UK cheese brands and ingredients operations. Comparable to Heler as a multinational cheese operator competing on retail shelf space, foodservice supply, and contract manufacturing in the UK and Europe.
• Müller Dairy UK: Major UK dairy processor best known for yogurts and butter but with growing presence in cheese and dairy ingredients, supplying grocers and foodservice. Comparable through its UK dairy manufacturing scale, retailer relationships, and broad branded and private-label portfolio overlapping with Heler's pack formats.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HelerFoods
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/joseph-heler-cheese
• Instagraminstagram.com/heler_foods

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 HELER FOODS PACKING LIMITED