Cheeseland

What Cheeseland does

Cheeseland Inc. is a Seattle-based importer and distributor of premium Dutch artisan cheeses, founded and wholly owned by Jan Kos, a Netherlands native who curates the portfolio in collaboration with Dutch partner farms. The company offers more than 40 cheese SKUs organized around core aged Goudas, sheep milk cheeses under the Ewephoria trademark, goat milk varieties (Dutch Girl, Honey Bee Goat, Benning), specialty innovations such as Fourmage (a four-milk blend) and KoKos (coconut-infused Gouda), the Gooda flavored-Gouda range, and pre-portioned snack packs. All products are sourced from grass-fed, pasture-grazed animals with no GMO, rBST, or preservatives. The proprietary portfolio has earned the 2015 SIAL Innovation Grand Prize and multiple World Championship Cheese Contest placements, and is protected by seven registered trademarks.

The business operates a wholesale distribution model selling to specialty cheese retailers, cheesemongers, gourmet grocers, and foodservice operators globally, supported by a dedicated B2B wholesale portal at wholesale.cheeselandinc.com, a consumer-facing marketing site with store locator, and tasting-event activation at retail partners. Revenue is generated primarily through wholesale one-time purchase transactions, with secondary consumer sales of branded snack packs. The company does not operate its own production, food-service operations, or subscription model — it functions as a specialty import curator and brand owner.

Cheeseland is a micro-entity (1–10 employees), privately held, bootstrapped with no institutional funding on record, and is currently operated as a founder-led niche distributor. Marketing channels are content-driven (blog, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, trade shows), and the company maintains PR relationships with food media including Culture Magazine and The Boston Globe. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; orders are handled through a quote-based wholesale website.

Name

Cheeseland

Legal name

Cheeseland Inc.

Website

https://cheeselandinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cheeseland Inc. is a Seattle-based, founder-owned importer and wholesale distributor of 40+ premium Dutch artisan cheeses serving specialty retailers, cheesemongers, and foodservice operators globally through proprietary branded products and a B2B wholesale portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Cheese Importation and Distribution

NAICS

Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers (424430), Cheese Manufacturing (311513)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Butter & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Sour Cream, Kefir) Wholesale (AFAIAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC), Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAB)

Keywords

• Dutch cheese importation
• Artisan cheese distribution
• Specialty cheese wholesale
• Gouda cheese varieties
• Cheese snack packs

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Cheese Distribution: Primary revenue stream through wholesale distribution of artisan quality Dutch cheeses to retailers, cheese shops, and foodservice operators.
2. Retail/Consumer Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through specialty snack packs and individual cheese products available via their wholesale website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cheeseland Inc. imports and distributes over 40 artisan quality Dutch cow, goat, and sheep milk cheeses sourced from grass-fed, pasture-grazed animals. The company develops proprietary cheese innovations such as Fourmage (four-milks blend), KoKos (coconut Gouda), and Seaweed Gooda, and distributes them through a dedicated wholesale portal to specialty retailers, cheesemongers, and foodservice operators worldwide, with consumer snack packs available as a secondary channel.

Product overview

Cheeseland Inc. is a Dutch cheese importer and distributor offering over 40 artisan quality cheeses imported from Holland. The portfolio centers on Gouda-style cheeses under the proprietary Gooda brand, with specialty offerings including the award-winning Fourmage four-milks cheese, KoKos coconut cheese, and various aged sheep and goat milk cheeses. The product line is organized around core cheese varieties (aged Goudas, sheep milk Ewephoria, goat cheeses, Maasdammer Swiss-style), flavored Gooda variations (herbs, spices, nuts, pesto, seaweed), and convenient Snack Packs. The company also operates a wholesale portal for B2B ordering. All cheeses are sourced from grass-fed, pasture-grazing animals with no GMO, no rBST, and no preservatives. Several products have won international recognition including World Championship Cheese Contest awards and SIAL Innovation awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fourmage Four Milks Cheese A mixed milk Gouda-style cheese combining buffalo, sheep, cow, and goat milk developed in Holland. Winner of a silver medal at the International Cheese Awards 2017. Targeted at specialty cheese retailers and gourmet food enthusiasts seeking unique artisan offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.5 points scored by Honey Bee Goat cheese at World Championship Cheese Contest
• +3 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rainbow Grocery CooperativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor San Francisco-based specialty cheese retailer and food cooperative that carries Cheeseland products including Fourmage. Cheese buyer Gordon Edgar has provided testimonials and feedback on Cheeseland cheeses.
• Farmstead Cheeses and WinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty wine and cheese retailer that hosts cheese tasting events featuring Cheeseland products such as Benning Goat Cheese and Maasdammer tastings.
• The Singing TreeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWeb design and content partner that designs and writes content for Cheeseland Inc.'s website and marketing materials.
• The Brothers GreenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative chef duo who collaborated with Cheeseland to create a recipe video featuring Kokos Coconut Cheese in a Salmon Quesadilla.
• Huizer CourantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Dutch newspaper in Huizen that interviewed Cheeseland owner Jan Kos and artist Ivan Mijatovic about the Fourmage cheese label artwork.
• Culture MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCheese industry publication that featured Cheeseland's KoKos Coconut Cheese Innovation Award and co-presented the Let's Talk About Cheese event with Boston Globe.
• The Boston GlobeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor newspaper that co-presented the Let's Talk About Cheese event featuring Cheeseland products alongside international cheese varieties.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Murray's Cheese: Iconic specialty cheese importer, retailer, and distributor (now part of Kroger) curating European and domestic cheeses for retail and foodservice. Operates the same importer-and-distribute-to-cheese-shop model Cheeseland serves, with strong brand recognition and cheesemonger relationships.
• BelGioioso Cheese Company: US artisan cheese manufacturer of Italian-style cheeses with national foodservice and retail distribution. Comparable as a specialty-focused cheese company that competes for cheese-counter shelf space and foodservice menu placements, though BelGioioso is also a manufacturer.
• Sartori Cheese: US-based specialty cheese maker and importer with a portfolio spanning Parmesan, Italian-style, and award-winning artisan cheeses. Closely comparable as a brand-led specialty cheese company serving retail, foodservice, and gifting channels with proprietary branded SKUs and recognized awards.
• Di Bruno Bros. Philadelphia-based specialty cheese and gourmet food importer/retailer distributing a curated portfolio of European cheeses to retail, foodservice, and corporate gifting. Shares Cheeseland's specialty importer/wholesaler model with a strong brand and award-driven assortment.
• Zingerman's: Premium specialty food company with mail-order, retail, and foodservice channels built around curated European imports. Shares Cheeseland's high-touch importer/distributor model with an emphasis on storytelling, recipes, and education to drive differentiation.

Broad incumbents

• Lactalis: World's largest dairy company with deep specialty cheese brands (e.g., Président) across retail and foodservice globally. Operates as a broad incumbent providing scale supply, branded marketing, and category management in the same aisles Cheeseland targets.
• Saputo: One of the largest global dairy processors and cheese marketers, with extensive US specialty and branded cheese operations. Sets the competitive backdrop for cheese retail and foodservice pricing, promotion, and shelf share that Cheeseland must navigate.
• Tillamook County Creamery Association: Large farmer-owned dairy brand with a broad specialty cheese portfolio in US grocery and foodservice. Represents the scale end of the category against which Cheeseland's smaller, more curated import-led assortment competes for consumer cheese purchases.

Emerging players

• Rogue Creamery: Oregon-based specialty blue and artisan cheese maker with strong brand recognition, global awards, and growing retail and foodservice distribution. Mirrors Cheeseland's premium-positioned, award-driven specialty cheese strategy with overlapping US retail and foodservice targets.
• Cypress Grove Cheese: Specialty goat and artisan cheese maker (acquired by Savencia Fromage & Dairy) with US distribution and a reputation-driven brand. A direct adjacent emerging specialist competing in the same artisan cheese retail and foodservice set as Cheeseland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cheeseland_inc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cheeselandinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/CheeseLandInc
• Pinterestpinterest.com/cheeselandinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cheeseland-inc

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 Cheeseland