Cheese manufacturing is a booming industry and there are lots of companies to choose from, so finding one to supply your business doesn't have to be complicated. Choose carefully though, as cheese is a staple in many dishes: Sandwiches, pasta dishes, fried foods, fondues and baked goods are just a few items that utilize cheese to their advantage.
There is a huge selection of cheese types and a wide variety of cheese manufacturers to match. From unique cheeses to everyday cheddar, find reputable companies that have the cheese selection you're looking for. Consider the following:
1. Design your menu. No matter what type of cheese you include in each dish, there are enough cheese producers to meet your needs.
2. Find a few suppliers that can provide the types of cheese you require. For example, if you own a trendy bagel shop, you'll want to find a company that specializes in cream cheese production.
3. Take your pick of cheese suppliers and set up a delivery schedule.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Locate mozzarella cheese producers for your Italian restaurant
From pizzerias to mom-and-pop Italian restaurants, using the right mozzarella cheese is critical to offering a quality dish. To keep those customers coming back again and again, fresh cheese is key.
I recommend: Leprino Foods Company is the world's largest producer of mozzarella and one of the leading Italian cheese producers of the world. You can find
fresh ball mozzarella for entrées and
shredded mozzarella for pizzas all in the same place.
CheeseSupply.com also has a wide selection of mozzarella and other cheeses.
Go healthy by using suppliers specializing in cottage cheese production
Cottage cheese is a low-fat alternative to higher fat cheeses. It can be used in recipes as a substitute for mozzarella, ricotta and even cheddar. Whether your restaurant serves cottage cheese as a simple side dish to compliment an entrée or substitutes with it to create a healthy dish, using a reputable manufacturer is important.
I recommend: HP Hood offers multiple sizes of cottage cheese tubs, as does
Broughton Foods.
Check out the unique selections available from California cheese producers
In high-end restaurants, using exotic cheeses in dishes creates an air of sophistication for guests. Vineyards hosting wine tastings, in many cases, offer cheese at their events and must pair their wines with a complementary cheese.
I recommend: Buy prize-winning organic cheeses, like St. Pat cheese (made with whole organic cow's milk and wrapped in stinging nettle leaves) at
Cowgirl Creamery. California's first sheep dairy,
Bellwether Farms, includes wine pairing suggestions with a description of each of their cheeses.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Wisconsin is known for being home to many of the companies that manufacture cheese in the United States. A wide variety of cheeses come from this state and it's earned its name as America's Dairyland.
The official source of Cheese Producers is the Cheese Producers page at Business.com