Dairy Foods USA Cheese Factory
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Blue Mounds Township
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2819 CTH F, Blue Mounds WI 53517
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Operated: 1953 - present
Cheese types: Smoked cheese, snack wedges, spreads and dips, ready cuts.
Notes: Began as Stauffer and Sons in Mt. Horeb. Moved to Blue Mounds, then built current location.
From their website on the history of this factory (off site resource).
" Interestingly enough, Dairyfood USA, Inc. has its roots in the finest cheesemaking traditions of Europe. In 1878, His Imperial Highness Franz Josef, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary requested the respected Swiss dairy scientist Friedrich Stauffer to build a dairy industry for Hungary. Stauffer left his native Switzerland and within just two years was well on his way to success. The company began producing Emmanthaler and by 1910, Stauffer dairy products had become the standard of excellence, not only in Hungary, but also throughout Europe. The onset of World War II had a deeply adverse affect on industrial activity in Europe and Stauffer was no exception. The devastation of World War II forced the Stauffer family to abandon the successful company they had built which employed 250 workers in 18 plants. In December 1944, armed Soviet occupation forces burst into the company offices and declared the confiscation of all property and assets. At that point, the descendents of the original Swiss cheesemakers were given the unhappy choice of remaining in a subject nation or leaving within 24 hours. Alex Stauffer, along with his son, chose to move to America to begin a new life. In the heart of America’s Dairyland, Wisconsin, they began again, eventually resulting in the formation of Stauffer Cheese in 1953. Stauffer’s history of cheesemaking expertise coupled with modern technology led to another remarkable success story. Since the move to America, the company has served retail, gift-packing and institutional food service industries across the continent with a wide variety of award-winning cheeses. In 1982, a new link with its European heritage was formed when Stauffer Cheese became part of the ALPI Company, headquartered in Salzburg, Austria. In 1995, the company’s name was changed from Stauffer Cheese to Lactoprot, USA, Inc. In 1998, Lactoprot USA joined the Artax Group, headquartered in Linz, Austria. On July 1st, 2007 the company once again changed its name, to Dairyfood USA, which better reflects the company’s expanded mission with its focus on consumer products. Today, Dairyfood USA is one of the largest specialty cheesemakers in North America, serving many different markets including gift-packing, transportation, snack, foodservice, club stores and traditional retail. As a result of Dairyfood USA’s expansive, high quality product line, Dairyfood USA’s customers are among the most well-known and recognized names in their respective industries." |
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