Emmi Roth made a big commitment to value-added when it opened a new cheese conversion facility in Stoughton, Wis., at the end of 2023, said Kaya Freiman, Roth’s communications manager.

The company makes custom-shredded blends using Roth Grand Cru, Gouda, Fontina, Havarti and other cheeses at the plant.

“In addition to Athenos feta, the number one feta in the U.S., our new headquarters and cheese conversion facility offers an array of ready-to-use cheese formats that can help reduce waste and labor costs for foodservice at retail,” Freiman said.

The 158,000-square-foot headquarters features a state-of-the-art conversion facility for cupping, bagging, wedging, shredding and crumbling cheeses for numerous brands.

The company said the new space allows it to “control more of its supply chain,” as well as improve “the US cheese industry’s overall conversion landscape.”

In 2021, Emmi Roth acquired Athenos, and the company said that addition led to the need for more conversion and distribution capabilities.

The company’s director of manufacturing, Jordan Ehlen, said having conversion within Emmi Roth’s supply chain drives “growth opportunities to our great portfolio of cheeses, strengthen our value add to customers and increase our ability to service customers.”

The new facility is also the “single biggest sustainability project” in its history, with the headquarters making it possible to reduce the amount of fuel and emissions spent transporting cheeses.

The facility allows Emmi Roth to reduce transportation lanes by 49%, trips per year by 26%, and fuel use and CO2 emissions by 44%. Plus, the headquarters uses electricity exclusively, with no natural gas or propane service, which the company noted will help it meet its net zero by 2050 goals and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

Strategically located between Emmi Roth’s cheese plants in Wisconsin, the headquarters also makes it easier for the company’s various teams to collaborate in person. And Emmi Roth said its conversion team members benefit from a design that involved minimizing the physical stresses of lifting and bending, with efficient workflows the result. 

Focus on snacking 

Meeting consumers’ ever-growing snack needs is also key to Roth’s value-added platform going forward, Freiman said.

“With 60% of consumers maintaining their snacking habits from last year and younger demographics snacking even more  new Roth Dips & Spreads are perfectly positioned to cater to today’s snacking trends,” she said, citing 84.51 Real Time Insights data. “They are also perfect for an easy way to add flavor to recipes such as crostini, burgers, chicken wings and more.”

Roth’s Dips & Spreads include:

Chunky Blue

Experience blue cheese like never before! Crafted with real Roth Havarti and blue cheese, this spread delivers bold flavor in every bite. Ideal for dipping veggies, pretzels, and chicken wings.

Caramelized Onion

Featuring Roth Grand Cru Alpine-Style Cheese, this dip offers a rich savory depth perfect for everything from breakfast bagels to barbeques. Pair with pretzels or crackers for a flavor-packed experience.

Jalapeno Havarti

Made with creamy Roth Jalapeno Havarti and pickled jalapenos, this dip brings the perfect balance of spice to any party.

Buttery Garlic and Herb

Infused with Wisconsin-made butter and cheese, this creamy dip is bursting with garlic and herb flavors, perfect for pretzels, veggies, or as a quick garlic bread spread.

Buffalo Ranch Gouda

A game-day essential, this dip combines the heat of Buffalo sauce with cool herby ranch for an irresistible flavor. Perfect with pretzels, tortilla chips, or buffalo wings.

In addition, enhancing usage occasions is key, and Athenos has a number of innovative products, including Athenos Whipped Feta Dip & Spread and Athenos Feta Cheese with Tajín, that will help consumers use feta in new ways, Freiman said.

This article is an excerpt from the December 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Value-added cheese feature and more in the digital edition here.