Modesto, California-based Fiscalini Cheese Co. is heading into IDDBA with a new head cheesemaker, says Laura Genasci, managing partner. At the beginning of the year, the company hired fifth-generation cheesemaker Alex Borgo.
“We couldn’t be more excited about what his experience and expertise brings to us,” Genasci says. “His passion for artisan cheese making aligns beautifully with our values and our desire to craft some of the world’s best cheeses. “
With Borgo at the helm, Fiscalini is looking to possibly add new cheese varieties to its line, perfecting the cheeses the company has already mastered and increasing productivity in the plant, Genasci says. “A fresh set of eyes in the plant has given us new perspective and allowed for us to dream a little bigger.”
Fiscalini plans to show its current line of 10 cheeses at IDDBA, which provides the company with “a great opportunity to present them all to retailers nationwide,” Genasci says. “We always look forward to IDDBA. It’s a great place to see new and innovative products and packaging, merchandising methods and taste the creations of chefs nationwide.”
Some Fiscalini cheeses, like its Bandage Wrapped Cheddar and San Joaquin Gold, have been popular for a long time. Others — Liona and Hopscotch, for example — have started to gain traction in the marketplace more recently.
Lionza, recent winner of a Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards and 2018 Sofi award recipient by the Specialty Food Association, will be spotlighted at IDDBA, Genasci says.
In 2019, Fiscalini is focused on continuing to capitalize on industry trends including higher demand for specialty and natural cheeses, a desire for consumers to learn about the origin of their cheese, variety in flavored products and overall convenience, Genasci says.
“All our products are all-natural and handcrafted on our small fourth-generation run family farm,” she says. “Helping consumers to understand our story is imperative. We use social media to share facts about our practices and host tours for industry-related personnel who can in turn tell our story at store level.”
When it comes to flavored cheeses, Fiscalini’s line includes top sellers wine-soaked and beer-soaked cheddars. “Wine and cheese have been a longtime favorite pairing of many and with craft breweries gaining recent fame, our Purple Moon, Hopscotch and CA Craft Beer Cheddar are selling very well,” Genasci says. “We recently moved to smaller exact weight retail cuts, making it quicker for deli managers to get our product on the shelf and easier for consumers to purchase and enjoy.”