DCI Cheese Company

DCI Cheese Company is a Wisconsin-based cheese manufacturer and marketer whose business developed from a consulting operation serving cheesemakers into a sizable specialty-cheese company. It was established in 1975 as Dan Carter, Inc., initially operating as a consulting firm for cheesemakers. The company subsequently expanded into cheese production and marketing, building a portfolio that included both company-owned and exclusively held cheese brands. The business was originally headquartered in Mayville, Wisconsin, and moved its headquarters to Richfield, Wisconsin, before 2005. Its growth reflected the increasing importance of specialty cheese in wholesale and retail food distribution, with DCI serving as a marketer and supplier across a broad range of cheese categories and branded offerings. By 2007, reference material described DCI as a business with approximately $500 million in sales and more than 20 unique company-owned cheese brands. Because the available source gives that figure only for 2007, it should be treated as historical context rather than a current financial measure. In 2003, the company adopted the name DCI Cheese Company, replacing the Dan Carter, Inc. identity as its cheese manufacturing and marketing activities became central to the business. In 2005, DCI was acquired by Fairmount Food Group. It continued operating as a specialty-cheese company under that ownership and received recognition during the period for its performance in food distribution and retail-focused specialty cheese. The company won Wisconsin's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Wholesale/Retail Distribution category in 2004, and in 2007 it received the Category Colonel Award from Refrigerated & Frozen Food Retailer magazine for specialty cheese. DCI's portfolio included brands such as Alpenhaus, Black Diamond, Black River, Chevrion, County Line, Great Midwest, Ilchester, Il Giardino, Joan of Arc, King's Choice, Landana, Mun-chee, Nikos, Organic Creamery, Prima Donna, and Salemville. These offerings indicate a portfolio strategy spanning domestic and imported-style cheeses, specialty formats, organic products, and brands aimed at retail and food-distribution channels. The company was therefore positioned less as a single-product consumer label than as a multi-brand cheese platform. In 2011, Saputo Inc., a Montreal-based dairy and cheese manufacturer, acquired DCI Cheese Company Inc. of Richfield for $270.5 million. DCI became part of Saputo's broader cheese operations. The available reference material does not provide a detailed account of DCI's post-acquisition organizational structure, current revenue, executive leadership, or whether every historical brand remained under the DCI name. Its continuing status is therefore best described as an operating cheese business within the Saputo group, subject to verification through current corporate or regulatory sources.

DCI Cheese Company began in 1975 as Dan Carter, Inc., a consulting firm serving cheesemakers. The company later moved beyond consulting into cheese manufacturing and marketing, establishing a business model based on developing, owning, marketing, and distributing multiple cheese brands. Its early headquarters were in Mayville, Wisconsin; before 2005, the company relocated its headquarters to Richfield, Wisconsin. The company changed its name to DCI Cheese Company in 2003. The change reflected the growing importance of its cheese business and gave the enterprise a more direct connection to its principal commercial activity. During the 2000s, DCI expanded its specialty-cheese portfolio and became a significant supplier to wholesale and retail channels. Historical reference material describes the company as having approximately $500 million in business in 2007 and more than 20 unique company-owned cheese brands at that time. DCI received external recognition during this growth period. In 2004, Ernst & Young named it Wisconsin's Entrepreneur of the Year in the Wholesale/Retail Distribution category. In 2007, Refrigerated & Frozen Food Retailer magazine gave the company its Category Colonel Award for specialty cheese. These awards indicate the company's emphasis on distribution execution, retail supply, and specialty-cheese merchandising rather than a single consumer-facing product identity. Fairmount Food Group acquired DCI in 2005. DCI continued to operate as a specialty-cheese company under Fairmount. Its brand portfolio included Alpenhaus, Black Diamond, Black River, Chevrion, County Line, Great Midwest, Ilchester, Il Giardino, Joan of Arc, King's Choice, Landana, Mun-chee, Nikos, Organic Creamery, Prima Donna, and Salemville. The range included domestic and European-style products, organic offerings, and brands distributed through retail and wholesale networks. In 2011, Saputo Inc. acquired DCI Cheese Company Inc. of Richfield for $270.5 million. Saputo, a Montreal-based cheese and dairy manufacturer with Wisconsin facilities, thereby added DCI's specialty-cheese business and brand portfolio to its operations. The supplied references do not establish a detailed current management roster, a current standalone corporate structure, or the present status of every historical DCI brand. Further current-company verification would be required for those points.

• 2011

  Saputo acquisition

  [1]DCI Cheese Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Saputo acquires DCI Cheese Company Inc. for $270.5 million.

• 2007

  Category Colonel Award

  [1]DCI Cheese Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Refrigerated & Frozen Food Retailer magazine honors DCI for specialty cheese.

• 2005

  Fairmount Food Group acquisition

  [1]DCI Cheese Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Fairmount Food Group acquires DCI, which continues as a specialty-cheese business.

• 2004

  Wisconsin Entrepreneur of the Year award

  [1]DCI Cheese Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Ernst & Young recognizes DCI in Wisconsin's Wholesale/Retail Distribution category.

• 2003

  Corporate name changes to DCI Cheese Company

  [1]DCI Cheese Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopts the DCI Cheese Company name as manufacturing and marketing become its central activities.

• 1975

  Dan Carter, Inc. is established

  [1]DCI Cheese Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The business begins as a consulting firm for cheesemakers.

A multi-brand specialty-cheese manufacturer and marketer serving wholesale and retail food channels, with a portfolio covering domestic, imported-style, organic, and other differentiated cheese offerings.

• Cheese brand

  Great Midwest

  Great Midwest is one of the named DCI cheese brands. The supplied reference identifies it as part of the company's portfolio but does not provide a detailed product range, recipe history, or current ownership information.

• Cheese brand

  Nikos

  Nikos was among DCI's company-owned or exclusively held brands. The available source does not specify its individual varieties, launch date, or post-acquisition brand structure.

• Specialty cheese brand

  Salemville

  Salemville was listed as one of DCI's specialty-cheese brands. The supplied material does not provide enough detail to describe its specific products or current distribution independently.

• Cheese brand

  Black River

  Black River was part of DCI's multi-brand cheese portfolio. No additional product-level information is established by the supplied reference.

• European-style cheese brand

  Ilchester

  Ilchester was identified as an owned or exclusively held DCI brand, contributing to the company's European and specialty-cheese assortment.

• European-style cheese brand

  Landana

  Landana appeared in DCI's brand portfolio and represented the company's participation in specialty and European-style cheese marketing. Specific varieties and current ownership are not established here.

• Organic cheese brand

  Organic Creamery

  Organic Creamery was listed among DCI's brands and indicates the company's participation in organic cheese products. The supplied sources do not provide further product specifications.

• Cheese brands

  Alpenhaus, Black Diamond, Chevrion, County Line, Il Giardino, Joan of Arc, King's Choice, Mun-chee, and Prima Donna

  These brands were identified in the reference material as fully owned or exclusively held by DCI. The available source does not provide sufficient individual descriptions, launch dates, or current status for each brand.

• 2011

  Saputo acquisition of DCIM&A

  Background

  Saputo sought to expand its cheese manufacturing and distribution operations, including its presence in Wisconsin.

  Action taken

  Saputo acquired DCI Cheese Company Inc. for $270.5 million.

  Aftermath

  DCI became part of Saputo's broader cheese operations.

  Acquisition price. $270.5 million (2011 acquisition)

  Source

• 2005

  Fairmount Food Group acquisitionM&A

  Background

  DCI had developed into a substantial multi-brand specialty-cheese manufacturer and marketer.

  Action taken

  Fairmount Food Group acquired the company.

  Aftermath

  DCI continued operating as a specialty-cheese business under Fairmount.

  Source

• 2003

  Adoption of the DCI Cheese Company nameStrategy

  Background

  The company had expanded from cheesemaking consultancy into cheese manufacturing and marketing.

  Action taken

  It replaced the Dan Carter, Inc. name with DCI Cheese Company.

  Aftermath

  The new identity more directly represented the company's cheese-focused operating model.

  Source

1. 1DCI Cheese Companyen.wikipedia.org