I am not one to waste time when it comes to sharing the legacy of a beloved brand, and some cheesemakers truly need no introduction. With an already vast fan base and an innovative portfolio of goat cheeses, Laura Chenel continues to steal the hearts of consumers.
“While our roots are in traditional French goat cheesemaking, we love to bring those techniques to modern consumers with a very Californian approach based on fresh flavor combinations,” says Durae Hardy, Brand Manager. “Our brand got its start serving chefs, but as we’ve evolved, we have expanded our range to serve not only chefs but also consumers with a variety of cheeses that suit a range of occasions from appetizers to home cooking and snacking.”
Pointing out just one star player in the cheesemaker’s portfolio is quite the challenge, as each of its inventive and flavorful offerings brings a unique, differentiated experience to the cheese case. Retailers can easily capture shoppers’ attention with the supplier’s versatile line of 5 oz fresh goat cheese pillows, which come in a variety of fun flavors, or turn heads with its Marinated Goat Cheese line, which recently swept the American Cheese Society (ACS) 2022 Competition’s Marinated Cheeses made from mixed, or other milks category. The Marinated line comes in three flavors—Black Truffle, Thyme & Rosemary, and Jalapeño Chili—and serves a variety of uses.
With products like these on shelves, the merchandising and foodservice opportunities go as far as your imagination will take you.
“Goat cheeses compliment so many flavors!” Durae explains as we talk retail strategies. “We like to think beyond the cheese board when it comes to our range of flavors and textures. Our spreadable goat cheese is an amazing breakfast or brunch item, and the sweet flavors in our 4 oz log line lend themselves to decadent dessert uses. For any of our products, we recommend merchandising them in a way that highlights their versatility and the fun you can have with them in the kitchen.”
However, you can’t talk about the astounding quality and flavor of these innovative products without paying recognition to the hard work that goes into bringing them to shelves.
“Our farmers are critical to the success of our brand,” Durae says, highlighting a vital component of the company’s cheese production. “Great-tasting cheese starts with the highest quality goat milk, and that comes from well-cared-for goats. We source the milk for our cheeses from a select group of family farms in the West so we can ensure the quality and freshness of the raw product. We’ve been working with many of these farmers for years, and we value our relationships with them. Fresh milk arrives at our Sonoma creamery daily—it’s a critical first step in producing our delicious portfolio of cheeses.”
For more on this ever-evolving cheese supplier and more, keep clicking on Deli Market News.
