The Success Story Behind Just The Cheese
Cheese is one of life's simple pleasures for many people. The tasty dairy product brightens up sandwiches, salads, charcuterie boards, and recipes galore. While traditional cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan remain ever-popular, recent years have seen artisanal and specialty cheeses gain more mainstream appeal. Among the burgeoning stars in this epicurean arena is Just The Cheese. What began as a small passion project has blossomed into a highly successful business with an impressive net worth.
Humble Beginnings
The roots of Just The Cheese can be traced back to Jen Nurse, a working mom looking for convenient, kid-friendly snacks to pack in her children's school lunches. As a busy professional without much time to prepare elaborate meals, Nurse appreciated the simplicity that various cheeses offered. She soon discovered that her kids devoured string cheese snacks and that purchasing bulk bags helped keep her grocery budget in check.
As Nurse's affinity for cheeses grew, so too did her curiosity. She began trying artisanal varieties at specialty food shops and famers markets when traveling for work. One fateful trip to Vermont proved especially pivotal after sampling their exceedingly creamy, maple sweetened fresh goat cheese. "It was a total game-changer for my perception of what cheese could be," Nurse recalls. She returned home eager to find or even make cheeses that captured the nuanced flavors that wowed her palate.
Transforming a Passion Into a Profession
Fueled by her newfound fascination with cheese, Nurse began handcrafting small batches using local Wisconsin milk and experimenting with unique ingredients like roasted garlic, cranberries, blueberries, paprika, and more. After months of perfecting her recipes, she started selling her homemade cheeses at a local farmers market. Nurse quickly garnered a cult following of loyal customers who came back week after week for her constantly changing cheese selections. Emboldened by the overwhelmingly positive response, she expanded into regional grocery stores and specialty shops.
As demand grew exponentially, Nurse decided to take a leap of faith by quitting her job to focus on Just The Cheese full time. She steadily ramped up production with larger creameries, increased distribution nationwide, and invested in solid branding. That fateful decision paid off in spades. Within a few short years, Just The Cheese emerged as one of the fastest-growing cheese companies in America with an array of award-winning products carried by retailers like Whole Foods, Walmart, and Kroger.
Just The Cheese's Lineup of Innovative Offerings
What sets Just The Cheese apart from competitors is their commitment to innovation aimed at improving cheeses' overall nutrition profiles. While, many leading brands rely chiefly on full-fat dairy, Just The Cheese substitutes milk fats for avocado oil, olive oil, and nut-based fats to reduce overall calories and saturated fats while upping the ante with metabolism-boosting medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). Their current roster of healthier takes on classic include:
- Smoked Gouda - Smoky, savory, and satisfyingly rich.
- Maple Cheddar - Sweet, smooth, and subtly sharp.
- Marble Jack - Bold Monterey Jack swirled with mellow cheddar.
- Peppercorn Parmesan - Nutty and crispy with a subtle peppery punch.
- Aged Provolone - Buttery, mellow tang perfect snacking or charcuterie.
While some cheese purists initially scoffed at the break from tradition, most skeptics are won over upon trying the distinctively creamy textures and surprisingly complex flavors. Each variety strikes an impeccable balance between health-conscious ingredients and indulgent recipes designed to highlight the best qualities of classic cheese styles. Even the staunchest of critics can't help but appreciate the tender loving innovation behind Just The Cheese's scrumptious selections.
Rave Reviews and Skyrocketing Sales
Over the past half-decade, Just The Cheese has earned extensive media acclaim from leading food publications like Food & Wine, Cooking Light, and Bon Appetit for their commitment to great taste and improved nutrition. While early sales relied chiefly on specialty shops and small grocers, distribution now encompasses thousands of mainstream supermarkets and mass retailers across all 50 states. Despite the massive uptick in scale, Just The Cheese remains dedicated to artisanal practices and thoughtful food science designed to enhance cheeses' flavor and function.
In addition to increased availability, Just The Cheese also ramped up product diversification with even more crave-worthy varieties added to their family of healthier cheeses, including:
- Burrata Style Mozzarella - Creamy, dreamy fresh mozzarella purse filled with ooey, gooey stracciatella.
- Fontina Style - Butterscotch sweet nuttiness makes it perfect for snacking or melting.
- Asiago Style - Super savory with a subtle grassy tang and fluffy texture.
While early skeptics viewed Just The Cheese's better-for-you angle as too much of a departure from familiar favorites, their consistent standout execution and universal appeal are clear signs of revolutionary potential. Sales continue gaining momentum by double digits year after year.
Impressive Company Growth Drives Soaring Net Worth
Over the past decade, Just The Cheese has experienced stratospheric growth transforming from humble farmers market vendor into an iconic brand valued at over $100 million. They now employ over 100 staff members and occupy a 50,000 square foot headquarters and production facility equipped with cutting edge technology and equipment capable of churning out tens of thousands of pounds of cheese each week.
In 2019, Just The Cheese received a substantial investment from leading dairy giant Schreiber Foods. While the exact numbers remain confidential, experts estimate the deal was completed for an eight figure sum between $10 million to $99 million. This influx of working capital enabled large-scale automation to boost production as well as expanded research and development to keep innovating the next generation of deliciously wholesome cheeses. Additionally, this partnership opened doors for international distribution with select products exported as far as Asia and Europe.
With double digit sales spikes year after year, Just The Cheese's meteoric rise shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Considering their current trajectory, experts predict the company's net worth may soon eclipse the rare $1 billion unicorn status. Regardless what the future holds, Jen Nurse's humble home cheese making hobby transforming into record-setting business success story serves as inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.
FAQs
How did Just The Cheese get its start?
Just The Cheese was started by Jen Nurse, a working mom looking for convenient, kid-friendly cheese snacks for her children's lunches. Her passion for cheese led her to start experimenting with making her own unique cheese varieties, which she started selling at local farmers markets with great success.
What makes Just The Cheese different from other cheeses?
Just The Cheese focuses on innovation and improving the nutrition of their cheeses. They substitute milk fats for avocado, olive, and nut oils to reduce calories and saturated fats while adding metabolism-boosting MCTs. This allows for a healthier take on classic cheese flavors and textures.
Where can you buy Just The Cheese products?
Just The Cheese products are sold in thousands of grocery stores and mass retail outlets across all 50 US states, including top chains like Whole Foods, Walmart, and Kroger. Select products are also exported internationally to Europe and Asia.
What is Just The Cheese's company worth?
Experts estimate Just The Cheese's company worth to be over $100 million currently. Thanks to meteoric sales growth and investments, they may reach elite "unicorn" status with a valuation exceeding $1 billion in the coming years.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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