Caves of Faribault, a Faribault, Minn.-based subsidiary of Swiss Valley Farms, a Dubuque, Iowa, producer of Blue cheese, Gorgonzola and other specialty cheeses, formed a strategic alliance with Norseland, Inc., a Darien, Conn.-based importer of Jarlsberg cheese in the United States. This partnership allows both companies to collaborate and expand sales outreach in the specialty food segment, with a stated goal of realizing accelerated growth and domain authority within the artisan category.
“By partnering with Norseland and their expansive network of sales professionals, we see tremendous opportunity to raise brand awareness and increase distribution of our Caves of Faribault brand,” says Don Boelens, chief executive officer of Swiss Valley Farms. “We believe this strategic alliance will be beneficial for both companies’ continued growth and success in the ever-changing specialty food category.”
The purpose of this alliance is to further enhance the sales support, customer service, product distribution and marketing coverage for both companies. Norseland’s national sales force and distribution network will facilitate the expansion of Caves of Faribault products to grocers, retailers and foodservice channels.
Both the Caves of Faribault and Norseland’s portfolio of brands bring a rich history of cheesemaking and cured meats, linked to very specialized techniques and processes.
“All of the brands Norseland manages exhibit the quality craftsmanship desired by consumers in this industry,” says Boelens. “By unifying our experience and resources, we will be well-positioned to offer our product line to more consumers and achieve our long-term goal of brand equity in this market.”
