Now in its fourth generation, Meister Cheese carries forward a century-long legacy built on consistency
More than a century ago, Meister Cheese began as a small family-run factory in Muscoda, Wisconsin, the heart of America’s Dairyland. Over time, the business has grown into one of the country’s most respected artisan cheesemakers, known for its premium cheeses and whey products. Scott Meister, Chief Executive Officer, shares an overview of Meister Cheese’s delightful cheese products, highlighting its commitment to sustainable practices.
“I am a third-generation proprietor of Meister Cheese. My grandfather, Joseph Meister, started the business back in 1916, making cheese at a small rural cheese factory not far from where we operate today. My father then moved our operation to Muscoda, Wisconsin in 1966, where he built a new cheese factory ten years later and a whey processing plant in 1981. This led to rapid growth, which has been particularly pronounced from the early 2000s onwards,” he begins.
Over a century of operation has naturally shaped a broad product offering. What started as a specialism in flavorful cheddar cheese has evolved considerably over time, and today Meister Cheese produces a wide range of American cheese varieties for both food service and private label customers. The portfolio includes 40-pound blocks of flavored Monterey Jack, Colby, Colby-Jack, Havarti, Gouda and other varieties, all recognized by customers for their consistent taste and quality. The company also operates a conversion line capable of cutting those 40-pound blocks down into various portions, such as one pound, six ounces or eight ounces, ready for retail sale on grocery shelves. This capability adds meaningful versatility to its offer and opens doors to a wider range of customers.
With such a broad portfolio and a growing production operation, ensuring product quality and consistency remains at the same high level that customers expect is a constant and deliberate focus for the company. Scott explains how Meister Cheese approaches that challenge. “We have a thorough training program in place for our cheesemakers, led by a master cheesemaker who has been working with us for over 40 years. His expertise is invaluable in passing on knowledge and maintaining standards. Alongside that, we employ the latest technology, equipment and computerized systems to ensure that every process is repeatable and accurate with every single batch,” he enlightens.
That investment in technology has played a key role in enabling Meister Cheese to achieve consistency at scale. Precision is particularly critical in areas like the fermentation of starter bacteria, where temperature and pH must be monitored and maintained within tight tolerances. These processes are now managed with a level of accuracy that manual methods simply could not replicate reliably. By taking on the most repetitive and technically demanding tasks, the cutting-edge technology frees the Meister Cheese team to focus on the craft and judgement that makes all the difference in cheesemaking.
While these machines take away some of the repetitive tasks, cheesemaking is a craft that is fundamentally about people. As a family-owned business now in its fourth generation, company culture is integral to the way Meister Cheese operates at every level. “I am proud to be the third generation, and even more proud that the fourth generation is very active in the business,” Scott enthuses. “My son and daughter are both fully engaged, and I now have young grandchildren, so we very much look forward to the fifth and sixth generations coming down the line in due course.” The continuity of family ownership has shaped a culture of care and long-term thinking that runs through everything Meister Cheese does.
Responsible sourcing
Reaching 110 years in business is an extraordinary achievement by any measure, and Meister Cheese’s longevity can be attributed in large part to its willingness to adapt and improve across the generations. A telling example is its approach to sustainability, something the company has been practicing since long before it became an industry talking point. Scott’s father began whey processing back in 1981, at a time when whey was typically fed back to animals or simply spread on land rather than being processed or recycled. By establishing its own whey processing division that same year, Meister Cheese was well ahead of industry norms. As technology has advanced, the company has continued to embrace new methods for operating more sustainably and efficiently, building on that early foundation rather than starting from scratch.
Environmental responsibility at Meister Cheese extends beyond production processes to encompass the welfare of the animals at the very start of its supply chain. The company’s Cows First™ animal welfare program illustrates this commitment very well. It is a voluntary protocol that farmers can choose to comply with, requiring them to give their animals access to the outdoors as well as an entirely vegetarian diet. “By that, we do mean feed free from animal by-products, as well as instructing them to commit to practices such as no growth hormone injections and no tail docking. Farmers who choose to comply with the Cows First™ program get paid a premium for the milk their cows produce in exchange. Furthermore, we have customers who specifically request that those attributes are present in the milk used to produce their cheese, so this program works for everyone in the chain,” Scott points out.
As a cheese company, maintaining close ties and long-standing partnerships with those local farmers and the people it sources other ingredients from is critical for Meister Cheese, as it plays a direct role in the quality of its products. Located in America’s Dairyland, the company benefits from some of the most naturally suited dairy farming terrain in the country. The rolling hills, valleys, streams, creeks and rivers of the unglaciated region create ideal conditions for grazing and produce milk of exceptional quality, giving Meister Cheese a unique advantage.
The company’s enduring strength lies in balancing tradition with innovation. Guided by generations of family leadership, strong agricultural partnerships, and a commitment to quality and responsible practices, Meister Cheese is set to continue shaping the future of American cheesemaking for decades to come.