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Nuestro Queso Expands Into Co-Packing and Private Label
Lindsey Wojcik
January 1, 2018
2 Min Read
Six-year-old start-up Nuestro Queso—translated to “Our Cheese”—has seen the potential in making Hispanic cheeses in the growing cheese market. Having its own brand has helped Nuestro Queso expand into co-packing and private label manufacturing as the company has been able to leverage all its expertise in the marketplace to help its co-packing clients win, say company officials. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture figures, U.S. cheese production is at an all-time high with Hispanic cheeses outpacing the growth of the natural cheese category as a whole. Hispanic cheese production has increased every year over the last ten with the exception of 2012. While processed cheese consumption continues to decline, natural cheese consumption reached an all-time high with the average consumption of over 33 pounds per person per year and is expected to grow further. “Nuestro Queso, is excited about our position in the marketplace and the incredible opportunity add unique value to retailers and bridge consumers," says Arturo Nava, marketing director at Nuestro Queso. "The convergence of Hispanic population growth, Latin-inspired trends, experience-seeking demographic groups such as millennials and generation Z, and the consistent growth in consumption of natural, ethnic cheeses is presenting a prime opportunity for this category.” Nuestro Queso offers a diverse portfolio of fresh Hispanic-style dairy products through its own brand and the brands they manufacture for their co-packing and private label clients:
Mexican cheeses: Queso Fresco, Queso Oaxaca, Queso Para Fundir (also known as “quesadilla cheese”), Queso Cotija (the Mexican zesty parmesan) and Queso Panela.
Caribbean cheeses: Queso Blanco, Para Freir, (known as frying cheese) and Queso Colombiano (often used for Arepas or crumbled over beans).
Central American cheeses: Acerrin, Duro Blando, Duro Seco, Fresco Casero, and Centro Americano en Trozos.
Sour Creams: Crema Mexicana, Crema Salvadorena, Crema Centro Americana, Crema Hondurena, and Crema Guatemalteca.
Drinkable Yogurts: Nuestro Yogurt offers Hispanic drinkable yogurt in 32-ounce, seven-ounce and 6 packs of seven-ounce bottles in six flavors: strawberry, pecan, mango, pina colada, strawberry & banana and peach.
The Nuestro Queso production facility, centrally located in Kent, Ill., is recognized with Food Safety Management SQF Level 2 certification, which is a standard recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)- meeting international standards that many retailers and manufacturers now require. The SQF Level 2 certification is not only important in the production of Nuestro Queso brands, but sought-after by private label and third-party manufacturing customers.
