Top 10 Cottage Cheese Manufacturers of the World have been covered in this article. Cottage cheese is a fresh, creamy, and soft cheese, which is quite mild and rich in protein. Producers do not press or ripen cottage cheese like aged cheeses, which makes it a popular choice among health-conscious individuals and a versatile ingredient in both savory and sweet dishes.
This process starts with pasteurized milk obtained from the bulk of cows, which is then acidified (bacterial cultures or food-grade acid) to give curds. These curds are very lightly sliced and warmed, so as to remove them from the whey, washed, and seasoned. The outcome is the classic cottage cheese lumpy texture. Producers can add cream to some cottage cheese varieties to create a richer texture and flavor, resulting in what is known as creamed cottage cheese.
Consumers and food producers are driving a significant resurgence in cottage cheese—once considered a humble dairy staple—in both popularity and production. Cottage cheese demand has been skyrocketing as health-conscious consumers look to purchase protein-rich foods with low carbohydrate content. Consumers and market demands now pressure cottage cheese manufacturers to develop new and innovative methods for producing cottage cheese and expanding their mass production offerings.
Top 10 Cottage Cheese Manufacturers of the World
1. Saputo
Saputo is one of the biggest processors of fluid milk and cream, a cheese producer in Canada, the biggest dairy processor, and an Australian processor of milk. Within the USA, Saputo is the leading three cheese producer and among the best in the production of extended shelf-life and products that have undergone fermentation. Saputo is the leading branded cheese/ dairy spread manufacturing company in the United Kingdom. Besides having its dairy products, Saputo manufactures, sells, and distributes a variety of dairy alternative cheeses and beverages. Saputo sells its products in various countries, which include market-leading brands and private label brands.
2. HP Hood LLC
HP Hood LLC is a US-based dairy company with its headquarters in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. The company was established in 1846[1] in Derry, New Hampshire, by Harvey Perley Hood. Hood, after two years of his stay in Derry, moved south with his milk and opened a factory in Charlestown, Massachusetts. HP Hood has made recent acquisitions in the company that are extending its range beyond New England to the United States as a whole. In the current times, the company generates approximately $3.2 billion as its annual sales revenue and has over 3,400 employees. It is also famous for the high quality of its own dairy products, which can include milk, cream, ice cream, and cottage cheese. Hood offers different types and tastes of their cottage cheese, much like their Everything flavor that is mixed with bagel seasoning.
3. Kemps LLC
Kemps LLC is a US dairy based in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Dairy Farmers of America acquired Kemps in 2011 and has operated it as a subsidiary ever since. While Dairy Farmers of America was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, Kemps continues to maintain its headquarters in St. Louis Park. The company products include milk, cottage cheese and half and half, eggnog, cream, juices, sour cream, chip dips, ice cream, yogurt, and novelties. Grocery stores in the Midwest United States carry most of the products, while a few stores in other parts of the country also stock them. Kemps has its five current plants in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
4. Daisy Brand
The family behind the business established it in 1917 and has since specialized in using high-quality, preservative-free ingredients. They offer Daisy cottage cheese in both regular and low-fat varieties, which consumers can identify by the lid colors—dark blue for the regular version and light blue for the low-fat option. The Daisy Brand cottage cheese is a family favorite, and it has a short ingredient list and creamy flavor. fresh sour cream and creamy cottage cheese, pure, simple, and delicious, are in many sizes and shapes.
5. Breakstone
Breakstone is a dairy product that comes in a cottage variety and possesses all the characteristics of a creamy and rich taste. It is a versatile food whether taken alone, in sweet or savory dishes, or as a high protein snack. Breakstones was established in 1882, and it is a well-established company selling quality made dairy products. One may consume it as a snack or in a recipe such as parfait, smoothie, or even pasta dish or a side dish. Breakstone provides the variety of cottage cheese products during which there are variations of milkfat contents ( 4%, 2%, fat-free), curd size (small and large), and varieties of added fruits in the product (Cottage Doubles).
6. Kraft heinz
Kraft Heinz manufactures and commercializes cottage cheese under other brand names, which include Kraft and Breakstones. They provide various types, including 2 % fat milkfat, low-fat cottage cheeses with tiny or huge curds. Kraft Heinz has cottage cheese products of the Breakstone brand, which are produced in 2 and 4 percent milkfat and both small and large curd. The Kraft Heinz Company will decrease its impact on the environment and take care of the natural resources of the earth so that future generations still have something to take advantage of. In 2016, it raised almost 750 million meals to hungry people in the world through partnerships with Rise Against Hunger, Heifer International, and Feeding America, among other organizations.
7. Darigold
Darigold cottage cheese is a dairy product that differs in its creaminess and balanced taste, which are the results of a culture fermentation process. Producers use locally sourced milk to make it, offering different fat levels such as low-fat and whole milk. Darigold also states that they do not use artificial growth hormones, such as rbST, in producing their cottage cheese. Fermentation is particularly an important aspect of the Darigold production since its cultured fermentation prepares the cottage cheese to be fresh and simply delicious. Consumers can enjoy Darigold cottage cheese on its own, paired with fruit or vegetables, or incorporated into recipes like pancakes or lasagna.
8. Fonterra
Fonterra, a major dairy co-operative based in New Zealand, manufactures a wide range of dairy products, including cottage cheese. Although Fonterra is well-known for producing cheese, it primarily markets its cottage cheese under its popular Anchor brand, along with Mainland. Cottage cheese, a curdled milk product with a mild flavor, serves as a good source of protein and is popular for its low-calorie content. Fonterra operates across multiple countries and continents, distributing its cottage cheese in various international markets. An integrated team of two sides of the Tasman working together to produce great dairy products for Australians, New Zealanders, and the multitude around the world, Fonterra Oceania is a joint force.
9. Arla Foods
The Arla Foods company makes cottage cheese in different forms: with fats and without them, and lactose-free. They are famous cottages that have quite a lot of protein and are of a creamy and smooth consistency. People use it in multiple ways—for both sweet and savory meals—as a snack or as an ingredient in salads, sandwiches, dips, and more. This food offered by Arla is smooth, slightly chunky in texture, and slightly tangy in taste, which makes it universal among many different kinds of dishes.
10. Gemermilk
It is a dairy firm based in Slovakia that has long experience in the production of a range of dairy products, including cottage cheese. Gemermilk sets its standard through quality, combining traditional methods with modern innovations. The brand produces this—and other dairy products—known for their taste and nutritional value. Rooted in the heritage of farming communities, Gemermilk brings this legacy into every product. The company sells its cottage cheese both across Slovakia and in international markets.
The market has witnessed an unbelievable turnaround, with the top producers in the industry recording tremendous improvements. In 2023 and 2024, the U.S. category increased by approximately 16 percent and 17 percent year over year, respectively. Daisy Brand, the market leader with many years of experience, preserved a stable performance and grew respectively at 15-17 percent per year, which is in accordance with the tendencies of the market. In the meantime, Good Culture, a relatively new contestant known for its clean-label and single-serve innovations, achieved explosive growth—reporting an 80 percent increase in sales in 2023, followed by a 70 percent increase in 2024. As the market is on track to expand with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2 percent by 2030, not only the legacy brands but also the disruptors will benefit from the new consumer preference towards high-protein, functional dairy.