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Our story began in 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, when a young Danish immigrant, Anton "Tony" Pederson, arrived in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Soon after his arrival, Tony established his business by bottling milk and churning butter. In 1938, Tony, also a skilled cheese maker, purchased some used cheese making equipment. He then bought some land and built a cheese factory. It was here that our cheese making heritage began with the production of our first vat of cheddar cheese. |
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During the Second World War, Uncle Sam paid premium prices for Cheddar Cheese. It was at this time that Tony made his first sale to the United States Government. Soon Tony's cheese became famous, and his was the first factory in the region to package and deliver cheese directly to the grocery stores. Throughout the 40's, 50's, and 60's, he made cheese, packaged his product, and distributed it throughout Southwest Wisconsin. Tony's relentless efforts laid the groundwork for our present day business, and they led Shullsburg Creamery to be one of the first cheese factories to market its cheese under its own brand. |
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In 1972, Tony sold Shullsburg Creamery to Arthur Stocker, a Chicago businessman and mechanical engineer. Art was on a weekend trip and discovered Shullsburg Creamery while on a quest to purchase some Wisconsin Cheese. The timing couldn't have been more appropriate as Art was pursuing a business opportunity and Tony was looking towards retirement. The two struck a deal and ownership of the Creamery changed hands. Art employed ten employees who manufactured, packaged, and distributed Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, Brick and Muenster cheese. Forty-five hundred pounds of cheese were produced daily. But eventually the factory's limited capacity and old machinery necessitated its closing, and in September 1988, the last vat of cheese was made in Shullsburg. Since then, Shullsburg Creamery has broadened into new and different areas. |
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At the same downtown Shullsburg factory location, Shullsburg Creamery, local dairy farmer owned, now buys, cures, packages, and distributes our quality branded products throughout the Midwest under the name of Shullsburg Cheese. Today the Shullsburg Wisconsin Cheese Brand is a widely respected label. High quality, full of flavor Wisconsin Cheese is the foundation of our business and continues to be our hallmark. |
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In 2006 Mid-West Dairymen’s Company, a dairy farmer owned cooperative, acquired the Shullsburg Creamery business. As we continue to grow, we must remember our humble beginnings and not stray from what has made us successful. Arthur and Tony left unforgettable impressions on all who met them and were certainly pioneers in cheese making and in cheese distribution. Through their contributions, the old mining town of Shullsburg is synonymous with cheese. |
