Our Story

The DCI Cheese Company story begins in Mayville, Wisconsin in 1975. Back then we were exclusively a consultant—but over the years we've quietly grown our business to where we are today—the largest importer and marketer of specialty and deli-style cheeses in the United States. We own and operate a conversion plant for our cheeses, and are manufacturers of restaurant quality dips, spreads, and prepared foods.

1975
Dan Carter, Inc. is founded as a brand-building consulting firm for small to medium-sized specialty food suppliers.

1991
Dan Carter, Inc. launches its first company-owned brand, Salemville® Cheese.

1992
The company obtains U.S. agent status for the Black Diamond® cheese brand; since that time we have grown Black Diamond® from 100,000 pounds sold in 1992 to 70% of the total U.S./Canadian imported Cheddar market.

1994
Dan Carter, Inc. becomes employee-owned.

1997
The company establishes its first dedicated supplier/manufacturing partnership, Carter/Meister LLC.

1998
Dan Carter, Inc. becomes a customer-focused supplier of premium company-owned or exclusively-held brands.

• Alpenhaus®
• Black Diamond®
• Black River™
• Danamark®
• Dutchmark™
• Floralie®
• Great Midwest®
• Organic Creamery®
• Salemville®
• Timber Lake®

1999
Dan Carter, Inc. continues to grow its portfolio of supplier partnerships with the addition of the following cheesemakers and their brands:

• Klondike Cheese Company (Odyssey® brand Feta cheese)
• Park Cheese Company (Casaro® brand Italian-style cheeses)
• Michigan’s Old Europe Cheese Company (Reny Picot® brand classic Gouda, Fontina, Edam, Brie, Camembert, and its artisanal cheeses, Camembert Fermier and Carre St. Joseph)

2001
The company establishes the Carter/North Hendren LLC specialized supplier/manufacturing partnership.

2003
Dan Carter, Inc. changes its name to DCI Cheese Company.

DCI Cheese Company opens a new consolidated warehouse in Appleton, Wis. With room for more than 300 items, DCI becomes a true single source specialty cheese supplier.

2004
Tim Omer, President and CEO of DCI Cheese Company, is the recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the state of Wisconsin.

2005
DCI Cheese Company is acquired by Fairmount Food Group, LLC and its equity sponsor, GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC. Following the merger, the DCI Cheese/Fairmount Food Group family of companies becomes the largest importer and marketer of specialty and deli style cheeses in the United States.

DCI Cheese Company relocates its corporate headquarters from Mayville, Wis., to Richfield, Wis.

2006
DCI Cheese/Fairmount Food Group, LLC acquires G & G Specialty Foods of Santa Rosa, Calif. Founded in 1991, G & G produces restaurant-quality specialty foods which include Goldy’s® Handcrafted Cheese Spreads, Meza® Hummus, Meza® Baked Brie, and Meza® Sonoma Salsa.

DCI Cheese/Fairmount Food Group, LLC acquires Green Bay Cheese Co. of Green Bay, Wis. Founded in 1948, Green Bay  Cheese Co. is a leader in custom cheese packaging and procurement  for the consumer, foodservice, and industrial markets.

DCI Cheese/Fairmount Food Group, LLC acquires Swissrose® International, Inc. of Moonachie, N.J. Founded in 1938, Swissrose® sells imported and specialty cheeses under brands that include Joan of Arc®, King’s Choice®, a number of cheeses from Spain under the el Cortijo™ brand, Chevrion® goat cheese, and Ilchester® cheese from England. It also sells deli cheeses such as Swiss, Cheddar, and Provolone under the County Line® brand.

2007
DCI Cheese/Fairmount Food Group, LLC acquires Advantage International Foods Corporation. Founded in 1993, Advantage imports, markets and distributes over 1,000 products nationwide.

Today
DCI Cheese Co. continues to search for strategic partnerships that allow it to expand its manufacturing, branding, sales, marketing, and distribution of both domestic and imported cheeses, as well as prepared foods.

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