Belfiore Cheese Co.

Belfiore Cheese Company is a family-owned, artisan specialty cheese manufacturer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a history dating back to 1987. Originally established in San Rafael, California, the operation was among the first in the United States to produce hand-crafted Italian-style Mozzarella and Fior di Latte — fresh mozzarella in water — at a time when most domestic producers focused exclusively on low-moisture mozzarella. In 1989, new ownership assumed the business with a shared commitment to preserving traditional cheese-making techniques, maintaining the homemade quality and genuine character that have since become hallmarks of the Belfiore brand. Over more than three decades, the company has grown its reputation as one of the few remaining small-scale, family-run cheese manufacturing operations in the Bay Area. All products are crafted from certified rBST-free, Grade A milk sourced from California farmers, reinforcing the brand's dedication to local agricultural partnerships. Every product in the Belfiore line is made 100% naturally, free from artificial additives, preservatives, and gluten. The company's portfolio spans a wide range of Italian-style fresh and specialty cheeses, including multiple varieties of mozzarella such as Traditional Mozzarella, Mozzarella Ovaline, Ciliegine, Perline, Smoked Mozzarella, and the flagship Fior di Latte. Additional offerings include Burrata, Burrata di Bufala — a premium burrata crafted with fresh water buffalo cream sourced from a farm in Wilton, California — Ricotta, Mascarpone, Feta, and Farmers Cheese. The company also maintains a dedicated line of certified organic cheeses, including Organic Fior di Latte, Organic Feta, Organic Farmers Cheese, Organic Perline, and Organic Ciliegine, catering to the growing consumer and retail demand for organic dairy products. Belfiore has earned significant industry recognition, receiving multiple American Cheese Society awards including blue ribbons for its feta and fresh mozzarella. The Fior di Latte, in particular, is recognized as a pioneering product in the U.S. specialty cheese market. Its cheeses are featured in many of San Francisco's top restaurants, reflecting the brand's strong foothold in the premium foodservice channel alongside retail distribution. The company's patient, craft-oriented production philosophy — emphasizing finest ingredients, traditional methods, and small-batch quality — distinguishes it within a market increasingly dominated by large-scale industrial dairy producers.