Winona Foods

Winona Foods is a leading dairy manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Howard, Wisconsin, with a heritage rooted in artisan cheese making dating back well before its formal founding in 1995. Built by managing partners who began their careers at family-owned cheese operations, the company has grown from those humble origins into a nationally recognized supplier of high-quality cheese products serving the food service, industrial, and retail trade segments of the food industry. The company's portfolio spans a wide range of cheese types including natural cheese, specialty cheese, imitation cheese, vegan cheese, and Italian cheese varieties. Its product forms include shreds, slices, cubes, diced, and chunked formats, giving customers flexible options to meet diverse application requirements across multiple channels. Winona Foods operates manufacturing and distribution centers strategically located throughout the United States, enabling it to develop, manufacture, package, store, and deliver products to demanding quality standards at scale. The company also offers co-packing services and contract manufacturer representation, reaching customers through both a direct sales force and a national broker network. This dual go-to-market approach allows the company to service a broad range of clients from large industrial ingredient buyers to regional food service operators and retail brands. A significant milestone in the company's growth was the January 2018 opening of its Howard, WI headquarters facility, which features a commercial kitchen and product performance center. This innovation hub allows Winona Foods to test and validate performance-oriented cheese products for end users, providing customers with a hands-on environment to evaluate products in real-world applications before committing to full-scale production. The Howard facility also serves as a conversion and distribution center with cooler distribution capabilities and direct rail access, supporting efficient logistics and supply chain management. Winona Foods has established itself as a specialist in dairy risk management, offering expertise that goes beyond simple product supply to help customers navigate the complexities of dairy commodity pricing and procurement. This focus on risk management, combined with deep product knowledge and a commitment to quality, positions the company as a strategic partner rather than just a transactional supplier. The company's dedication to exceeding industry standards, maintaining a responsive customer service team, and delivering consistent product quality underpins its mission to be the industry leader in exceptional dairy solutions and value.