http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/rss/feedsConcentrating on Dairy and plant based products, Winona Foods Inc. quickly has become a leader in dairy risk management.Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:02:32 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-launches-bella-peonia-hispanic-cheese-brandhttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-launches-bella-peonia-hispanic-cheese-brand Cheese Market News -GREEN BAY, WI -Winona Foods is introducing a new brand for its Hispanic cheese line — Bella Peonia — that honors the memory of co-founder Vicky Steinmann. Bella Peonia will become the brand on all existing traditional and non-traditional Hispanic, natural pressed curd style and processed American EZ melt products by the end of the year and will be used on any future products introduced in this line.Terry and Vicky Steinmann started Winona Foods 30 years ago, and Terry notes that Vicky was instrumental in the firm foundation and success of the company. Today, Winona Foods has more than 300 employees and offers cheese converting, specialized packaging and logistics for many of the country’s largest chain restaurants, distributors and retailers. Vicky Steinmann died Jan. 7 of this year after battling cancer. “Bella Peonia,” which translates as “Beautiful Peony Flowers,” reflects Vicky’s passion for peonies as well as the elegance and resilience that defined Vicky’s spirit, Terry Steinmann explains. The idea was suggested to him by a teammate in the company as a way to recognize her accomplishments and allow her memory to continue through a company brand. “The time was right, and for me it was very touching,” Steinmann says. “Peony flowers are grown in many beautiful colors, but it also is a very strong plant that can withstand several periods of weather and come out stronger, resilient and adaptable to its environment,” he adds. “Vicky was always an optimist in her approach to life, our customers and employees. She had a never-ending smile and personality that made anyone who approached her feel comfortable. That is the same strength reflected within our brand Bella Peonia that represents the standards of WinonaFoods’ products, team members and customers.” Vicky played an instrumental role during Winona’s formative years, when the company’s growth was strongly rooted in serving the Hispanic and Mexican markets. Her dedication, compassion and belief in the company’s vision helped pave the way for growth and success. The introduction of Bella Peonia follows the recent sale of Winona’s Alejandro brand and its associated processing plant. As Winona Foods continues to strengthen its core focus as a converter, manufacturer and solutions provider, Bella Peonia highlights the company’s ongoing investment in quality and cultural connection. Bella Peonia also aligns with Winona Foods’ other category brands that are personalized to the company’s strengths. “Like all of our other items, our brands are aligned with a message of quality, stability and strength. Any brands we have, they have a message to them about what we’re sending to our customer,” Steinmann says.Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/nasonville-dairy-wins-1st-at-2025-wdpahttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/nasonville-dairy-wins-1st-at-2025-wdpa Winona Foods proudly sponsored the Wisconsin Dairy Expo Championship Awards & Auction in Madison last month. Attendees enjoyed an exciting evening celebrating Wisconsin’s finest dairy products, with the opportunity to watch the awards ceremony and bid on some of the state’s most recognized cheeses. Nasonville Dairy’s Feta Cheese in Brine took 1st place in the Feta Cheese category - a true standout of the event. Nasonville Dairy, a trusted partner of Winona Foods, has earned numerous local and international honors for its exceptional Feta cheeses. Nasonville Dairy’s unmatched feta craftsmanship is the foundation of Winona Foods’ Socrates Greek Feta success. Their dedication to creating award-winning feta cheese combined with Winona’s foodservice programs has allowed both teams to thrive and deliver an exceptional product customers trust and love. Learn more about Nasonville Dairy here. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:51:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-named-2025-vendor-of-the-year--lisanti-foodshttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-named-2025-vendor-of-the-year--lisanti-foods Pictured left to right: Terry Steinmann - President/Co-owner, Kevin Niland – Director of National Sales, Dave Meyer - Vice President/Co-owner, Mike Culver – Vice President of Sales. Shown at Winona Foods, INC. HQ. Green Bay, WI – March 25 2025 Winona Foods, INC. has been named 2025 Vendor of the Year at Lisanti Foods. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Lisanti Foodservice of Texas, Inc. is the preferred distributor for Italian restaurants and pizza shops throughout the Midwest and Southwest Winona Foods, headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin is proud to partner with Lisanti Foods, providing quality cheese and dairy products to foodservice operations Nationwide. “Winona Foods is honored to receive this recognition from Lisanti Foods. Our strategic partnership continues to thrive, and we will continue to supply Lisanti with high-quality service, proven solutions and premium dairy products”, says Terry Steinmann, President at Winona Foods. “These achievements are a team effort, and we’re very proud - This award is a reflection of the consistent high standards our teams uphold at Winona Foods” Winona Foods supplies a diverse portfolio of cheese and dairy products to the foodservice, industrial and retail industries.Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:28:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-adds-products-expands-its-presence-in-retailhttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-adds-products-expands-its-presence-in-retail Fri, 08 Feb 2019 13:28:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/worlds-largest-cheeseboard-earns-guinness-world-records%C2%AE-titlehttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/worlds-largest-cheeseboard-earns-guinness-world-records%C2%AE-titleDairy Farmers of Wisconsin Makes Cheese Lover’s Dreams Come TrueMADISON, WI, August 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wisconsin makes un-brie-lievable history by creating the World's Largest Cheeseboard, officially setting a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title. The show stopper took over an entire street in downtown Madison, displaying over two tons of Wisconsin’s finest cheeses from across the state, topping the previous European record holder by over 1,000 pounds!Spanning 35 feet long and 7 feet wide, the custom board was officially adorned with 4,437 pounds and 145 different varieties, types and styles of Wisconsin’s unique specialty and artisan cheeses- including national and international award-winners."We wanted to showcase the amazing breadth of the award winning cheeses in Wisconsin and we thought- what better way to do that than to create the world’s largest cheeseboard," says Suzanne Fanning, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin VP of Marketing Communications. "Wisconsin’s licensed cheesemakers put the art in artisan, drawing from their rich European heritage, cheese making traditions and impressive innovations, and we're thrilled to share their masterful creations with the world in a unique and fun way."Chad Vincent, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin did the honors cutting the ribbon as the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS adjudicator made “The World's Largest Cheeseboard” official and Suzanne Fanning, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin VP of Marketing Communications proudly showed off the winning certificate; Photo Credit: Dairy Farmers of WisconsinThe gigantic cheeseboard was custom made to fit inside a life-size, digitally fabricated barn, using CNC technology—a computerized process that's a cross between woodcutting and 3-D printing—by Better Block Foundation, a nonprofit that uses urban design to foster community. The ultimate cheese lover's fantasy was a true team effort- taking over 60 people to prep, transport, house, style and weigh all of the cheeses. Following the official judging ceremony by a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS adjudicator, a crowd of over 45,000 enamored attendees got to check out the mouth-watering board and the first 2,000 guests in line, received a curated cheese plate to-go. In addition, no cheese went to waste. Spectators entered a raffle to win full wheels of cheese with 100% of the proceeds going to the Great American Milk Drive and the remaining cheese was donated to the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, both benefiting families in need.About Wisconsin CheeseWisconsin produces 48 percent of the specialty cheese in the U.S. and currently holds the title for 2017 U.S. Champion Cheese. For more information, visit WisconsinCheese.com or connect on Facebook.About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Funded by Wisconsin dairy farmers, DFW is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin’s world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at wisconsindairy.org. Thu, 02 Aug 2018 04:00:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/hurricane-irma-victims-receive-30000-pounds-of-wisconsin-cheesehttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/hurricane-irma-victims-receive-30000-pounds-of-wisconsin-cheeseMADISON, Wis., Oct, 19, 2017 -- Wisconsin cheesemakers sent 30,000 pounds of Wisconsin Cheese to Florida for those affected by Hurricane Irma. The statewide effort was coordinated by Wisconsin cheesemakers, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), Independent Procurement Alliance Program (IPAP) and Wisconsin dairy farmers."It is an honor to deliver the generous donation from Wisconsin cheesemakers to those who need it in Florida," said Scott Eithun, President of IPAP. "We saw an outpouring of support and gratitude from Texans when Wisconsin sent a cheese donation after Hurricane Harvey. We were devastated by the news Floridians were in the same situation shortly afterwards, so Wisconsinites came together again in an even bigger way."On Wednesday, Feeding South Florida received 30,000 pounds of Wisconsin Cheese to provide families with nutritious food. The 32 pallets arrived at Feeding South Florida which distributes to a network of 400 partner agencies throughout the community to get the food into the hands of those who need it most."Feeding South Florida appreciates this donation, especially after Hurricane Irma when many lost their perishable items, and as we near the holiday season," said Sari Vatske, Vice President of Community Relations at Feeding South Florida.Independent Procurement Alliance Program (IPAP), based in Appleton, Wisconsin handled the shipping and logistics support. Midwest Refrigerated Services provided help with consolidation and trucking. Performance Foodservice Miami assisted in providing the product to Feeding South Florida. Without the contribution of their time and resources, this large donation would not have been possible.Seventeen cheese companies from across Wisconsin were involved in the relief effort. Participating companies include Arthur Schuman, Inc., Artisan Cheese Exchange, Baker Cheese, Inc., Cedar Valley Cheese, Dan's Prize, Inc., Door Artisan Cheese Company LLC, Eau Galle Cheese Company, Foremost Farms USA Cooperative, Maple Leaf Cheese Co-op, Masters Gallery Foods, Inc., Odyssey Cheese & Yogurt, Pine River Pre-Pack Inc., Saxon Cheese, Swiss Valley Farms Co-op, Valley View Cheese Co-op, Widmer's Cheese Cellars and Winona Foods, Inc. Additional support was provided by Wisconsin Cheesemaker Association (WCMA).About WMMB: The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board is a nonprofit organization of dairy farmers that promotes the consumption of milk, cheese and other dairy products made in America's Dairyland. Wisconsin produces 47% of the specialty cheese in the US and currently holds the titles for US Cheese Champion and World Cheese Champion. For more information about WMMB, visit www.wmmb.com or connect with the company on Facebook.About IPAP: Independent Procurement Alliance Program is the largest refrigerated redistribution program for cheese in the United States, specializing in the delivery of premium Wisconsin cheese.About Feeding South Florida: Feeding South Florida® is a member of the Feeding America® network of food banks and the leading domestic hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties. Our mission is to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. Feeding South Florida rescues 46 million pounds of food annually, serving 710,370 individuals in need of food assistance - 248,080 of whom are children and nearly 120,000 are older adults. Feeding South Florida is the largest and most efficient food bank in each county it serves, providing for 25% of the state's food insecure population, through a local network of nearly 400 nonprofit partner agencies and direct service programs. Visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954-518-1818.SOURCE Wisconsin Milk Marketing Boardwww.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hurricane-irma-victims-receive-30000-pounds-of-wisconsin-cheese-300539963.html Thu, 19 Oct 2017 09:15:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/wisconsin-cheese-companies-have-now-donated-almost-20000-pounds-of-cheese-to-houstonhttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/wisconsin-cheese-companies-have-now-donated-almost-20000-pounds-of-cheese-to-houston WMMB MEDIA RELEASE The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) funded by the Dairy Farm Families of Wisconsin, coordinated a state-wide effort with Wisconsin cheesemakers to send almost 20,000 pounds of cheese to Houston to provide nutritious food for those affected by Hurricane Harvey."We are deeply saddened by the devastation facing Texas residents in the wake of Hurricane Harvey," says Suzanne Fanning, WMMB VP of Marketing Communications. "Our Wisconsin cheesemakers and dairy farmers are inherently focused on helping others so we offered them a way to get involved. Their response to our call for donations was overwhelming – we were initially hoping to send 200 pounds of cheese, but the donations keep pouring in – now totaling almost 20,000 pounds!" On Friday, September 1, WMMB employees, cheese company employees and dairy farmers, packed a delivery truck in Madison with almost 20,000 pounds of smoked string cheese, cheese curds, muenster, parmesan, classic cheddar and more. The shipment also included 300 pounds of butter.The delivery is expected to arrive at the Houston Food Bank next week. The Houston Food Bank is the nation's largest food bank with distribution to its network of nearly 600 hunger relief charities in 18 Southeast Texas counties. Shipping and logistics support is being provided by Independent Procurement Alliance Program (IPAP), based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Twenty six cheese companies from across the dairy state were involved in the relief effort. Participating companies include Agropur, Inc., Arena Cheese Inc., BelGioioso Cheese, Inc., Burnett Dairy Cooperative, Carr Valley Cheese Company Inc., Chula Vista Cheese Company, Decatur Dairy, Inc., Cow Candy, Ellsworth Co-op Creamery, Emmi Roth USA, Foremost Farms USA Cooperative, Grande Cheese, Grassland Dairy Products, Inc., LaClare Family Creamery, Marieke Gouda, Nasonville Dairy, Odyssey Feta, Pine River Pre-Pack Inc., Ponderosa Dairy Products, Sartori Company, Schreiber Foods, Inc., Swiss Valley Farms Co-op, Vern's Cheese, Inc., Widmer's Cheese Cellars, Winona Foods, and Zimmerman Cheese.Fri, 08 Sep 2017 13:00:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-holds-groundbreaking-for-new-facilityhttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-holds-groundbreaking-for-new-facilityWinona Foods, INC. new facility groundbreaking ceremony took place on Tuesday in Howard WI. The company is building a new cheese manufacturing plant that will bring 120 jobs to the Village of Howard. The 187,000 square foot site is scheduled to be complete and operational by December of 2017. Governor Scott Walker joined Winona Foods employees for the ceremony. “We are proud to be recognized as America’s Dairyland thanks to our strong agricultural tradition,” Governor Walker said. “To succeed in the 20th-century economy, we’ve developed a strong infrastructure of service, equipment, knowledge, and technology to ensure we remain America’s top dairy producer for generations to come. Looking forward, it’s up to companies like Winona Foods and dairy ambassadors throughout the state to strengthen this important industry by producing and promoting our world-class dairy products.” http://fox11online.com/news/local/green-bay/winona-foods-holds-groundbreaking-for-new-facility Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:29:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-to-build-new-facilityhttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods-to-build-new-facilityWinona Foods to build new cheese converting facility January 27, 2017 GREEN BAY, Wis. — Winona Foods has announced plans to build a new redistribution and cheese converting facility in Howard, Wisconsin.Equipped with direct rail access, Winona’s new facility will provide its vendor partners additional avenues for distribution, something that is very important to the company, notes Terry Steinmann, president, Winona Foods.The facility will drive continued growth of Winona’s foodservice, chain account and specialty cheese offerings nationwide and will complement the company’s other plants and corporate headquarters in nearby Green Bay, Wisconsin, adds Dave Meyer, vice president, Winona Foods.“We are excited to open this new facility,” Meyer says. “Winona Foods is extremely proud of our growth over the past 22 years, and we expect this new plant will complement our suppliers and customers.”The new facility will be built on a 22-acre site in Howard.“The Village of Howard has been very supportive of our growth and expansion,” Meyer notes. “Wisconsin has a strong culture based in the dairy industry, and that is important to our company.”The facility will break ground this spring on 187,000 square feet, with land available for additional growth. The company aims to be in the facility by December.Meyer notes that construction and operations of the new facility will implement as many eco-friendly systems and green-concentrated options as possible. The estimated cost of the project is $30 million, and the company anticipates it will create 120 jobs.In addition to advanced distribution systems for Winona Foods’ logistics department, the new facility will feature direct rail access, expanded efficient cooler distribution, additional offices and manufacturing.“Direct rail access will provide more accommodating solutions for our customers and suppliers,” Steinmann says. “Keeping operations in Northeast Wisconsin provides Winona Foods with a quality workforce that allows us to thrive.”He adds that the logistical advantages of the new facility will enhance the company’s solution-based mission — to provide its customers with exceptional dairy solutions and services of the highest quality. Cheese Market News Fri, 27 Jan 2017 13:46:00 -0700http://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods%E2%84%A2-named-%E2%80%98vendor-of-the-year-second-year-in-a-rowhttp://www.winonafoods.com/blog/post/winona-foods%E2%84%A2-named-%E2%80%98vendor-of-the-year-second-year-in-a-row GREEN BAY, WI – Winona Foods™, Inc. has been named 2016 Grocery Vendor of the Year for Sales and Service Excellence at US. Foods. This is Winona’s third Vendor of the Year award at US. Foods in the past 4 years. US. Foods, one of the country’s most innovative food companies and leading distributors, announced the winners at their 2016 Fall Forum on October 4th. During a ceremony in Chicago, IL., six companies out of more than 3,000 vendors took home top honors and were named as the best US. Foods suppliers. More than 60 divisions and support offices take place in the voting process. Winona Foods™ was chosen as the top Grocery supplier award based on variety of metrics, including sales growth, gross margin improvement, merchandising support, customer support, product quality, divisional sales support, exclusive brands and logistics. “Winona Foods™ is honored to receive this recognition from US. Foods for the second year in a row. Our strategic partnership continues to flourish on an annual basis and we will continue to supply US. Foods with high-quality service, safe and innovative products, along with our national support network”, says Bob Starkey, Vice-President of Business Development at Winona Foods. “We are very proud of our team, these achievements don’t come about from one person’s efforts. We have an entire organization that goes above and beyond to enable us to receive such recognition” Winona Foods™ supplies a diverse portfolio of cheese, sauces, specialty spreads and cooking oils to the foodservice, industrial and retail industries. For more information on Winona Foods™ visit them at: winonafoods.com. Winona Knows Cheese, Get to Know Winona. Mon, 24 Oct 2016 07:45:00 -0700