Empire Cheese

Empire Cheese Co-op is a proudly local, farmer-owned cheese producer dedicated to crafting high-quality cheeses and homemade products rooted in generations of tradition and craftsmanship. The company’s history dates back to the late 1870s when the first Empire Cheese Factory was established on the farm of John Haig, the area’s first cheesemaker. Over the decades, the business evolved through generations of skilled cheesemakers and continued to grow alongside the local dairy farming community.

In 1953, following the amalgamation of the Empire and Kimberley cheese factories, the current Empire Cheese & Butter Co-op facility was established. Owned by local dairy farmers and operated as a cooperative, Empire Cheese continues to uphold the highest standards in food safety and production as a HACCP-registered facility. Combining heritage recipes, premium ingredients, and community-focused values, Empire Cheese continues to deliver authentic, handcrafted products that customers know and trust.