Key Stats
Founded: 1945 in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Headquarters: Green Bay, Wisconsin
CEO: Ron Dunford (Trevor Farrell becomes CEO in September 2026)
Employees: Over 10,000 worldwide
Annual Revenue: Over $7 billion (2024)
Schreiber Foods is an employee-owned dairy company that produces and distributes natural cheese, processed cheese, cream cheese, yogurt, and beverages. The company operates as one of the largest customer-brand dairy producers in the world, supplying products to retailers, restaurants, distributors, and food manufacturers.
Schreiber Foods produces cheese slices used on cheeseburgers by 17 of the top 20 hamburger chains in the United States. The company ranks as the second-largest producer of cream cheese in the U.S. and one of the largest yogurt makers globally.
The company operates 12 U.S. production facilities across eight states and 12 international production facilities in 10 countries. Schreiber maintains a presence on five continents through manufacturing plants, joint ventures, and sales offices.
Schreiber Foods Revenue
Schreiber Foods generates more than $7 billion in annual sales. The company has grown from $1 billion in revenue (1993) to its current position as one of the top 10 dairy companies in North America. Similar growth patterns appear in other major food companies like Saputo.
Schreiber Foods History
1945
L.D. Schreiber partners with Merlin G. Bush and Daniel D. Nusbaum to found L.D. Schreiber Cheese Company in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
1962
L.D. Schreiber sells the cheese operation to 13 employees, including original partners Bush and Nusbaum.
1967
The company begins production of individually wrapped cheese singles, expanding product offerings.
1980
L.D. Schreiber Cheese Co. becomes Schreiber Foods as the company expands beyond cheese products.
1993
Annual sales surpass $1 billion for the first time.
1999
Schreiber creates an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), transferring ownership to all employees.
2005
Schreiber enters the yogurt market and begins string cheese production, diversifying its dairy portfolio.
2014
The company enters the European yogurt market with plants in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Portugal.
2024
Annual sales surpass $7 billion. Company announces $211 million expansion of Missouri cheese plant.
Schreiber Foods Co-founders
L.D. “Barney” Schreiber
Chicago-based butter and egg trader who provided the capital and vision for the company. Schreiber had written quality standards for butter for the USDA in 1935 and saw an opportunity in processed cheese after Kraft’s patents expired in 1938.
Merlin G. Bush
Experienced cheese production manager recruited by L.D. Schreiber to lead operations. Bush managed the day-to-day business and helped establish the company’s “16 ounces to the pound” quality philosophy.
Daniel David Nusbaum
Hired by Merlin Bush as the original plant manager. Nusbaum developed production innovations, including techniques for preventing cheese slices from sticking together.
Schreiber Foods Acquisitions
Schreiber Foods has grown through strategic acquisitions that expanded its product range and geographic reach. The company purchased Pinnacle Cheese in Pittsburgh in 2000, followed by Beatrice Foods’ Waukesha plant the same year.
In 2002, Schreiber acquired Raskas Foods in St. Louis, entering the cream cheese market as the largest customer-brand cream cheese maker. The company added a ConAgra cream cheese facility in Iowa in 2003 and Level Valley Creamery in Wisconsin in 2004.
International expansion accelerated in the 2010s. Schreiber acquired a production facility in Uruguay in 2010 and formed a joint venture in Austria. The company purchased European yogurt operations in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, and Slovakia, becoming one of the world’s largest yogurt producers.
Schreiber Foods Competitors
Schreiber Foods competes in the dairy industry against large cooperatives, multinational corporations, and regional producers. The company differentiates itself through its customer-brand focus, producing private-label products for retailers and foodservice operators rather than marketing its own consumer brands.
| Company | Headquarters | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy Farmers of America | United States | Dairy cooperative, milk processing |
| Land O’Lakes | United States | Butter, cheese, dairy ingredients |
| Saputo | Canada | Cheese, fluid milk, dairy products |
| Kraft Heinz | United States | Processed cheese, condiments |
| Sargento | United States | Natural cheese, shredded cheese |
| Lactalis | France | Cheese, milk, yogurt |
| Danone | France | Yogurt, plant-based products |
| Chobani | United States | Greek yogurt, oat milk |
| Leprino Foods | United States | Mozzarella cheese, dairy ingredients |
| Great Lakes Cheese | United States | Natural cheese, specialty cheese |
FAQs
Who owns Schreiber Foods?
Schreiber Foods is employee-owned through an ESOP established in 1999. The company refers to its employees as “partners” who share ownership and benefit from company success.
Where is Schreiber Foods headquartered?
Schreiber Foods is headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the company was founded in 1945. The corporate office is located at 400 N. Washington Street.
What products does Schreiber Foods make?
Schreiber Foods produces natural cheese, processed cheese, cream cheese, yogurt, and beverages. The company supplies cheese slices to 17 of the top 20 hamburger chains.
How many employees does Schreiber Foods have?
Schreiber Foods employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. The company operates production facilities across five continents in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Is Schreiber Foods a public company?
No, Schreiber Foods is a private, employee-owned company. The company has never traded on public stock exchanges and ownership transferred to employees through an ESOP in 1999.
