Month: April 2025

Hilmar Medals in the 2025 United States Championship Cheese Contest

Hilmar, Calif. April 25, 2025. Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. was awarded top honors at the CheeseCon banquet celebrating the United States Championship Cheese Contest® on April 17, 2025.

The contest is hosted biennially by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. More than 2,400 samples of cheese, butter, cultured products and dry dairy ingredients were evaluated this year with first, second and third awards presented in each category.

“Hilmar is honored to have received four awards in three categories,” shared Kyle Jensen, vice president global sales and marketing. “We are especially excited to share the acceptance of our first cheese award. This is a true testament to the dedication and commitment of our teams across the organization to produce high quality, innovative products.”

Hilmar TruSmoke® Hickory Smoked Cheddar took third place in the Open Class: Smoked Hard Cheeses category. Hilmar TruSmoke natural cheeses are slowly smoked utilizing Hilmar’s patented technology that integrates the smoke into the curd during the manufacturing process, unlike other smoked cheeses. Cheddar is one of four flavors available in the TruSmoke product line.

Hilmar PROfraction™ Beta received second place in the Whey Protein Isolate 90, Instantized category. PROfraction Beta is a lactose-free, instantized WPI that is rich in amino acids and aids in muscle synthesis. It is readily dispersible and has a neutral flavor profile, making it an ideal ingredient for powdered beverages and mixes.

Hilmar 8000 took both second and third place in the Whey Protein Concentrate 80 category. Hilmar 8000 is a highly functional 80% whey protein concentrate ideal for a variety of food and nutritional applications for basic fortification. It is a good source of high-quality protein to improve performance and overall health and well-being.

Ben Smith, cheese product manager; Lynn Ilano, cheese technologist; Muthu Ramanathan, ingredients technical manager; Chantelle Coelho, lead cheese technologist; and Ashley Cloward, associate cheese technologist proudly accepted the awards on behalf of the Hilmar team.

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About Hilmar™

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. uses the power and promise of dairy to improve lives together. We provide health and nutrition for consumers, contribute to brand success for our customers, create opportunities for employees, support independent milk producers and improve the communities where we live and work. With a focus on collaborative product innovation, real-time scalability and a progressive approach to sustainability, Hilmar^TM is a global leader in efficiently producing functional cheese and whey ingredients at scale. We deliver high-quality products to customers in more than 50 countries. Founded in 1984, Hilmar operates manufacturing plants in Hilmar, California; Dalhart, Texas and Dodge City, Kansas. For more information, visit www.hilmar.com and Linked In @Hilmar.

Media Contact:
Denise Skidmore
209-656-1197
dskidmore@hilmarcheese.com

Greg Schlafer to succeed David Ahlem as President & CEO

 Hilmar, Calif. April 16, 2025. Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc., one of the world’s largest cheese manufacturers and a global supplier of high-quality whey ingredients, today announced that Greg Schlafer will join the company as President & CEO on July 1, 2025.

Schlafer has served as President & CEO of Foremost Farms USA, a supplier of cheese and dairy ingredients, butter and milk products for nearly six years. Foremost Farms USA is a dairy cooperative owned by more than 600 members in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

“The board spent a great deal of time interviewing and vetting many qualified candidates for this position and Greg stood out among them,” said Jim Ahlem, Chairman of the Board.

“He brings extensive experience in cheese and ingredients markets, working with dairy farm families and an impressive leadership style that is a good fit for the Hilmar culture.”

Late last year, the company announced that CEO David Ahlem would step down from his role after almost 10 years at the helm and 22 years with the company. He will continue to work with the company in a Board Advisor role.

Schlafer earned his MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota. He has served on the board of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the National Milk Producers Federation and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.  Greg is also passionate about food security and education and has served on the board of Project SUCCESS and the North American Millers’ Association.

Prior to Foremost Farms, Schlafer was Vice President, Food Group Sales & Marketing at J.R. Simplot Company. Before that he served as President of Lamb Weston, a division of ConAgra Foods, Inc. He also worked for General Mills as Vice President & General Manager, Bakeries & Foodservice Division.

“I have long admired Hilmar Cheese Company, a market leader in the cheese and ingredients space, for their vision, growth and sharp focus on technology and innovation,” shared Schlafer.

“David’s stewardship of the company these past ten years has been a true inspiration and I’m delighted to continue the journey to achieve Hilmar’s vision and build upon our great relationships with employees, owners, dairy farmers and customers.”

Schlafer will be only the third CEO in Hilmar’s 41-year history.

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About Hilmar™

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. uses the power and promise of dairy to improve lives together. We provide health and nutrition for consumers, contribute to brand success for our customers, create opportunities for employees, support independent milk producers and improve the communities where we live and work. With a focus on collaborative product innovation, real-time scalability and a progressive approach to sustainability, Hilmar^TM is a global leader in efficiently producing functional cheese and whey ingredients at scale. We deliver high-quality products to customers in more than 50 countries. Founded in 1984, Hilmar operates manufacturing plants in Hilmar, California; Dalhart, Texas and Dodge City, Kansas. For more information, visit www.hilmar.com and LinkedIn @Hilmar.