During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, businesses and consumers are looking for convenient ways to show their appreciation to clients, friends, and family. Thanks to celebrations and gifting, cheese and dairy consumption rises this time of year. Cheese sales are 50% higher than average in the week leading up to Christmas, with specialty cheese and varieties like Brie, Camembert, Fontina, Gruyere, Mascarpone, and Raclette performing especially well.
To meet this demand and boost brand value, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) publishes a press release and annual public relations push this time of year providing an audience reach of over 218 million consumers. DFW also compiles and promotes an online gift basket collection featuring specialty cheeses from across our state. Gift baskets support DFW’s focus on spotlighting artisanal varieties by Master Cheesemakers. They showcase award-winning cheeses and innovation in products and packaging.
Because 90% of Wisconsin milk is made into cheese, and 90% of that cheese is sold outside the state, direct-to-consumer gift baskets benefit both farmers and recipients. DFW’s gift basket resource drives sales by simplifying the process of shopping for locally produced, shippable products.
Gifting products that build trust in dairy
We call the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese badge the “easy button” to help consumers know that the dairy product is the highest quality and made with Wisconsin milk. Nationwide, you will see the Wisconsin Cheese “Share the Joy” promotion at local grocery stores highlighting products for consumers. Our online gift basket collections make choices even easier, enabling shoppers to confidently and conveniently share their love of cheese. Our website, wisconsincheese.com, links to dozens of gift baskets and additional resources for finding Wisconsin Cheese products online. These “presents with a purpose” support family farmers.
Here are a few ways Wisconsin Cheese gift baskets stand out:
Award-winning: Many cheese gift baskets celebrate internationally recognized varieties and flavors by Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers. For instance, Carr Valley Cheese has won more than 900 national and international awards, making it one of the top-awarded cheese companies in the world.
Farm-to-table freshness: Some farmstead offerings, like the build-your-own cheese lovers gift basket from Marieke Gouda, are especially fresh. These creameries make cheese from milk produced by cows right on their farm. Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese also offers an artisan cheese sampler box that showcases sustainable practices. Their award-winning cheeses are made using renewable energy.
New and innovative: Cheese Brothers’ "12 Days of Cheesemas" Advent calendar features beautifully designed, interactive packaging. Behind each door, a different selection delights: From their squeaky cheese curds to a limited edition trappiste ale-washed Gouda. Royal Guernsey Creamery’s butter box is another new offering, featuring a rich, creamy butter trifecta perfect for baking or gracing a trendy butter board.
Year-round support to drive sales
DFW’s holiday gift basket campaign is just one example of our work with 125 different companies across the state. Our DFW dairy company communications team partners with producers to drive distribution, visibility, trial, and sales throughout the year. The more processors sell, the more Wisconsin milk is required. DFW is dedicated to strengthening partnerships with the state's dairy processors to elevate products and boost sales.
