Seymour cheese maker celebrates expansion

SEYMOUR - In a community dominated by the hamburger, Seymour Dairy Products and its 56 employees might not seem like much, but it is considered one of the largest blue cheese producers in the United States.

On Sunday, the company celebrated its second expansion in its six-year existence.

“Quite an undertaking for a small company like ours,” said Michael Brennenstuhl, the President and CEO of Seymour Dairy Products. “We aren't a big corporate entity.”

The company's $2.5 million expansion brought Governor Scott Walker to Seymour.

“The number one reason why they are growing and why we've seen in the last five years about a $2.5 billion investment in our dairy industry is because the quality stands out on a worldwide basis,” said Walker.

Seymour Dairy Products officials say Walker and his administration didn't have much impact on their expansion, as plans were underway before he was in office. They say it is important to have elected officials backing the agriculture industry.

“This expansion opens doors for us to expand to many different areas of the blue cheese segment of sales in the United States,” said Brennenstuhl.

State agriculture officials say Seymour Dairy Products is an example of the future of Wisconsin cheese making.

“We've had to change and get out of the commodity business to a great extent and make the better cheeses, the cheeses the consumer will still buy,” said John Umehoefer with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.

While Wisconsin may be steering away from the more well-known cheeses, the state still leads the way. Agriculture leaders indicate specialty cheeses are a major reason.

“It makes more money for the dairy farmer,” said Umehoefer. “It makes more money for the community.”

Seymour Dairy Products officials say adding 11,000 square feet to its facility should help with the growing demand for specialty cheeses. At this pace, they say another expansion could be needed in the future.

“We'll get there in about two or three years, I'd say we'll have the plant maxed out again,” said Brennenstuhl.

Company officials say while the expansion has meant more automation to its cheese-making process, it has not meant the loss of any employees. They say the expansion could bring an additional six to eight jobs to the plant in the coming years.