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Frequently Asked Questions

Grande Cheese Company

Does Grande have a retail brand available for purchase?

Grande Cheese Company is an Italian cheese manufacturer based in Wisconsin that focuses on products for the foodservice industry only. While we appreciate your interest in buying our products to use at home, we do not service the retail market directly at this time.

Is Grande Cheese Company affiliated with the Grande Cheese Company in Canada?

No. Grande Cheese Company has no connections or affiliation with the Canadian Grande Cheese Company.

 

 

Proper use of Grande Cheeses

What is the best way to store my Grande cheeses?

For fresh cheeses such as Fior·di·Latte, Ricotta and Fresh Curd, we recommend storing at below 37°F. Other cheeses should be kept refrigerated under 42°F, but not freezing.

 

Can I freeze my Grande cheeses?

We don’t recommend freezing Grande cheeses. Freezing and thawing can change the cheese’s characteristics and result in moisture expulsion and inconsistent performance.

 

Is my cheese still good past the “use by” date?

The “Best If Used By Date” is not an expiration date, however, we recommend using the product by the date on the container or package for optimum flavor and performance.

 

How do I read Grande’s Quality Code?

All of our products are marked with a “Best If Used By Date” and “Lot Code”. We recommend using the product by the date on the container or package for optimum flavor and performance.

  • Jan 01 20 AAA001 (Best if Used By Date | Lot Code)

 

If my loaf, stick or wheel of cheese has mold on it, is it still good?

If cheese develops surface mold, cut off about ¼-inch from each affected side. The remaining cheese should be rewrapped in new plastic wrap and used within a few days.

 

What is the best way to hang Grande’s aged products?

Grande’s aged products should be hung in an area that’s at least 50°F or below. Hanging product should be rotated at least every two weeks for optimum product flavor and performance.

 

Ingredients used in making Grande Cheeses

What is the source of enzymes in Grande cheeses?

Grande uses a clotting agent that is of non-animal origin to produce Grande Mozzarella, Fumella, Fior·di·Latte, Avorio, Ricotta, Fresh Curd, Asiago and Parmesan. Grande Romano, Provolone, Aged Provolone, 50/50 Blends, Mozzarella Provolone Mild Blends and Mozzarella Cheddar Blends do contain enzymes from animal sources (not derived from pork).

 

Does Grande use GMOs in their production?

The ingredients used to produce Grande cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes) do not contain GMO-derived material.

 

Are Grande cheeses pasteurized?

Yes, all Grande cheeses are made from pasteurized cow’s milk.

 

Is Grande’s milk supply rBST free?

Grande milk deliveries are producer certified to be free of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), also know as recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH).

 

How do I know that Grande cows are well cared for?

Grande producer dairies must commit to our Producers Assuring Consumers of Excellence (PACE) evaluation program, which requires best practices for upholding and documenting animal well-being standards to be in place on their dairies. Cows are given quality food and water, clean, comfortable housing and shelter, superior healthcare and disease-prevention programs, supervised and validated by veterinarians. All cows are monitored using the latest technologies and these results are shared with Grande’s field services team.

 

Are Grande cheeses Kosher?

All styles of Grande Ricotta are Kosher certified. You can identify Kosher cheeses by looking for the Kosher symbol on the package as pictured below:

kosher.png#asset:859

 

 

Do Grande Cheeses contain gluten?

Grande Cheese Company guarantees our cheese products do not contain gluten.

 

Do Grande products contain “Titanium Dioxide?”

Titanium Dioxide is often used in other company’s cheeses to produce a whiter color for their products. All Grande cheeses are 100% natural and do not contain Titanium Dioxide or any other additives, fillers, or preservatives.

 

Do Grande Cheeses contain cellulose?

Grande cheeses do not contain cellulose or other flow-promoting agents. Our cheeses are all natural and do not contain any fillers.

 

Do Grande Cheeses contain Trans Fat?

All Grande Cheeses contain less than 0.5 grams of Trans Fat per recommended serving size. Under FDA guidelines, products are nutritionally labeled as 0 Trans Fat when the amount of Trans Fat is less than 0.5 grams per recommended serving size.

 

The Grande Difference

Why would an operator use Grande Cheese Blends on their pizza?

Grande Cheese Blends enhance flavor and differentiate your menu offerings from the competition. Your customers will love the quality and all natural taste. There is also an opportunity for you to charge a premium price for blended cheeses.

 

What are the benefits of Grande shredded, diced, and sliced cheeses?

When you shred, dice, or slice cheese yourself, there can be a certain amount of waste, which means you don’t end up with a consistent size (which increases the amount of cheese used per pie). Shredding, dicing, or slicing is also labor intensive. Grande shredded, diced, and sliced cheeses take all the work – and guesswork – out of it. Our shredded, diced, and sliced products are the same, consistent size every time. You can be assured they have the same quality, excellent taste, and performance you enjoy with all our cheeses. And of course we never use any additives, fillers, or preservatives in any of our cheeses.

 

Why do cheese prices fluctuate?

The weekly average price of cheddar block affects the price of milk used to make cheese, which in turn determines the wholesale price of our cheese. Factors such as supply and demand, reduction in herd sizes, energy prices and even the weather influence the cost of milk. To learn more about market factors, visit http://www.cmegroup.com.

While there’s little you can do to control the price of cheese, you can control your profitability. Here are some ways Grande can help you manage your food costs:

  • Consistent Product – An inconsistent cheese will yield differently. A high quality cheese like Grande will always provide the same coverage every time.
  • Portion Control – Grande offers three ways to consistently portion your cheese:
    • Grande’s product forms – Our shredded and diced cheeses give you consistency in size.
    • Grande’s portion cup – Designed for our diced and shredded cheeses, it makes it easy to use the same amount each time.
    • Grande recommends an electronic food scale for purchase at a special price with Avery Weigh Tronix.
  • Menu Cost Analysis – Manage fluctuating food costs and price your pies for profit.

 

What type of materials does Grande offer to help market my business?

We have a variety of tools available to Grande 100-Percenter customers who exclusively use our cheese on their pizzas. For more information on marketing materials, please click here to learn how you can become a 100-Percenter.