John Morrell & Co., Cincinnati, says Kretschmar Deli, a brand long associated with premium deli meat products, now stands for new line of specialty cheeses, all made by Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers. 

The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), a partner in the project, says the cut cheeses are easily recognizable and display the Wisconsin Master’s Mark symbol on the packaging. The symbol can be used only by Wisconsin cheesemakers who have completed a rigorous certification program, comparable to those in Europe and the only one of its kind in the United States. 

The ready-to-use slices are packaged in 8-ounce net weight quantities, convenient for sandwiches, appetizers, everyday cooking and entertaining. Included in the line are:

Mild Red Wax Cheddar (Master Cheesemaker Sid Cook)
Smoked Baby Swiss (Master Cheesemaker Myron Olson)
Pepper Jack and Colby Jack (Master Cheesemaker Randy LeGrander)
Havarti (Master Cheesemaker Steve Stettler)
Sharp Cheddar (Master Cheesemaker Carie Wagner)
Butterkäse (Master Cheesemaker Bruce Workman)
Muenster (Master Cheesemaker Steve Buholzer)
           
WMMB says retailers can select a wide variety of related marketing and promotion materials including floor graphics, easel signs, iron man signs and POP recipe brochures. Kretschmar will also offer direct promotions, couponing and in-store events, including selected Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker appearances.

“When we made the decision to extend our deli line with premium cheeses, we knew to look to Wisconsin because of the state’s well earned reputation for superior products,” said Erik Waterkotte, Kretschmar’s director of marketing.

Stan Woodworth, senior vice president of Channel Management for Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), said WMMB is eager to support the program, noting that Kretschmar is the first to offer a Wisconsin deli line of products made exclusively by Master Cheesemakers. “This unique positioning is a great advantage,” he said, “one that sets the Kretschmar brand apart in a highly desirable way, given that today's shoppers are very quality and product-origin conscious.” 

John Morrell said the new deli line was launched at SUPERVALU, Nash Finch, AWG warehouses and Ralphs and is slated to be widely distributed by Dec. 1.