Stockholm-based Stockeld Dreamery and New York City’s Plantega have announced a new partnership to distribute Stockeld’s Cultured Cheddar across more than 60 bodegas in New York City, enhancing the availability of plant-based cheese options in local convenience stores.
“It’s a no-brainer that a cultured cheese will perform better and closer to dairy cheese”
Stockeld’s Cultured Cheddar will be incorporated into 18 of Plantega’s menu items, including breakfast sandwiches, burritos, chopped cheese, and Philly cheesesteaks. This product, known for its meltability, natural flavor, and creamy texture, was developed over four years in Sweden using fermentation and legumes.
Nil Zacharias, founder and CEO of Plantega and a proponent of fermented foods, spoke on the advantages of cultured cheese, stating, “I’m a big fan of fermented foods, and it’s a no-brainer that a cultured cheese will perform better and be closer to dairy cheese, especially with a higher protein content.”
Rapid market adoption
Since its launch in February, Stockeld’s Cultured Cheddar has rapidly gained traction in the food service sector, being served in over 100 locations across New York City, including Gotham Burger, 5 Napkin Burger, Neat Burger, Bronx Brewery, and Tompkins Square Bagels. The cheese was also featured at the 2024 Met Gala, served at the afterparty on cheeseburgers from Neat Burger.
Plantega’s model involves equipping bodegas with a turnkey menu, training, and marketing support, a strategy that has proven successful and earned recognition from major media outlets like Netflix’s ‘You Are What You Eat,’ FastCompany, and The New Yorker. Sorosh Tavakoli, founder and CEO of Stockeld Dreamery, praised Plantega’s performance, saying, “They’ve executed and outperformed expectations, which has been rare in our industry in the last few years.”
The partnership with Plantega will significantly increase the cheese’s visibility and accessibility ahead of its planned retail launch in August and broader rollout in October. Tavakoli noted the high consumer demand: “The number one question we got from consumers is ‘Where can I buy this?!’ so we are working hard to finalize our retail proposition to enable broader availability.”
Future expansion plans
This rollout is the first step in expanding the availability of Stockeld’s Cultured Cheddar and other plant-based products through Plantega’s network. The companies have hinted at further expansion plans, indicating that this collaboration is set to grow in the coming months.
Zacharias furthered, “A sliced cheese that melts like dairy is a huge step forward for plant-based foods, and I’m extremely happy to see that there’s finally some innovation and movement in this space. Introducing the Stockeld Cultured Cheddar into our menu aligns perfectly with our mission of accessibility without compromising taste or performance. Stockeld Cultured Cheddar Slices will certainly help elevate the Plantega menu items it’s featured on.”
