A legendary cheese company in Sonoma, California, is preparing to close its doors permanently. Vella Cheese Company, an artisanal cheese company, has closed its cheese production permanently after 94 years of operation. The retail and wholesale warehouse of Vella Cheese products will remain operational until the supply lasts.
Vella Cheese Announces Closure of Production and Retail
Founded in 1931, Vella Cheese is a family-owned company located at PO Box 191 in Sonoma, California. The company built its reputation because of its natural and high-quality ingredients. The milk for the cheese is sourced from a local sustainable dairy farm.
The company offers high-moisture Monterey Jack, dry Monterey Jack, cheddar, and Italian-style cheese.
On August 25, the company shared the heartbreaking news of its closure on social media. The team behind the cheese company announced that cheese production has ceased.
“Our retail store and wholesale warehouse will remain open until our remaining inventory is sold,” confirmed the company.
In the post, the team thanked the community, customers, distributors, vendors, and friends for their support over the decades. They wrote, “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to share Vella Cheese with you.”
As the closure news was shared on social media, Sonoma community members expressed their sadness and disappointment. One of the customers commented, “You will be missed. As a child, my father would take us for a ‘ride’ to Vella from Vallejo. We loved your cheese.”
Reason Behind the Closure
The company cited growing economic challenges as the reason for the closure. They said that after 94 years of service, it was an increasingly difficult decision.
“Our business has never fully recovered from the challenges of COVID,” explained the company. The high financial demands of “operating a small, artisanal company in today’s fast-paced food industry” have not been sustainable for Vella Cheese.
While cheese production has shut down, customers still have the option to purchase cheese until the supply lasts at its retail and wholesale warehouse.
The closure of Vella Cheese marks the end of a longstanding legacy in the Sonoma community.
