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Sargento Cheese has been operating in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, since 1953, when it was founded by Leonard Gentine and Joe Sartori. The company name was formed by combining parts of their surnames, with an 'o' added for a more Italian sound. Sargento was the first company in the country to introduce vacuum-sealed, sliced, and shredded cheese. While Sargento doesn't make all of its cheese, it has been a leader in the cheese industry, sourcing and selling 100% real and natural cheese across America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1953 |
| Founded by | Leonard Gentine and Joe Sartori |
| Location | Plymouth, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin |
| Current CEO | Louie Gentine |
| Company type | Third-generation family-owned |
| Company innovations | Vacuum sealing cheese, shredding cheese, ultra-thin slices |
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What You'll Learn
- Sargento Cheese has been operating in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, since 1953
- The company doesn't make its own cheese but selects it from other cheesemakers
- The company's first store was opened in 1949 by Leonard Gentine in Plymouth, Wisconsin
- The company's name is a combination of the names of its founders, Joe Sartori and Leonard Gentine
- Sargento Foods manufactures and markets natural cheese products and ingredients
Sargento Cheese has been operating in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, since 1953
Initially, Sargento sold Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, and Provolone cheeses. However, the company soon became known for its innovation, introducing America to pre-packaged sliced and shredded natural cheese. Leonard Gentine invented the first vacuum-sealed cheese packages, the first packaged sliced cheese, and the first packaged shredded cheese in the country.
Today, Sargento remains a leader in cheese, manufacturing and marketing natural cheese products and ingredients. The company also produces and markets specialty cheeses, sauces, snack cheeses, and snack foods. They also create custom cheese and food products for corporate clients. The current CEO, Louie Gentine, is the third generation of the Gentine family to own the company, and he attributes the company's success to its decades-long commitment to innovation.
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The company doesn't make its own cheese but selects it from other cheesemakers
Sargento has been a leader in cheese since 1953, when it was founded in Plymouth, Wisconsin. While the company does not make its own cheese, it has carefully selected cheese from other cheesemakers for decades, earning it the moniker "The persnickety cheese people from Plymouth, Wisconsin."
The company was started by Leonard Gentine, who initially opened a cheese store called The Plymouth Cheese Counter in 1949. There, he noticed an increase in consumer demand for Italian-style cheeses, which inspired him to partner with his friend Joe Sartori to sell Italian-natural cheeses to nearby stores. The name Sargento was created by combining parts of their surnames with an "o" at the end to give it a more Italian sound.
Sargento initially sold Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, and Provolone cheeses, but soon expanded its offerings. Leonard Gentine was a born innovator and invented the first vacuum-sealed cheese packages, the first packaged sliced cheese, and the first packaged shredded cheese in the country. Today, the company manufactures and markets a variety of natural cheese products, including specialty cheeses, sauces, snack cheeses, and snack foods. They also produce custom cheese and food products for corporate clients.
Sargento's success is attributed to its focus on innovation and its commitment to serving its communities and employees, who are considered part of the Sargento family. The company is proud to be a leader in the "cheese capital of the world", and its products are now available across America.
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The company's first store was opened in 1949 by Leonard Gentine in Plymouth, Wisconsin
The history of Sargento Foods dates back to 1949 when Leonard Gentine opened his first cheese store in Plymouth, Wisconsin. The store, named The Plymouth Cheese Counter, was located in a small carriage house. Gentine's observation of a growing consumer demand for Italian-style cheeses led him to collaborate with his friend, Joe Sartori, to start a new business venture. They combined parts of their surnames to create the name "Sargento".
In 1953, the Sargento Cheese Company was established, initially selling Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, and Provolone cheeses. The company has been operating in Sheboygan County since its inception and has become known for its innovative products. Leonard Gentine, a machinist by trade, played a pivotal role in developing the first vacuum-sealed cheese packages, as well as the first packaged sliced and shredded cheese in the country.
Over the years, Sargento expanded beyond its initial offerings. By 1965, Joe Sartori sold his interest in the company to focus on his independent cheese business. As a result, Sargento became wholly owned by the Gentine family, passing through multiple generations. Today, the company is led by Louie Gentine, a third-generation family owner, who continues the legacy of innovation and quality that his grandfather, Leonard Gentine, began almost seven decades ago.
Sargento has grown from its humble beginnings in a carriage house to become a leading brand in the cheese industry. The company takes pride in its commitment to serving communities and employees, reflecting founder Leonard Gentine's philosophy of treating people like family. With a strong presence in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Sargento has earned a reputation as one of the key players in the "cheese capital of the world."
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The company's name is a combination of the names of its founders, Joe Sartori and Leonard Gentine
Sargento Cheese has been operating in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, since 1953. The company was started by two friends, Joe Sartori and Leonard Gentine. Sartori and Gentine combined parts of their surnames—'Sar' from Sartori and 'Gent' from Gentine—and added an 'o' at the end to give it a more Italian sound. Thus, the Sargento Cheese Company was born in 1953.
The company's origins, however, go back to 1949, when Leonard Gentine opened a cheese store in a small carriage house in Plymouth, Wisconsin, called The Plymouth Cheese Counter. Here, he noticed a growing demand for Italian-style cheeses. This inspired him to approach his friend, Joe Sartori, and propose a partnership to sell Italian-natural cheeses to nearby stores.
Initially, Sargento sold Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, and Provolone cheeses. Leonard Gentine, a born innovator and machinist by trade, went on to invent the country's first vacuum-sealed cheese packages, the first packaged sliced cheese, and the first packaged shredded cheese. Today, the company is led by Louie Gentine, a third-generation family owner, and is known for its innovative products, including vacuum sealing cheese, shredding cheese, and ultra-thin slices.
While Sargento has been a leader in cheese since its inception, it is important to note that the company does not make its own cheese. Instead, it carefully selects cheese from other cheesemakers, a process that led to its decades-old moniker, "The persnickety cheese people from Plymouth, Wisconsin."
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Sargento Foods manufactures and markets natural cheese products and ingredients
Sargento Foods was founded by Leonard Gentine, who initially opened a cheese store called The Plymouth Cheese Counter in 1949. He noticed a demand for Italian-style cheeses and approached his friend, Joe Sartori, to propose a partnership for a new business selling these cheeses to nearby stores. The name Sargento was created by combining the first few letters of their surnames with an 'o' at the end for a more Italian sound.
In its early days, Sargento sold Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, and Provolone cheeses. However, the company soon became known for its innovations, including vacuum-sealed cheese, the first packaged sliced cheese, and the first packaged shredded cheese in the country. Today, Sargento Foods continues to manufacture and market natural cheese products, as well as ingredients. They are known for their high-quality, real, natural cheese, which is carefully selected from various cheesemakers.
In addition to their classic cheese products, Sargento also produces and markets specialty cheeses, sauces, snack cheeses, and snack foods. They also create custom cheese and food products for corporate clients. With their innovative spirit and commitment to quality, Sargento Foods has become a leading brand in the American cheese market, offering 100% real and natural cheese to consumers nationwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Sargento Cheese has been operating in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, since 1953.
Sargento is currently owned by the Gentine family, specifically Louie Gentine and Mike McEvoy, who are third-generation family owners.
Sargento was initially known for selling Italian-style natural cheeses, including Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, and Provolone. Today, they manufacture and market a wide range of natural cheese products, including sliced and shredded cheese.
