New York, NY – Forever Cheese, importers of cheese and specialty foods from Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Croatia, will be celebrating 20 years in business in 2018. Dedicated to sourcing the finest artisan cheeses and accompaniments, they have become a trusted name in the cheese world and are found at many specialty food shops. Throughout their time in business, the specialty food world has grown exponentially, with interest in imported, artisanal cheeses increasing over the past few years. Forever Cheese focuses on the most authentic products and always promotes the stories of their producers, putting the education of customers at the forefront.
Founders Michele Buster and Pierluigi Sini incorporated their business in 1998, but their story began several years earlier with a chance meeting in 1991. They met outside of Rome; she worked in sports and he worked for his family’s cheese business. The Sini family made Genuine Fulvi® Pecorino Romano and other sheep’s milk table cheeses. As partners, their primary focus in the beginning was Fulvi®, and they worked endlessly to spread the word about the cheese. It was an uphill battle at first, as many consumers were not at all familiar with the differences between Pecorino Romano from Lazio versus Sardinia, but with persistence and determination, they carved out a spot for themselves. From there, they brought in more Italian cheeses, and after some initial success, expanded their business to include cheese from Spain, the country that Buster considered a second home after living and working there. Many of these cheeses had never been sold in the U.S. before, including Drunken Goat® and El Trigal® Manchego. Their relationships with producers were an integral part of their success. “We received a lot of help from our producers in the beginning – they believed in us and the work we were doing,” says Buster. Those relationships have continued to this day, and Forever Cheese is extremely grateful for their producers and their shared successes. At the Forever Cheese office, knowing about the producer, their name, their methods and history is just as important as knowing tasting notes and qualities of each cheese.
Sensing a gap in Portuguese and Croatian cheeses in the U.S., Forever Cheese broadened their focus to include those countries. In 1998, the company took on the name Forever Cheese, to clarify their origins and focus. They began to import cheese accompaniments as well, such as nuts, honeys, jams, and charcuterie. They saw an opportunity there; they wanted to provide more value to their customers and to further build up the specialty department. Many of their items are sold under the brand name Mitica®, meaning “mythic” in Latin. Ever aware of the specialty food world, they have been behind many food trends over the years. They pioneered many important products integral to today’s market including Queso de Murcia al Vino®, Manchego, Marcona Almonds, Fig and Date Cakes, and Mostardas from Mantova, with many imitators following suit.
Forever Cheese continues to source new products, with Buster traveling extensively throughout Europe and meeting producers. Along with their relationships with producers, their primary focus is on safety and they are very devoted to rotating through product quickly at their warehouse. Their goal is that cheese taste like you were eating it in its native country; that it is fresh, well taken care of, and at its peak ripeness. After 20 years, they continue to innovate and solidify their legacy in the specialty food world. To learn more about Forever Cheese, visit their website at forevercheese.com. Forever Cheese and Mitica® products are available at specialty food stores and cheese shops throughout the U.S.
About Forever Cheese:
Forever Cheese debuted in 1998 in order to meet the increasing demand for Mediterranean products. Today it imports from Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Croatia. Forever Cheese focuses primarily on cheese and is constantly evolving to include more specialty foods to better serve the American market. Founders Michele Buster and Pierluigi Sini personally hand select each item directly from our producers to provide customers with many products that are exclusive to Forever Cheese. Facebook: www.facebook.com/forevercheeseco Instagram: @forevercheeseco
Source: Forever Cheese