Canadian Cheese Brands

Black Diamond, Cracker Barrel, Armstrong, Saputo and OKA are the grocery cheese names shoppers see most. Black Diamond and Cracker Barrel are made in Winchester, Ontario, and owned by Lactalis of France. Armstrong and the Saputo cheese line belong to Saputo Inc. in Montreal. OKA is still made in Oka, Quebec by Agropur. A sale of that plant to Lactalis is agreed and not closed.

Last verified September 2026

Cheese Brands Compared

Canadian Cheese Brands
BrandMade InBrand OriginIngredients Sourced FromAvailable In
Armstrong
Canada
Made in Canada
Canadian milk
Canada
Saputo
Canada
Made in CanadaNot disclosed
Canada
OKA
Oka, Quebec
Made in Oka, Quebec, Canada
Pasteurized milk
Canada
Dairy Isle
Prince Edward Island
Made in Prince Edward Island, Canada
Prince Edward Island milk
Atlantic Canada
COWS Creamery
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Made in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Prince Edward Island milk
Canada
Bothwell
New Bothwell, Manitoba
Made in New Bothwell, Manitoba, Canada
Canadian milkManitoba milk
Canada
Black Diamond
Winchester, Ontario
Made in Winchester, Ontario, Canada
Canadian milk
AlbertaBritish Columbia
and 8 more
ManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNova ScotiaOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewan
Cracker Barrel
Winchester, Ontario
Made in Winchester, Ontario, Canada
Canadian milk
Canada
Balderson
Winchester, OntarioBelleville, OntarioWindsor, Ontario
Made in Ontario, Canada
Ontario milk
Canada

Sources

Which cheese brands are made in Canada?

9 of the 9 top cheese brands we scored are made in Canada, across 21 products on fyiCanada. Brands with the strongest Canadian roots come first, so a famous name with weak Canadian ties doesn’t get the top spot. How the fyiCanada score works.

Armstrong logo

1. Armstrong

98/100 · Very strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, mostly Canadian inputs

Head office in Montreal, QuebecFounded 1902

Armstrong started in 1902 with dairy farmers in Armstrong, British Columbia, and Saputo Inc. now owns the brand. Saputo is a public company based in Montreal and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The brand says the cheese is made in Canada with 100% Canadian milk. The site does not name the plant.

Brand ownership
Saputo Inc. (Canada)
Ultimate parent
Saputo Inc., Montreal
Manufacturing
Canada, plant not named
Ingredient origin
100% Canadian milk
Official claim
Made in Canada
armstrongcheese.caSource: Armstrong CheeseSource: FAQVerified September 2026

Armstrong Cheese we list

Armstrong Pizza Mozzarella Cheese Block

Armstrong Pizza Mozzarella Cheese Block

98/100
🍁 Canadian
Canada
Armstrong Havarti Cheese Block

Armstrong Havarti Cheese Block

98/100
🍁 Canadian
Canada
Armstrong Old Cheddar Cheese Block

Armstrong Old Cheddar Cheese Block

98/100
🍁 Canadian
Canada
Cracker Barrel logo

2. Cracker Barrel

87/100 · Strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, domestic & imported inputs (Winchester, Ontario)

Head office in Toronto, OntarioFounded 1954

Cracker Barrel has made cheese since 1954 and says every cheese uses 100% Canadian milk. Lactalis Canada produces it at the Winchester, Ontario plant, which the company calls Canada's largest cheese plant by volume. The brand is one of Lactalis Canada's cheeses. Lactalis Group, the parent, is based in Laval, France.

Brand ownership
Lactalis Canada
Ultimate parent
Lactalis Group, Laval, France
Manufacturing
Winchester, Ontario
Ingredient origin
100% Canadian milk
Official claim
Always made with 100% Canadian milk
crackerbarrel.caSource: Cracker Barrel homepageSource: About UsVerified September 2026

Cracker Barrel Cheese we list

Cracker Barrel Pizza Mozzarella

Cracker Barrel Pizza Mozzarella

87/100
Winchester, Ontario, Canada
Cracker Barrel Marble Cheddar

Cracker Barrel Marble Cheddar

87/100
Winchester, Ontario, Canada
Cracker Barrel Extra Old White Cheddar

Cracker Barrel Extra Old White Cheddar

87/100
Winchester, Ontario, Canada
OKA logo

3. OKA

80/100 · Strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, domestic & imported inputs (Oka, Quebec)

Head office in Saint-Hubert, QuebecFounded 1893

Brother Alphonse Juin created OKA in 1893 at a Trappist community in Oka, Quebec. Agropur's cheesemakers have made it since 1981 and still age it in the cellars at the Oka plant. On 15 July 2026 Agropur agreed to sell the fine cheese business, including that plant, to Lactalis. The sale still needs regulator approval.

Brand ownership
Agropur Cooperative (Canada)
Ultimate parent
Agropur Cooperative
Manufacturing
Oka, Quebec
Ingredient origin
Pasteurized milk, country not stated
Official claim
Not disclosed
fromageoka.caSource: About OKASource: OKA FAQVerified September 2026

OKA Cheese we list

OKA Light

OKA Light

100/100
🍁 Canadian
Oka, Quebec, Canada
OKA Classique

OKA Classique

100/100
🍁 Canadian
Oka, Quebec, Canada
Saputo logo

4. Saputo

80/100 · Strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, domestic & imported inputs

Head office in Montreal, QuebecFounded 1954

Saputo started in 1954 and is now a public dairy company based in Montreal, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange as SAP. Its Canada division makes mozzarella, cheddar and other cheeses and sells them under Saputo's own brands. The company also makes cheese in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, so a Saputo label from those countries is not the Canadian line.

Brand ownership
Saputo Inc. (Canada)
Ultimate parent
Saputo Inc., Montreal
Manufacturing
Canada division; also US, Australia, UK
Ingredient origin
Not disclosed
Official claim
Not disclosed
saputo.comSource: Saputo in CanadaSource: Our CompanyVerified September 2026

Saputo Cheese we list

Saputo Halloumi

Saputo Halloumi

🍁 Canadian
Canada
Saputo Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

Saputo Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

🍁 Canadian
Canada
Saputo Cheddar Cheese

Saputo Cheddar Cheese

🍁 Canadian
Canada
Saputo Bocconcini Cheese

Saputo Bocconcini Cheese

🍁 Canadian
Canada
Black Diamond logo

5. Black Diamond

87/100 · Strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, domestic & imported inputs (Winchester, Ontario)

Head office in Toronto, OntarioFounded 1933

Black Diamond cheddar is made at Lactalis Canada's Winchester, Ontario plant, which the company calls Canada's largest cheese plant by volume. The blocks use 100% Canadian milk and carry a Product of Canada mark. Slices and combos are left off that mark. Lactalis Group, based in Laval, France, owns the brand.

Brand ownership
Lactalis Canada
Ultimate parent
Lactalis Group, Laval, France
Manufacturing
Winchester, Ontario
Ingredient origin
100% Canadian milk
Official claim
Product of Canada, except slices and combos
blackdiamond.caSource: Black Diamond homepageSource: Our storyVerified September 2026

Black Diamond Cheese we list

Black Diamond Medium Cheddar Cheese

Black Diamond Medium Cheddar Cheese

🍁 Canadian
Canada
Bothwell logo

6. Bothwell

92/100 · Very strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, domestic & imported inputs (New Bothwell, Manitoba)

Head office in New Bothwell, ManitobaFounded 1936

Bothwell has made cheese in the village of New Bothwell, Manitoba since 1936. The company says it uses 100% Canadian milk, and that 98% of ingredients come from within 100 km of the plant. Local farmers supply the milk. The site does not name an outside owner.

Brand ownership
Not disclosed
Ultimate parent
Not disclosed
Manufacturing
New Bothwell, Manitoba
Ingredient origin
Canadian milk; 98% within 100 km
Official claim
100% pure Canadian milk
Dairy Farmers of Canada Quality Milk
bothwellcheese.comSource: Bothwell CheeseSource: Our Way of LifeVerified September 2026

Bothwell Cheese we list

Bothwell Smoked Gouda

Bothwell Smoked Gouda

92/100
New Bothwell, Manitoba, Canada
Bothwell Old Cheddar

Bothwell Old Cheddar

92/100
New Bothwell, Manitoba, Canada
Bothwell Cheese Jalapeno

Bothwell Cheese Jalapeno

🍁 Canadian
New Bothwell, Manitoba, Canada
Balderson logo

7. Balderson

80/100 · Strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, domestic & imported inputs (Winchester, Ontario)

Head office in Toronto, OntarioFounded 1881

Balderson began in 1881 as a farmer co-op at Balderson Corners in Lanark County, Ontario. The brand now says the cheese is made at plants in Winchester, Belleville and Windsor, using Ontario milk. Lactalis Canada lists Balderson with its cheeses. Lactalis Group, the parent, is based in Laval, France.

Brand ownership
Lactalis Canada
Ultimate parent
Lactalis Group, Laval, France
Manufacturing
Winchester, Belleville and Windsor, Ontario
Ingredient origin
Ontario milk
Official claim
Not disclosed
baldersoncheese.caSource: About BaldersonSource: About Lactalis CanadaVerified September 2026

Balderson Cheese we list

Balderson Aged Gouda

Balderson Aged Gouda

81/100
Ontario, Canada
Balderson 2 Year Old Cheddar

Balderson 2 Year Old Cheddar

81/100
Ontario, Canada
Balderson Extra Old Cheddar

Balderson Extra Old Cheddar

81/100
Ontario, Canada
COWS Creamery logo

8. COWS Creamery

100/100 · Very strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, mostly Canadian inputs (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)

Head office in Charlottetown, Prince Edward IslandFounded 1983

COWS Inc. started in 1983 and its creamery division began making cheddar in 2006. Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar is aged 12 to 18 months in a cave in Charlottetown. The creamery says Prince Edward Island milk is the only milk in the cheddar. The milk is heated, not pasteurized.

Brand ownership
COWS Inc.
Ultimate parent
COWS Inc.
Manufacturing
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Ingredient origin
Prince Edward Island milk
Official claim
PEI milk only in the cheddar
cowscreamery.caSource: About UsSource: ContactVerified September 2026

COWS Creamery Cheese we list

Cows Creamery Cheddar Cheese, Extra Old

Cows Creamery Cheddar Cheese, Extra Old

🍁 Canadian
New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Dairy Isle logo

9. Dairy Isle

100/100 · Very strong Canadian ties
Canadian-made, mostly Canadian inputs (Prince Edward Island)

Head office in Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Dairy Isle is the retail cheese, butter and canned milk brand of Amalgamated Dairies Limited, a co-op owned by Prince Edward Island's dairy farmers. ADL says it has five processing plants on the Island and that Dairy Isle is sold across Atlantic Canada. The brand site says the cheese starts with 100% PEI milk.

Brand ownership
Amalgamated Dairies Limited (PEI co-op)
Ultimate parent
Amalgamated Dairies Limited
Manufacturing
Prince Edward Island
Ingredient origin
100% Prince Edward Island milk
Official claim
100% PEI milk
dairyisle.caSource: Dairy IsleSource: ContactVerified September 2026

Dairy Isle Cheese we list

Dairy Isle Medium Cheddar

Dairy Isle Medium Cheddar

🍁 Canadian
New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Made in:
Quebec
Prince Edward Island
Manitoba
Ontario

Frequently Asked Questions About Canadian Cheese

What cheese is made in Canada?

Cheddar from Black Diamond, Cracker Barrel, Armstrong, and Saputo, plus OKA. Black Diamond and Cracker Barrel are made in Winchester, Ontario by Lactalis Canada. That company is owned by Lactalis Group in Laval, France. Armstrong and the Saputo cheese line belong to Saputo Inc. in Montreal. OKA is still ripened in Oka, Quebec by Agropur. A sale of the Oka plant to Lactalis is agreed and not closed.

Is Black Diamond cheese Canadian?

Partly. The cheese is made in Canada with Canadian milk at the Winchester, Ontario plant. Lactalis Canada owns the brand, and Lactalis Group in Laval, France owns Lactalis Canada. The brand's Product of Canada mark covers the cheese, with slices and combo packs left out. Cracker Barrel and Balderson come from the same company and the same plant.

Who makes Black Diamond cheese?

Lactalis Canada makes it. The Winchester, Ontario plant is named as a home of Black Diamond, along with Cracker Barrel and Balderson. Lactalis Canada's head office is in Toronto. The parent is Lactalis Group in Laval, France. The Black Diamond brand dates to 1933.

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