The dairy aisle is full of maple leaves. Packaging with pastoral farm scenes, Canadian flags, and red-and-white colour palettes; none of it is regulated.
What is regulated is the text: the words “Product of Canada,” “Made in Canada,” and the blue cow logo from the Dairy Farmers of Canada carry legal and certification weight. The barn illustration does not.
Before you buy anything: a maple leaf on cheese packaging is a design choice, not a labelling claim.
This article covers Canadian cheese brands that manufacture their products in Canada using Canadian milk with a clear note on which ones are also Canadian-owned, and which ones are made here by companies whose parent operations are headquartered elsewhere.
You deserve to know both things before you reach for the block.
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What the Labels on Canadian Cheese Actually Mean
When you are evaluating Canadian cheese brands, three designations carry regulatory weight under CFIA guidelines.
“Product of Canada” is the gold standard for dairy. It means that all, or virtually all, major ingredients, processing, and labour used to make the product are Canadian.
When you see this on a block of cheddar, the milk came from a Canadian farm. This is the label to prioritise if your goal is to keep your grocery spending as close to the Canadian dairy supply chain as possible.
“Made in Canada” means the cheese underwent its last substantial transformation in Canada. Under CFIA rules, this claim must always be accompanied by a qualifying statement for example, “Made in Canada with domestic and imported ingredients.”
A block of cheese labelled this way could contain imported milk concentrates, as long as it was processed and formed in Canada. Look for the qualifier beside the claim, not just the claim on its own.
The Blue Cow Quality Milk logo from the Dairy Farmers of Canada is a third-party certification appearing on more than 8,800 products across 565 brands.
It guarantees the product was made with 100% Canadian milk and milk ingredients: no imported dairy components.
Worth Knowing: Some brands use 100% Canadian milk without carrying the logo. The logo is a reliable signal when present, but its absence does not automatically mean the milk is imported.
Check the label for a “Product of Canada” statement as a secondary signal.
Every brand on this list manufactures its products in Canada and has been confirmed to use Canadian milk. The list is not built on country-of-origin graphics, it is built on verified labelling claims and published sourcing information.
Nationally Available Canadian Cheese Brands
These brands are made in Canada and stocked at major national grocery chains: Loblaw, Sobeys, Metro, Costco, and Save-On-Foods.
If you shop at a large-format grocery store anywhere in Canada, these are the brands you will encounter.
Balderson (Lanark County, Ontario)
Balderson cheddar has been made near the village of Balderson in Lanark County, Eastern Ontario, since 1881, starting as a farmer co-operative.
The facility is now operated by Lactalis Canada, a subsidiary of the French dairy group Groupe Lactalis. The cheese is made in Canada using Canadian milk. Balderson products carry the Blue Cow logo but the brand is not Canadian-owned.
The two-year aged cheddar block, available in 280g and 500g formats at most Loblaws and Sobeys locations, is the version most recognisable to Ontario shoppers.
The milk is Canadian; the profits flow to a parent company based in Laval, France. That distinction is yours to weigh.
Visit Website: [www.baldersonvillagecheese.ca]
Black Diamond (Belleville, Ontario)
Black Diamond has manufactured cheddar in Belleville, Ontario since 1933 and was the first brand-name cheddar in Canada. Like Balderson, it is now owned by Lactalis Canada.
The cheese is made in Belleville with 100% Canadian milk. The Extra Old White Cheddar: a two-year reserve available in 400g and 600g blocks at most major chains is the product most consistently stocked nationwide.
If your goal is Canadian-made with Canadian milk and you are comfortable with a non-Canadian parent company, both Balderson and Black Diamond meet that bar.
If Canadian ownership matters to you equally, see Bothwell and Gunn’s Hill below.
Visit Website: blackdiamond.ca
Bothwell (New Bothwell, Manitoba)
Bothwell is the brand that stands apart at the nationally-available tier. Founded in 1936 as a farmer co-operative in Manitoba’s dairy belt, it produces more than 25 varieties using 100% Canadian milk, with no modified milk ingredients, no artificial preservatives, and no animal rennet.
The company states that 98% of its ingredients come from within 100 km of its factory in New Bothwell.
Bothwell Cheese is Canada’s largest independently owned cheese company. The Marble cheddar has won first place in the cheddar class at the British Empire Cheese Show eight of nine years.
The Smoked Gouda: naturally smoked over real hickory and maple in an in-house smokehouse is the standout on a cheese board.
You will find Bothwell at Costco, Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, and Save-On-Foods.
Visit Website: bothwellcheese.com
Fromagerie L’Ancêtre (Bécancour, Quebec)
L’Ancêtre has carried the Québec Vrai and Canada Organic certification labels since 1992.
Founded by nine dairy farming families in Bécancour, it produces organic cheddar, mozzarella, butter, and fresh cheese curds using milk from certified organic farms.
The Extra Old Cheddar won a 2025 Canadian Grand Prix New Product Award following the launch of its grass-fed certification.
L’Ancêtre products are available at most large grocery stores, Canadian specialty natural food stores, and many other retail outlets including IGA and Metro locations.
For an organic cheese that is also genuinely Canadian-owned, it is the most accessible option at the national level.
Visit Website: fromagerieancetre.com
Ontario Artisan Cheese Brands
Ontario has the largest concentration of artisan cheesemakers in English Canada, ranging from century-old co-operatives to newer specialty producers using Swiss and Dutch techniques.
St-Albert Cheese Co-op (St-Albert, Ontario)
St-Albert has been making cheese in Eastern Ontario since 1894 and remains a producer-owned co-operative.
It is best known for its fresh cheese curds made daily from locally sourced milk and sold at the factory store near Casselman on the same day they are produced.
The aged cheddar is widely stocked at Ontario and Quebec grocery stores. If you are within driving distance of Casselman, the farm store is worth the trip for same-day curds.
Visit Website: fromagestalbert.com
Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese (Oxford County, Ontario)
Gunn’s Hill is a Canadian-owned and operated artisan producer in Oxford County, using milk from local farms in the region.
The cheesemaker trained in Switzerland, and the speciality is Swiss-style pressed cheeses. The “5 Brothers”: a semi-firm, washed-rind wheel with a mild, buttery character has earned recognition at Canadian cheese competitions and is available at specialty cheese counters at select Whole Foods and independent retailers in Ontario.
The “Oxford’s Harvest,” a firmer aged variety, is the one to ask for if you are at a specialty counter.
Tours of the facility are available by appointment, making Gunn’s Hill one of the more accessible artisan producers for a weekend detour from the 401 corridor.
Visit Website: gunnshillcheese.ca
Empire Cheese (Campbellford, Ontario)
Empire Cheese has been operating in Campbellford for more than 140 years as a co-operative using milk from local Northumberland County farms.
The aged cheddar available in one-year, two-year, and three-year varieties is what drives repeat purchases. Empire distributes to Ontario grocery stores and has a factory store in Campbellford.
Visit Website: empirecheese.ca
Quebec Artisan and Regional Cheese Brands
Quebec has the most developed artisan cheese culture in Canada. These are two of the most widely distributed and well-documented producers.
Fromagerie du Presbytère (Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Quebec)
Fromagerie du Presbytère is a Canadian-owned artisan producer using milk from its own herd.
The “Louis d’Or” a large-format, washed-rind wheel aged for a minimum of 18 months is consistently recognized at national and international cheese competitions and is among the most ambitious cheeses produced in this country.
It is available at specialty cheese shops in Montreal and Quebec City, and at a small number of retailers in Ontario. The price reflects the time and labour invested in ageing. If you encounter it, buy it.
Visit Website: fromageriedupresbytere.com
Fromagerie Perron (Saint-Prime, Quebec)
Fromagerie Perron has been producing cheddar in Saint-Prime, Quebec since 1890.
It is a historic Canadian-owned operation offering mild through extra-old cheddar, as well as flavoured varieties.
The factory includes a cheese shop and a small museum tracing the history of cheesemaking in the region. Products are distributed across Canada.
Visit Website: fromagerieperron.com
Fromagerie Perron (Saint-Prime, Quebec)
Fromagerie Perron has been producing cheddar in Saint-Prime, Quebec since 1890.
It is a historic Canadian-owned operation offering mild through extra-old cheddar, as well as flavoured varieties. The factory includes a cheese shop and a small museum tracing the history of cheesemaking in the region.
Products are distributed across Canada.
Visit Website: fromagerieperron.com
British Columbia Artisan Cheese Brands
Natural Pastures Cheese Company (Courtenay, BC)
Natural Pastures is a Canadian-owned, award-winning producer on Vancouver Island using milk from its own herd and a network of local farms.
The soft cheeses: a brie and a camembert have won recognition at national competitions. The brand uses non-GMO, sustainable farming practices.
Find it at farmers’ markets on Vancouver Island and at specialty grocers across BC, including select IGA and Save-On-Foods locations.
Visit Website: naturalpastures.com
Golden Ears Cheesecrafters (Maple Ridge, BC)
Golden Ears is a family-run farm and cheese company using milk exclusively from its own herd. The fresh cheese curds are made daily.
The garlic and pepper flavoured cheddars are the bestsellers at BC farmers’ markets.
The farm store in Maple Ridge is open to the public.
Visit Website: cheesecrafters.ca
Atlantic Canada Cheese Brands
Fox Hill Cheese House (Port Williams, Nova Scotia)
Fox Hill is a family-operated farm and cheese producer in the Annapolis Valley, using milk exclusively from its own herd.
The range includes cheddar, Havarti, Gouda, and Parmesan, as well as yogurt and gelato made with the same milk. The farm store in Port Williams is open to visitors.
Products are available at select Nova Scotia retailers and at the farm gate.
Visit Website: foxhillcheesehouse.com
That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm (Upper Economy, Nova Scotia)
That Dutchman’s is a Nova Scotia farm producing Gouda-style cheeses using traditional Dutch techniques. The aged Gouda available in a standard and a cumin variety has won multiple awards.
The farm store is open seasonally. This is an operation worth planning a stop around if you are travelling the Fundy Shore.
Visit Website: thatdutchmansfarm.com
Alberta Cheese Brands
Sylvan Star Cheese (Red Deer, Alberta)
Sylvan Star is a Canadian-owned farm and cheese producer known primarily for its Gouda, made in Red Deer using milk from the farm’s own herd.
Varieties include young, medium, aged, and extra-old Gouda, plus smoked and cumin options. The extra-old Gouda, aged a minimum of 18 months is the product most often cited in competition results. Sylvan Star is available at Alberta farmers’ markets, specialty grocers, and at the farm store.
Canadian-Made vs Canadian-Owned: What the Difference Actually Means
Buying from a brand that manufactures in Canada even if the parent company is headquartered elsewhere still supports Canadian dairy farmers, Canadian manufacturing workers, and the Canadian milk supply chain.
Balderson and Black Diamond purchase 100% Canadian milk and employ thousands of Canadians. That is a meaningful contribution regardless of where the parent company files its annual report.
But if keeping your grocery spending within Canadian-owned companies is also a priority, these are the brands on this list that meet both criteria:
Bothwell (Manitoba), Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese (Ontario), St-Albert Cheese Co-op (Ontario), Empire Cheese (Ontario), Fromagerie L’Ancêtre (Quebec), Fromagerie du Presbytère (Quebec), Fromagerie Perron (Quebec), Natural Pastures (BC), Golden Ears Cheesecrafters (BC), Fox Hill Cheese House (Nova Scotia), That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm (Nova Scotia), Sylvan Star Cheese (Alberta).
To independently verify any brand’s Canadian status, the CFIA Industry Labelling Tool is the most reliable starting point.
Next time you are in the dairy aisle, start with Bothwell if it is on the shelf. It is Canadian-made, uses 100% Canadian milk sourced almost entirely from within 100 km of its Manitoba factory, and is available at Costco, Sobeys, FreshCo, and Save-On-Foods.
If you are in Ontario and near a farmers’ market, look for Gunn’s Hill’s “5 Brothers.” If you are buying organic, Fromagerie L’Ancêtre is in most IGA and Metro locations.
A maple leaf on the label is a design choice. The Blue Cow logo, “Product of Canada,” and “Made in Canada with domestic ingredients” are the words that tell you what is in the package and where it actually came from.
