About Odyssey
Produced by Klondike Cheese Company
Who Are We?
Odyssey Brands is a staple in the dairy food-making industry who is best known for Feta cheese and Greek yogurt.
Awarded top honors in the World Championship Cheese Contest and the American Cheese Society competition, Odyssey Brands Feta cheese is made in a traditional style that comes in a variety of flavors that include Mediterranean, Tomato Basil, Peppercorn, Sweet Heat, Reduced Fat, Fat-Free and our new flavor Smoked.
Similarly, Greek yogurt by Odyssey Brands has received top honors at the World Championship Cheese Contest. Rich and creamy in flavor and texture with twice as much protein and less sugar than regular yogurt, Odyssey Greek yogurt is available in 0%, 2%, and 10% fat, plain and flavored varieties.
After success with Feta cheese and Greek yogurt, Odyssey Brands has recently expanded into creating its own tzatziki dip and flavored yogurts.
History of Klondike Cheese Company
In the late 1800s, Klondike Cheese Factory was originally named the Stauffacher Cheese Factory, after the farmer who donated the land. A fire destroyed it twice, the second time in the early 1900s. During rebuilding, a small group of Green County farmers had great difficulty removing the hard rock to enlarge the cellars. This occurred at the same time there was much speculation and publicity about gold mining in the Klondike Territory, Alaska. Thus, a change of the name to “Klondike Cheese Company.”
In 1925, the co-op hired Ernest Buholzer (a Swiss immigrant) to be the cheesemaker at Klondike Cheese. In 1947, his son Alvin, and wife Rosa (whose family also originated from Switzerland), took over the management. In 1973, a family corporation was formed with their three sons, Ronald, David, and Steven. A number of different cheeses have been produced at Klondike, beginning with wheels of Swiss cheese weighing 180-220 pounds each – followed by, Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Provolone, and other low-fat cheeses.
Klondike Cheese Company currently manufactures traditional Feta, flavored Feta, Brick, Muenster, and Havarti cheeses. In 2001, Klondike expanded its business by constructing a new cheese manufacturing facility and installing a computerized, fully automated coagulator. With the addition of the coagulator and advanced technology, Klondike has more than doubled their production of Feta to meet the growing demand for this specialty cheese. Nearly 100 farm families supply fresh milk daily to produce the Odyssey brand Feta cheese. By contrast, in the 1940s Klondike produced four wheels of Swiss cheese per day. In 2013 they expanded again to produce the popular Greek Yogurt, Greek Yogurt Dips and Reduced Fat Sour Cream.
Currently the 3rd generation along with their children in the 4th Generation work together to make high quality, consistent products day in and day out.
Five Master Cheesemakers at Odyssey Brands
Dave Buholzer
Ron Buholzer
Steve Buholzer
Matt Erdley
Adam Buholzer
We are BRC Certified!
Awards for Odyssey Brands
2023
American Cheese Society
Reduced Fat with Flavor
1st Place- Odyssey Reduced Fat Peppercorn Feta
2nd Place- Odyssey Reduced Fat Mediterranean Feta
3rd Place- Odyssey Reduced Fat Tomato & Basil
Yogurt and Cultured Products with Flavor
1st Place- Odyssey Peach Greek Yogurt
1st Place- Odyssey Vanilla Greek Yogurt
2nd Place- Odyssey Greek Yogurt French Onion Dip
3rd Place- Odyssey Blueberry Greek Yogurt
Feta with Flavor
1st Place-Odyssey Peppercorn Feta
1st Place- Odyssey Mediterranean Herb Feta
2nd Place- Odyssey Tomato & Basil
Fat Free and Low Fat Cheeses
1st Place- Odyssey Low Fat Feta
3rd Place- Odyssey Fat Free Feta
Light/Lite and Reduced Fat Cheeses
2nd Place- Odyssey Reduced Fat Feta
Labneh, Greek Style Yogurt, and Other Strained Cultured Products
3rd Place- Odyssey 2% Greek Yogurt
3rd Place- Odyssey Yogurt
Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest
Reduced Fat or Lite Feta
1st Place- Odyssey Reduced Fat Feta
3rd Place Odyssey Reduced Fat Mediterranean Feta
Flavored Pepper Cheese
1st Place Odyssey Sweet Heat Feta
Open Unflavored Yogurt
1st Place- Odyssey Whole Fat Yogurt
Open Unflavored Sour Cream
1st Place- Odyssey Whole Fat Yogurt (Sour Cream)
Flavored Soft Cheese- Feta
2nd Place- Odyssey Peppercorn Feta
3rd Place- Odyssey Mediterranean Feta
Flavored High Protein Yogurt
1st Place- Odyssey Peach Greek Yogurt
2nd Place- Odyssey Vanilla Greek Yogurt
Unflavored High Protein Yogurt
1st Place- Odyssey Greek Yogurt
2nd Place- Odyssey Labne
Low Fat Sour Cream
1st Place- Odyssey Reduced Fat, Greek French Onion Dip
2nd Place- Odyssey Reduced Fat, Greek Tzatziki
3rd Place- Reduced Fat Sour Cream
United States Cheese Championship – Biennial
Feta
High Protein Yogurt- Unflavored
1st- Odyssey Traditional Feta
2nd- Odyssey Traditional Feta
2nd- Odyssey Greek Plain Yogurt
3rd- Odyssey Greek Plain Yogurt-PSG
Low Fat Cheeses
High Protein Greek Yogurt-Flavored
2nd- Odyssey Low Fat Feta
3rd- Low Fat Vanilla Yogurt
Pepper Flavored Cheese-Med. Heat
High Protein Greek Yogurt-Flavored
2nd- Odyssey Sweet Heat Feta
2nd- Odyssey Greek Blueberry Yogurt
3rd- Odyssey Greek Peach Yogurt
Open Class Flavored Semi-Soft Cheeses-Flavored
1st- Odyssey Peppercorn Feta
2022
Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest
Feta
2nd Odyssey Feta in Brine
Reduced Fat or Lite Cheese
2nd Odyssey Reduced Fat Feta
3rd Odyssey Reduced Fat Mediterranean Flavored Feta
Open Class – Unflavored Yogurt
1st Odyssey Whole Fat Yogurt
Open Class – Unflavored Sour Cream
2nd Odyssey Sour Cream
Flavored Soft Cheese
2nd Odyssey Tomato & Basil Feta
3rd Odyssey Mediterranean Feta
Flavored High Protein Yogurt
1st Odyssey Vanilla Yogurt
2nd Odyssey Peach Yogurt
Unflavored High Protein Yogurt
1st Odyssey Traditional Yogurt
2nd Odyssey Greek Yogurt
Low Fat Sour Cream
1st Odyssey Reduced Fat, Greek Tzatziki
2nd Odyssey Reduced Fat, Greek Sour Cream
3rd Odyssey Reduced Fat, Greek French Onion Dip
American Cheese Society Contest
Labneh, Greek Style Yogurt, and Other Strained Cultured Products
1st Place – Odyssey Greek Yogurt PSG
2nd Place – Odyssey Greek Yogurt Traditional
2nd Place – Odyssey Labne
3rd Place – Odyssey 0% Greek Yogurt
Feta – made from cow's milk
1st Place – Odyssey Feta
Fat Free and Low Fat cheeses
1st Place – Odyssey Low Fat Feta
3rd Place – Odyssey Fat Free Feta
Yogurt and Cultured Products with Flavor Added – cow’s milk
Feta with Flavor Added
1st Place – Odyssey Peppercorn Feta
2nd Place – Odyssey Tomato & Basil Feta
Reduced Fat Cheese with Flavor Added
2nd Place – Odyssey Reduced Fat Mediterranean Feta
3rd Place – Odyssey Reduced Fat Tomato & Basil Feta
World Champion Cheese Contest - Biennial
Feta
1st Place – Odyssey Traditional Feta
1st Place – Odyssey Peppercorn Feta
1st Place – Odyssey Low Fat Feta
Dips
3rd Place – Odyssey French Onion Dip
Flavored Yogurt
2nd Place – Odyssey Vanilla Yogurt
Greek Yogurt
3rd Place – Odyssey Plain Greek Yogurt 3.5%
2021
Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest
Feta
3rd Odyssey Feta in Brine
Reduced Fat or Lite Cheese
1st Odyssey Reduced Fat Mediterranean Feta
2nd Odyssey Reduced Fat Feta
3rd Odyssey Reduced Fat Tomato and Basil Feta
Flavored High Protein Yogurt
1st Odyssey Vanilla
Unflavored High Protein Yogurt
1st Odyssey Greek Yogurt
2nd Odyssey Whole Fat Greek Yogurt
Open Flavored Yogurt
3rd Odyssey Whole Vanilla Yogurt
Open Unflavored Yogurt
1st Odyssey Whole Fat Yogurt
Open Unflavored Sour Cream
1st Odyssey Sour Cream
Low Fat Sour Cream
1st Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek Tzatziki
2nd Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek Sour Cream
3rd Odyssey Reduced Fat Greek French Onion Dip
2020
World Champion Cheese Contest - Biennial
Feta - Regular
1st Place – Peppercorn
Yogurt - High Protein
2nd Place – Vanilla Greek Yogurt
2nd Place – Odyssey Greek 3.2%
3rd Place – Odyssey Greek Yogurt, Low-Fat Vanilla
3rd Place – Odyssey 3% Greek Yogurt, Vanilla
2019
United States Cheese Championship - Biennial
Feta
1st Place – Fat Free
1st Place – Traditional
2nd Place – Traditional
3rd Place – Traditional
High Protein Yogurt
1st Place – Odyssey Vanilla
2nd Place – Low Fat Vanilla
2nd Place – Odyssey 2% Plain
3rd Place – Odyssey Low Fat Blueberry
American Cheese Society Contest
Greek Styled Yogurt
2nd Place – Odyssey Greek Yogurt Traditional
3rd Place – Odyssey Greek Yogurt Old World
3rd Place – Odyssey Greek Yogurt 2% Plain
Flavored Feta
1st Place – Peppercorn
1st Place – Reduced Fat Mediterranean Herb
2nd Place – Tomato & Basil
3rd Place – Reduced Fat Tomato & Basil
3rd Place – Mediterranean Herb
Feta
2nd Place – Feta in Brine
3rd Place – Fat Free
3rd Place – Fat Free
Wisconsin State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest
Feta
1st Place – Mediterranean Herb
1st Place – Traditional
1st Place – Reduced Fat, Peppercorn
2nd Place – Tomato & Basil
2nd Place – Traditional
2nd Place – Reduced Fat, Tomato & Basil
3rd Place – Tomato & Basil
3rd Place – Reduced Fat, Traditional
Our Partners
FAQ's
How much cheese do you make each day?
We make 120,000 lbs of cheese each day! Additionally, Wisconsin makes 26% of the country’s cheese with over 2 billion pounds each year.
How much milk is dedicated to the production of cheese?
Almost 95% of all milk produced in Wisconsin is made into cheese!
How should I store my cheese?
To ensure your cheese keeps its quality and flavor, proper storage is important. Here are some storage tips:
* Keep your cheese covered after every use
* Store cheese away from aromatic foods
* Refrigerate cheese below 40°F
How can I make my own brine for feta?
Add one tablespoon of salt for every 1 cup of water until cheese is completely submerged in liquid. Brine may turn more yellow with age. If cheese is completely submerged in brine, covered, and refrigerated below 40 degrees, shelf life is extended.
Can I freeze my cheese?
Although we do not recommend it, you can freeze your cheese. Freezing your cheese can greatly affect the texture, making it more crumbly or separate easily. Here are some tips on freezing if you choose to:
* Wrap tightly in small pieces
* Date and label your cheese before storing it
* Aim for a temperature at about 0*F
* Once removed from freezer, store in refrigerator and use within a couple days