Sartori Cheese Strengthens Wisconsin Dairy Exports to South Korea Through Coupang
Sartori Cheese, a fourth-generation, family-owned artisanal cheesemaker, is accelerating its international expansion by bringing its premium Wisconsin-made cheeses to more consumers in South Korea through a partnership with Coupang, Inc., an American retail and technology company ranked among the Fortune 150. The collaboration is helping Sartori strengthen its presence in Asian markets by using Coupang’s digital commerce platform and logistics infrastructure to connect its specialty cheese products with Korean households.
The partnership represents an important step in Sartori’s international growth strategy, combining its long-standing cheesemaking heritage with Coupang’s established online grocery distribution network. By improving access to South Korean consumers, the relationship also supports the Wisconsin dairy farms, employees and local communities that contribute to Sartori’s production operations.
“Our mission has always been to make the best cheese in the world and we have built our business around quality—from the milk we source to the craftsmanship that goes into every wheel of cheese,” said Bert Sartori, CEO of Sartori Cheese.
He explained that the company has spent more than a decade developing international sales, but its relationship with Coupang has enabled it to reach Korean consumers more quickly and at a scale that would previously have been difficult to achieve. According to Sartori, expanding the company’s overseas customer base directly benefits its partner family farms, local workforce and established cheesemaking traditions in Plymouth, Wisconsin.
Coupang Partnership Accelerates Sartori’s International Expansion
Sartori Cheese has exported its products to international markets for more than 15 years, building a foundation for continued growth beyond the United States. Its partnership with Coupang is providing an additional channel to reach consumers in Asia, where demand for premium food products creates opportunities for American specialty food manufacturers.
Through Coupang’s distribution capabilities, Sartori can introduce signature products, including SarVecchio® Parmesan and its BellaVitano® cheese varieties, directly to consumers in South Korea. These products reflect the company’s focus on artisanal production, carefully sourced milk and distinctive flavor profiles.
South Korea is an important market for Wisconsin agriculture. With a population of more than 51 million people, the country ranks as Wisconsin’s third-largest overseas agricultural market. Its established digital retail sector and consumer access to imported food products offer opportunities for Wisconsin dairy producers seeking to expand their international customer base.
For Sartori, reaching Korean consumers through an established online grocery platform can help simplify the process of introducing specialty cheese to a new audience. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional export and retail distribution arrangements, the company can use Coupang’s existing infrastructure to connect its products with customers through a familiar digital shopping experience.
The partnership also demonstrates how regional food producers can use international e-commerce channels to broaden their reach while maintaining production operations and agricultural relationships in their home communities.
Coupang’s Logistics Network Connects American Products With Overseas Consumers
Coupang’s logistics infrastructure plays a central role in the partnership by helping Sartori move its products efficiently to customers in South Korea. Orders are delivered through Rocket Fresh, Coupang’s online grocery service in the country.
Efficient distribution is particularly important for perishable agricultural products such as cheese, where transit times and handling conditions can influence product quality and the overall customer experience. Access to an established grocery delivery network can help American food manufacturers navigate some of the logistical challenges associated with serving customers in overseas markets.
For producers of premium agricultural goods, these capabilities can make international expansion more accessible. Exporting food products often requires manufacturers to coordinate transportation, distribution, market access and customer fulfillment across multiple stages of the supply chain. Working with an established digital commerce and logistics provider can help reduce some of these barriers.
Coupang reported that it helped generate more than $5 billion in overseas sales of U.S. goods and services in 2025. The company works with thousands of American businesses and brands, supporting the international sale of products across a range of categories, including specialty foods, artisan salt and sports nutrition supplements.
Sartori’s growth in South Korea illustrates how these distribution networks can help smaller and established American manufacturers introduce distinctive products to international consumers.
“Sartori’s success demonstrates how world-class products from rural communities in Wisconsin and across America can succeed in global markets,” said Scott Jacobs, Coupang’s head of global public policy.
Jacobs added that Coupang works with thousands of U.S. businesses and brands to eliminate traditional trade barriers, enabling consumers around the world to access innovative American agricultural products, including Sartori Cheese.
Wisconsin Family Farms Supply the Milk Behind Global Sales
Although Sartori is expanding its customer base internationally, its production supply chain remains closely connected to Wisconsin agriculture. The company sources fresh milk from family farms located within 75 miles of its facilities in Plymouth, helping maintain a regional supply network built around local dairy production.
According to the company, the milk is transformed into finished cheese within hours of collection. This close connection between farms and manufacturing facilities supports the company’s production process while maintaining strong relationships with the agricultural businesses that supply its raw materials.
One of Sartori’s dairy partners is Majestic Crossing Dairy, which supplies the cheesemaker with approximately 150,000 gallons of milk each day. The relationship highlights the scale of agricultural production supporting Sartori’s cheese operations and the role local dairy farms play in serving customers beyond Wisconsin.
For participating farms, access to established food manufacturers can provide an important route from milk production to higher-value finished products. When those products reach international markets, the benefits of overseas trade can extend beyond the manufacturer to the farmers, employees and suppliers involved in the domestic supply chain.
“As local dairy farmers, our top priority is caring for our 2,000-head herd and producing the highest quality milk possible,” said Darin Strauss, co-owner of Majestic Crossing Dairy.
He said it was rewarding to know that the farm’s milk is used to produce world-class cheese that reaches dinner tables in South Korea, thousands of miles from the dairy’s Wisconsin operations.
The partnership therefore connects local agricultural production with international food consumption, demonstrating how global trade can create opportunities for regional farming communities.
Cheesemaking Craftsmanship Remains Central to Sartori’s Growth
Sartori’s international expansion also reflects Wisconsin’s longstanding reputation for dairy production and specialty cheesemaking. The state’s dairy industry combines agricultural expertise, established processing capabilities and generations of cheesemaking knowledge to produce a broad range of cheeses for domestic and international markets.
At Sartori, that tradition is supported by experienced cheesemakers who work to maintain product quality as the company reaches new customers.
Ken Kane, a master cheesemaker who has worked at Sartori for two decades, said access to high-quality milk is an important foundation for the company’s products.
“The cheese making heritage here is what defines Wisconsin, and we’re fortunate to have access to some of the best milk in the country,” Kane said.
He added that the quality of the milk challenges cheesemakers to create the best cheese possible and that seeing Sartori products enjoyed across Asia and other markets is particularly rewarding.
The company’s approach links its international commercial ambitions with the agricultural and manufacturing practices that define its identity. While Coupang provides a route to additional customers, Sartori’s local milk supply and cheesemaking expertise remain central to the products it sells.
This combination of regional production and international distribution offers a model for specialty food businesses seeking to grow beyond their traditional markets without moving their manufacturing operations away from established agricultural partners.
International Trade Offers Opportunities for Wisconsin’s Dairy Industry
Expanding access to overseas markets can contribute to economic resilience for agricultural producers and food manufacturers. For Wisconsin’s dairy industry, international demand provides an opportunity to reach customers beyond the domestic market and increase the commercial potential of locally produced milk and value-added dairy products.
However, entering foreign markets can present challenges for manufacturers, particularly when products require specialized transportation, reliable delivery and access to established retail channels. Digital commerce and logistics partnerships can help address some of these obstacles by connecting producers with customers through existing distribution infrastructure.
The Sartori-Coupang relationship illustrates how technology-enabled retail networks can support this process. By providing access to Korean consumers through Rocket Fresh, Coupang offers Sartori a way to expand its reach while continuing to source milk from Wisconsin family farms.
Rebekah Sweeney, senior director of public policy and education at the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, said the state’s dairy industry has a strong international reputation but that overseas expansion can involve complex logistical challenges.
“Technology and logistics partners like Coupang can help bridge that gap by connecting American companies with customers and making the process more efficient,” Sweeney said.
She added that relationships of this kind can help established manufacturers convert international interest into actual sales and long-term market opportunities.
For Wisconsin dairy businesses, stronger export channels can support a broader network of economic activity, including milk production, cheese processing, transportation and other services associated with food manufacturing.
A Platform for Continued Global Growth
Sartori Cheese’s partnership with Coupang highlights the potential for established American food brands to combine traditional production expertise with modern digital commerce and distribution capabilities. The company’s expansion into South Korea builds on more than 15 years of export experience while opening access to additional consumers through a major online grocery platform.
The collaboration also underscores the connection between international market development and local agricultural production. Sartori’s cheeses are manufactured using milk sourced from nearby Wisconsin family farms, while its international distribution efforts create opportunities to bring those products to consumers across Asia.
As demand for premium American food products continues to create opportunities in international markets, partnerships that simplify distribution and improve consumer access may become increasingly important for regional producers.
For Sartori, the opportunity extends beyond selling more cheese overseas. It provides a way to bring Wisconsin’s dairy expertise to a wider audience while supporting the farms, cheesemakers and communities that sustain its business. By pairing its fourth-generation family-owned heritage with Coupang’s logistics and e-commerce capabilities, Sartori is strengthening its position in South Korea and demonstrating how local agricultural products can compete in global markets.
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