History
Floridia Cheese was founded by Mauro Montalto utilising the supreme cheese-making skills handed down to him by his forefathers over many generations. In 1952, Mauro Montalto brought those skills with him to Melbourne, Australia when he emigrated from his hometown of Floridia in the southern Italian island of Sicily with his wife Carmela and three sons. On his arrival in Australia, Mauro Montalto continued the family tradition and began making traditional Italian cheese for friends and local continental grocery stores, as a means of supporting his family. By 1955, the demand for his traditional Italian cheese had grown significantly, so to keep up with the demand, Mauro purchased a small factory, and so established the foundations for FLORIDIA CHEESE.
Through sheer determination, Floridia Cheese has become Australia's most respected traditional Italian cheese manufacturer and is considered the industry benchmark for consistency and quality in Italian cheese products. Floridia Cheese's success has come from the commitment, passion, and spirit to manufacture the highest standard Italian cheese available to both the retail and food service markets, with regular recognition and awards from both State and Federal Authorities.
The journey which began with a "one-man" operation over 50 years ago, in a tin shed making cheese using little copper pots over a wood fire, has today grown into a 4822 square metre modern manufacturing plant.
What makes Floridia Cheese stand out is its belief that in order to create excellence in cheese you must not compromise methods or substitute traditional cheese making for convenience or higher volume production. Floridia Cheese utilises the most up to date technology available without comprising the tradition or quality of its cheese. We only use the freshest raw ingredients with no colour, preservatives or chemicals added. Further more, Floridia sources only the highest quality ingredients, and maintains a loyal relationship with all suppliers to ensure consistency in raw materials is supplied and maintained.
The success of Floridia Cheese lies not only in its tradition of making fine cheese, but also in the integrity of its cheese-makers. Their attention to detail throughout the manufacturing process is of the highest possible standard, thereby ensuring they remain the leaders in their field. The entire manufacturing process is guided by strict hygiene and safety standards to ensure a supreme and consistent quality is maintained. All products are internally monitored and tested through the manufacturing process, and further final product verification is done via an external certified food laboratory. Such is our commitment to maintaining supreme quality cheese products.
Today Floridia Cheese products are found throughout Australia and in numerous International markets, with distribution to the Retail, Food Service and Industrial markets.Products can be purchased either directly or through selected agents.
Although mindful and respectful of the foundations laid by Mauro Montalto in 1952, today the focus of Floridia Cheese is to remain the leading manufacture of Italian cheese, by continually improving standards for products which offer exceptional quality and outstanding value. The dedication and care which Mauro Montalto took in creating quality cheese products over 50 years ago continues today, and will remain so to ensure future generations can appreciate and enjoy the quality and tradition which is synonymous with the name, Floridia Cheese.