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Castello® History
Why do we think Castello® is the king of specialty cheese? Two reasons: its illustrious history and its 115-year tradition of skillful production.
Our story begins in 1893, when the young visionary, Rasmus Tholstrup, decided to dedicate his life to cheese making. Over 110 years later, the story continues, with Castello being sold in over 50 countries.
Thanks to his high standards and hard work, Rasmus soon became a pioneer in his field. Fortunately, his son, Henrik, grew up to share his passion for cheese and the Castello® legacy was secured. Henrik Tholstrup took the family dairy from strength to strength, introducing a range of innovative, prize-winning cheeses.
Henrik bought a Swedish dairy and the successful Bianco cheese was born - a creamy Havarti with a smooth and supple texture that became very popular. However, it was Castello® that made Tholstrup a big name within the industry. Tholstrup developed the white cheese over the course of 10 years before its introduction, a debut that saw Castello receiving scores of medals and prizes.
In 1958 Henrik bought several dairies in Denmark, and on the first day of production, 17 Castello® cheeses were manufactured. Just four years later, that number had increased to 2,200. Thirty years later, 60,000 Castello® cheeses were being produced every day.
In 1963, Henrik received the Danish Cheesemonger's award, having made "A tremendous effort by introducing the new Castello® cheese, which has made Danish cheese production highly successful and in a few years has gained remarkable popularity both in Denmark and abroad."
At first, Castello® was called "yellow" because of its golden wrapping; this was the precursor of today's favorites, Castello® Blue and the White version sold abroad. Having been acquired by Arla in 2006, Castello® is now available at a store near you. Give it a try - taste the legacy!
Crafted with Care
Making specialty cheese is a real skill. And thankfully, each and every one of our cheese makers shares the same passion for Castello® as our founder, Rasmus Tholstrup. He set the benchmark for precision, dedication, and the understanding of the way in which each and every cheese ripens.
Castello® cheeses each have very different characteristics. Our expertise means they are given individual attention. Only when Castello cheeses are ripe and perfectly ready will you find them on the shelves. Then it's over to you to sit back and enjoy it - while it lasts!
Rosenborg®, Our Royal House
The House of Castello® began under the auspices of the name Rosenborg®, after the Royal Castle in Copenhagen, built in the 17th century by King Christian IV, a lover of fine art and architecture. The Castle is rich in tradition and craftsmanship, qualities that are reflected today in the range of Castello-Rosenborg® cheeses.
King Christian IV had a reputation for being the perfect host. He offered exquisite food and delicate wines at sumptuous banquets - to the accompaniment of music he himself composed! The centerpiece of every occasion was a fine selection of specialty cheeses.