Rebel Cheese

Rebel Cheese is an Austin, Texas fromagerie producing artisan plant-based cheese as a direct alternative to dairy. Every wheel and wedge is handcrafted in small batches in the company's Austin kitchen and cheese cave using organic cashews, with no preservatives or artificial flavors, and all products are lactose-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and fully plant-based. Production is never outsourced. The range spans 20+ styles including cave-aged brie, truffle brie, smoked cheddar, chèvre, pepper jack, and fromages, alongside dips, spreads, curated gift boxes, and cheese and charcuterie boards. 

The company was founded by Kirsten Maitland and Fred Zwar, lifelong foodies turned vegan, who opened their first storefront in Austin's Mueller district in October 2019. Growth accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pivot to online and wholesale sales three months after opening; the business now operates a 9,000-square-foot factory and ships to hundreds of retail locations across the United States and Canada. A 2023 appearance on Shark Tank, which brought an investment from Mark Cuban, significantly raised the brand's national profile. 

Rebel Cheese sells through three channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce with cold-chain nationwide shipping, a wholesale program serving grocery and specialty retailers, and gifting. The company is headquartered in Austin and operates with a small core team. Its positioning centers on parity with dairy on taste and texture, backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and it markets to both committed vegans and mainstream shoppers reducing dairy.