How do two Californians end up in Upstate New York making cheese? It all starts with a vacation home in the Adirondacks, and a love of good cheese. Anthony Leiker, a licensed registered nurse and Craig Shaffer, a licensed attorney bought the Adirondack Cheese Company Inc. in May of this year and are now full-time cheese makers!
Adirondack Cheese Company Inc., was founded by New Hartford resident Cynthia Major in 1991. With locations in Barneveld and Clinton, the company sells a variety of cheese products, such as cheddar blocks and wheels and specialty spreads, which are created using Major’s recipes. Mustards, preserves and gift baskets also are sold under the brand name.
Leiker and Shaffer bought the entire business, which includes a mail order business, a retail store in Clinton and a manufacturing and retail facility in Barneveld. They’ve added new equipment and leased extra manufacturing space, but retained the nine employees who worked for Major. Leiker sees unprecedented growth opportunities for Adirondack Cheese, which already had a strong Internet ordering business and had wholesale relationships with local grocery stores. “Our goal in five years is to have our products throughout the U.S.,” Leiker said.
6 Comments on “Coast to Coast”
Hi Tony,
Cheese?? Hope you and Craig are well. How are your parents and siblings? I’m now living in Reno, enjoying life here plus retired from AT&T after 30 years.
Lorrie
Hi Tony,
Cheese?? Hope you and Craig are well. How are your parents and siblings? I’m now living in Reno, enjoying life here plus retired from AT&T after 30 years.
Lorrie
Hi Tony,
Cheese?? Hope you and Craig are well. How are your parents and siblings? I’m now living in Reno, enjoying life here plus retired from AT&T after 30 years.
Lorrie
Tony! I just found Marcia a couple weeks ago and had lunch with her Saturday. I didn’t know all that went on after I left Stanford & was shocked!!! Guess a lot has happened and now you’re living in NY! I took my 4 year old grandson to NYC a year ago when his mom was working there and we had a terrific time. We hope to go back again soon–I also have two cousins there.
What a surprise finding you (& Craig). Sounds like all is well. I’ll check out your site soon. Let me know what’s been going on with you.
IrisAnn
Tony! I just found Marcia a couple weeks ago and had lunch with her Saturday. I didn’t know all that went on after I left Stanford & was shocked!!! Guess a lot has happened and now you’re living in NY! I took my 4 year old grandson to NYC a year ago when his mom was working there and we had a terrific time. We hope to go back again soon–I also have two cousins there.
What a surprise finding you (& Craig). Sounds like all is well. I’ll check out your site soon. Let me know what’s been going on with you.
IrisAnn
Tony! I just found Marcia a couple weeks ago and had lunch with her Saturday. I didn’t know all that went on after I left Stanford & was shocked!!! Guess a lot has happened and now you’re living in NY! I took my 4 year old grandson to NYC a year ago when his mom was working there and we had a terrific time. We hope to go back again soon–I also have two cousins there.
What a surprise finding you (& Craig). Sounds like all is well. I’ll check out your site soon. Let me know what’s been going on with you.
IrisAnn