AUSTIN, TEXAS | Whole Foods Market has continued to raise the bar in cheese expertise by adding 40 team members to its growing cohort of Certified Cheese Professionals (CCPs).
This year’s achievement reinforced Whole Foods Market’s position as the leading global employer of CCPs – the retailer has supported the development of more than 370 team member CCPs out of more than 1,000 worldwide.
“The American Cheese Society’s CCP designation is the crème de la crème for cheese professionals,” said Whole Foods Market’s Ambassador of Food Culture Cathy Strange.
“It’s an incredible asset not only for our team but also for our customers, who trust Whole Foods Market to offer the highest quality products and serve as a resource in specialty categories from cheese to wine and beyond.”
This CCP exam is renowned for its comprehensive coverage of the cheese industry. The certification marks the highest achievement in the field, covering production techniques and ripening processes to distribution and storage.
Whole Foods Market’s newest CCPs completed the rigorous process after months of preparation, including self-study, weekly webinars, and hands-on training with industry experts in Wisconsin in collaboration with the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Centre for Dairy Research.
“This certification represents the commitment and dedication of our cheesemongers to delivering the best experience for our customers,” said Kim Dunn, Senior Category Merchant of Specialty Cheese and CCP program lead.
“We are thrilled to see so many of our team members continue to deepen their expertise and grow within our company.”
Whole Foods Market has long been a pioneer in the specialty cheese sector, championing artisan producers and supporting team members in achieving excellence through advanced training and certification. The retailer’s CCPs provide expert knowledge to help customers discover a wide range of cheeses sourced both locally and globally.
All of these cheeses meet Whole Foods Market’s strict quality standards, free from artificial additives and rBST.
Beyond cheese, Whole Foods Market has been dedicated to advancing team member growth through its expanding collection of apprentice programs, including the Butcher Apprentice Program, Bakery Decorator Apprentice Program, and the recently launched Produce Professional Apprentice Program and Pizzaioli Apprentice Program.
