Heinrichsthaler celebrates cheese love for 145 years - a festival for the senses!

Heinrichsthaler celebrates cheese love for 145 years - a festival for the senses!

Radeberg, Deutschland - A very special anniversary was celebrated in Radeberg today: the Heinrichsthaler dairy looks back at a proud 145 years of cheese production. In a large hope that took place on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, visitors were able to immerse themselves in the world of cheese and experience the traditional operation up close. A colorful program with company tours, a children's action mile and regional delicacies created a good atmosphere among the guests. Image reports show that the festival became a real highlight of the region, also thanks to the committed cooperation of 350 employees in the dairy, which produce about 220 tons of cheese every day.

But how did this success story began? The roots of the Heinrichsthaler dairy go back to 1880 when Agathe Zeis founded the company. Just three years later, she even traveled to Normandy to learn the art of French cheese production. So she was a pioneer in the German cheese market: in 1883 she was the first person in Germany to produce real Camembert, who is still a popular classic. The importance of the cheese in German eating culture has changed enormously since then - from a secondary business of dairy farming to a central part of nutrition.

cheese in the change of time

The history of the cheese in Germany can look back on a long tradition. In the 19th century, however, cheese was hardly established in German agriculture. The per capita consumption was only about 4 kilograms. With the advent of dairies in the 1870s and changing the agricultural structures, interest in cheese grew significantly. Before the First World War, cheese was mainly a side dish and the production was very different.

After the war, the demand for cheese rose, which was also due to the structural changes in agriculture. Cheese production has been increasingly industrialized, and quality controls and standardizations were introduced. According to uwe-spiekermann.com, Germany developed into the largest cheese exporter and second largest cheese producer worldwide. These trends have meant that cheese consumption is now about 25 kilograms per capita.

A look into the future

The anniversary of the Heinrichsthaler Molkerei is not only an occasion to celebrate, but also an opportunity to appreciate the tradition and development of cheese production. One wonders how the dairy will develop in the coming years and which new cheese creations await us in the future. It remains exciting to see how the Heinrichsthaler will continue the art of cheese matters with passion and craft in the next 145 years.

Overall, the history of the Heinrichsthaler not only shows the path of a successful company, but also the exciting evolution in Germany, which is shaped by people and their traditions. If that's not a reason to celebrate!