Murray's Cheese

Murray's Cheese

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Specialty food retail
Founded	1962 (1962)
Founder	Murray Greenberg
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	United States, global (via Kroger)
Key people	Robert Kaufelt (former owner)
Products	Artisanal cheeses, gourmet foods, charcuterie
Parent	Kroger Company

Murray's Cheese operates as a retailer and wholesaler specializing in artisanal cheeses and gourmet foods, with its headquarters situated in Greenwich Village, New York City. Established in 1962 by Murray Greenberg, the company originated as an offshoot of Glen Alden Farms, which focused on egg and dairy wholesale. Over the years, it has grown into a prominent entity within the specialty food sector. In 2012, Murray's Cheese expanded its offerings by launching the Murray's Cheese Bar, a restaurant located in Manhattan.

The company’s strategic approach centers on delivering high-quality artisanal products while broadening its reach via retail outlets and wholesale channels. In February 2017, the Kroger Company acquired Murray's Cheese, integrating it into a larger corporate framework and extending its operational scope globally. By 2021, Murray's Cheese had scaled to over 800 locations, demonstrating considerable expansion and influence in the food industry.

History

Murray Greenberg, a Ukrainian-Jewish immigrant, founded Murray's Cheese in 1962 as a spin-off from Glen Alden Farms, an egg and dairy wholesaler. The business later transitioned to Louis Tudda’s ownership until Robert Kaufelt purchased it in 1991. Kaufelt authored The Murray's Cheese Handbook in 2006. A significant partnership was formed in 2007 with Kroger to create branded cheese shops within select Kroger supermarkets across the United States. That same year, Time Out New York honored the store as "Best Cheese Shop in New York."

Growth included opening a second location inside Grand Central Market in 2002 and launching Murray's Real Salami charcuterie in 2008. These operations were consolidated in 2010 into a second flagship store. Further diversification occurred with the debut of Murray's Cheese Bar in Greenwich Village in 2012—a 48-seat venue focused on cheese-centric wine and dining experiences.

On February 7, 2017, Kroger Company acquired Murray's Cheese, expanding its specialty food retail presence. In 2021, revisions to parts of Murray’s origin story were made to clarify the founding year as 1962 and to correct earlier inaccuracies regarding Greenberg’s background.

This timeline illustrates Murray's transformation from a neighborhood cheese shop into a nationally recognized brand featuring retail partnerships and a varied product portfolio, emphasizing its competitive positioning and adaptive business strategy within the specialty food market.

Gallery

Murray's Cheese matures its products within an advanced cave-aging facility located at its Long Island City warehouse. The company offers an exclusive Cave Master cheese line aged in these specialized caves. In 2016, it introduced Annelies, developed collaboratively with Swiss cheesemaker Walter Räss. April 2017 saw the launch of Ezra—a proprietary cheddar crafted entirely through internal concept development, research and development, and aging processes—created in partnership with Cornell University and Old Chatham Creamery. Additionally, the store retails Danish cheeses such as Havarti and Tilsit and expanded its selection in 2017 to include artisanal organic Danish varieties like Danish White Cheese, Vita Mundo, Flora Mundo, Versterhavsost, and Trelleborg.

Classes

In July 2017, Murray’s introduced the Game of Tommes workshop, presenting a cheese platter inspired by Game of Thrones as part of its efforts to boost customer interaction.

External links

• Kroger profile