The Challenge
This bold, 130+ year-old cheese brand had earned a cult following in the Northeast, especially among families and food lovers who grew up with it. But outside its home region, it lacked distribution and visibility. The company wanted to scale nationally across retail and foodservice, without compromising the brand’s identity or overextending operations.
The Solution
RGA Stage 5: Market Expansion
With proof of concept established in its core market, the brand was ready to scale. We focused on expanding a proven brand into new geographies and channels without sacrificing identity or outpacing operational capacity.
We identified high-protential consumer segments outside the Northeast and knew cultural relevance would be essential to open new retail and foodservice doors. Our team strategically expanded the brand’s visibility through a partnership with a nationally recognized athlete whose values reflected the brand’s grit, authenticity, and roots. This became the foundation of a broader market expansion strategy.
We didn’t just sign a deal. We built a growth platform. Stoke RGA co-created content, coordinated in-market appearances, and activated campaign extensions that fueled both consumer interest and buyer engagement.
As demand accelerated, we scaled the partnership. Stoke negotiated deeper integration into future campaigns and co-developed retailer-specific content and pre-built sales tools. These assets empowered internal teams to enter new markets with speed, consistency, and confidence, turning cultural relevance into a repeatable, scalable playbook for national growth.
The Impact
- 19% growth in FY25
- New retail distribution: 3 major national retailers
- Foodservice growth: New market expansion (Midwest/West) through key distributors
The Takeaway
This was more than a campaign. It was a strategic growth engine. With Stoke RGA’s system in place, this manufacturer turned consumer relevance into real sales results across both retail and foodservice.
Need to move from regional traction to national impact? Let’s build the system that gets you there.