Miyoko's Creamery
Miyoko's Creamery is an American producer of plant-based butter and cheese products.
Last updated October 20, 2026
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Overview
Miyoko's Creamery is an American food brand focused on dairy-free butter and cheese alternatives. The company was founded in 2014 by vegan chef and entrepreneur Miyoko Schinner under the name Miyoko's Kitchen. Its products were developed to reproduce some of the functional and sensory qualities associated with conventional dairy products while using plant-based ingredients and fermentation-based cheesemaking methods. Cashews, oats and chickpea flour have been among the ingredients used across its product range. The business emerged during a period of rapid growth in the U.S. plant-based food sector. Early financing included an investment from Seth Tibbott, founder of Tofurky. The company subsequently raised additional capital, including a reported $6 million financing round in 2017, bringing total funding reported at that time to approximately $12 million. In December 2017, it moved from a 4,000-square-foot facility to a substantially larger 29,000-square-foot facility in Petaluma, California, reflecting an effort to expand manufacturing capacity. The company broadened its retail and distribution footprint beyond the United States in 2019, entering Canada and Australia. That year, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were reported to have invested in the business. Miyoko's also used public-facing campaigns to promote vegan cheese and animal-free food systems. In March 2020, its food truck began a cross-country U.S. tour that distributed 15,000 free grilled-cheese sandwiches as a product and advocacy promotion. Miyoko's Creamery became involved in a legal dispute with the California Department of Food and Agriculture over the use of dairy-associated terms such as "cheese" and "butter" on plant-based products. In August 2021, the company prevailed on First Amendment grounds, allowing it to continue using the contested terminology under the circumstances addressed by the case. The company underwent a major leadership and governance conflict in 2022. Miyoko Schinner was removed from the company, with Schinner characterizing the decision as a disagreement about future growth and the board indicating that it wanted a more conventional chief executive profile. In February 2023, the company sued Schinner in federal court, alleging that she had misappropriated confidential information and copied data to a personal cloud account. Schinner's attorney announced plans for a wrongful-termination counterclaim and alleged that complaints concerning toxic and sexist conduct by male executives had not been properly addressed. The parties jointly announced in May 2023 that all legal disputes had been resolved and that the claims had been withdrawn. In November 2023, the company reportedly sought to raise $12 million and considered strategic alternatives, including a possible sale. CEO Stuart Kronauge described the effort as a financial stabilization plan intended to improve profitability and evaluate the business's future ownership. Later reporting in November 2025 said that Melt Organic, owned by Prosperity Organic Foods, was the successful bidder in a sale process after Schinner's reported attempt to buy back the company was unsuccessful. The long-term operating status, ownership structure and brand strategy after that transaction require confirmation from authoritative current sources.
History
Miyoko's Creamery began in 2014 as Miyoko's Kitchen, founded by Miyoko Schinner in the United States. Schinner developed the business around dairy-free butter and cheese products made with plant-based ingredients and influenced by conventional fermentation and cheesemaking practices. The company sought to distinguish its products from basic non-dairy spreads by emphasizing culture-based processing, culinary function and a creamery-style brand identity. The startup obtained early backing from Seth Tibbott, the founder of Tofurky, and continued raising outside capital as interest in plant-based foods increased. A 2017 financing round was reported at $6 million, with total funding then reported at approximately $12 million. The same year, the company relocated its production operation in Petaluma, California, from a 4,000-square-foot facility to a 29,000-square-foot facility. The move provided additional manufacturing capacity as the brand pursued wider retail distribution. The brand later changed its name from Miyoko's Kitchen to Miyoko's Creamery. Its principal product categories included vegan butter and several styles of plant-based cheese, using ingredients such as cashews, oats and chickpea flour. In 2019, the company expanded distribution to Canada and Australia. Investments by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were also reported in November of that year. Marketing combined product demonstrations with animal-free food advocacy. In March 2020, Miyoko's food truck began a U.S. cross-country tour and distributed 15,000 free grilled-cheese sandwiches. The campaign was intended to demonstrate that vegan cheese could be used in familiar comfort-food applications while promoting a cruelty-free positioning. A significant regulatory dispute concerned the terminology used to market plant-based products. The California Department of Food and Agriculture attempted to prevent the company from using dairy-related words including cheese and butter. In August 2021, Miyoko's Creamery prevailed on First Amendment grounds. The decision became part of the wider debate over whether plant-based food companies should be allowed to use established dairy-category language when describing substitutes. The company's governance changed sharply in 2022, when Schinner was removed from the company. Schinner described the decision as arising from disagreement about the business's future growth, while the board said it wanted a more traditional CEO. In February 2023, Miyoko's Creamery filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Schinner had taken confidential information and copied data to a personal cloud account following the vote to terminate her. Schinner's legal representative announced an intended wrongful-termination counterclaim and alleged that complaints involving toxic and sexist conduct by certain male executives had been disregarded. These allegations were disputed and were not adjudicated in the cited material. On May 18, 2023, the company and Schinner announced that they had resolved their legal disputes and withdrawn all claims. Their joint statement acknowledged Schinner's role as the company's founder and a pioneer in vegan creamery products, while also expressing mutual appreciation for the people continuing the business. In November 2023, reporting described a plan to raise $12 million and explore a potential sale. CEO Stuart Kronauge presented the effort as a financial stabilization plan focused on improving profitability and considering strategic alternatives. In November 2025, Schinner publicly discussed an unsuccessful attempt to buy the company back. Melt Organic, a Prosperity Organic Foods company, was subsequently reported as the successful bidder. Schinner stated that she was not affiliated with the new owner and objected to any suggestion that she endorsed or remained involved with the brand. Current ownership, management and trading status should be checked against post-2025 primary sources.
- 2025
Reported sale to Melt Organic
[1]Melt Organic, owned by Prosperity Organic Foods, was reported as the successful bidder after a sale process.
- 2023
Legal disputes resolved
[1]Miyoko's Creamery and Schinner withdrew their legal claims after announcing a mutual resolution.
- 2022
Founder leaves executive role
[1]Miyoko Schinner was removed from the company amid a dispute over growth strategy and executive leadership.
- 2021
First Amendment litigation victory
[1]The company prevailed in its dispute with California regulators over certain dairy-associated product terms.
- 2020
Cross-country grilled-cheese promotion
[1]A branded food truck tour distributed 15,000 free vegan grilled-cheese sandwiches in the United States.
- 2019
International distribution begins
[1]The brand expanded distribution beyond the United States into Canada and Australia.
- 2017
Expansion financing and facility move
[1]The company reported a $6 million financing round and moved from a 4,000-square-foot site to a 29,000-square-foot facility in Petaluma.
- 2014
Company founded as Miyoko's Kitchen
[1]Miyoko Schinner established the plant-based food company that initially operated under the Miyoko's Kitchen name.
Products and positioning
A premium, fermentation-informed plant-based creamery brand offering dairy-free butter and cheese alternatives designed for cooking, spreading, melting and everyday use. The brand has emphasized traditional cheesemaking cultures and techniques, animal-free production and improved culinary performance rather than positioning its products solely as substitutes for dietary restriction.
Dairy-free butter alternative
Plant-based butter
Miyoko's butter line is designed as a dairy-free substitute for spreading, baking and cooking. The products are part of the brand's creamery positioning and use plant-derived fats and other ingredients rather than milk fat. Specific formulations and current availability may vary by market and product generation.
Dairy-free cheese alternative
Plant-based cheese
The company's cheese range includes cultured and other dairy-free formats intended for spreading, slicing, cooking and melting. Miyoko's has emphasized traditional cheesemaking cultures and techniques, with cashews, oats and chickpea flour among the plant ingredients associated with its products.
Controversies
2020
Miyoko's Creamery lawsuit over product-labeling restrictions
In 2020, the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of Miyoko's Creamery against the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The suit concerns the department's labeling demands for the brand's products. According to the filing, those labeling demands violate the brand's free-speech rights. The case centers on the dispute between the plant-based dairy company and the state agriculture department over how its products may be labeled.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Miyoko's Food Truck Cross-Country Tour
United States
The company sent a branded food truck on a U.S. tour beginning March 4, 2020, distributing free grilled-cheese sandwiches made with its vegan cheese products.
Outcome. The tour reportedly served 15,000 free sandwiches and functioned as both a product demonstration and an animal-free food advocacy campaign.
Brand decisions
2025
Sale process and reported acquisition by Melt OrganicM&ABackground
The business was reportedly offered for sale after its earlier financial stabilization effort.
Action taken
Melt Organic, a Prosperity Organic Foods company, was reported as the winning bidder.
Aftermath
Miyoko Schinner said she was not affiliated with the buyer and objected to any implication that she endorsed or remained involved with the brand. Current transaction terms and post-sale operations require verification.
2023
Financial stabilization and strategic alternativesStrategyBackground
The company faced a need to improve profitability and strengthen its financial position.
Action taken
Management announced plans to seek $12 million in funding and examine strategic alternatives, including a potential sale.
Aftermath
The reported sale process later resulted in Melt Organic being identified as the successful bidder in 2025.
Planned funding. $12 million sought (November 2023)
2022
Replace founder-led executive leadershipOtherBackground
The board and Miyoko Schinner differed over the company's future growth and the type of leadership needed.
Action taken
Schinner was removed from the company and the board pursued a more traditional CEO structure.
Aftermath
The change led to litigation between the company and Schinner, which was resolved and withdrawn in 2023.
2019
Expand distribution internationallyStrategyBackground
The brand sought growth beyond its domestic U.S. market.
Action taken
Miyoko's Creamery began distributing products in Canada and Australia.
Aftermath
The company established an international commercial presence, with no further market-performance details provided.
2017
Increase manufacturing capacityStrategyBackground
Growing demand and fundraising supported an expansion of the company's production footprint.
Action taken
The company moved from a 4,000-square-foot facility to a 29,000-square-foot facility in Petaluma.
Aftermath
The move provided a larger base for manufacturing and distribution, although later operating results are not specified in the reference material.
Recent events
Miyoko’s Creamery launches Cultured Vegan Pizza Mozz for food service[3]
Reported:
Miyoko’s Creamery announced the launch of Cultured Vegan Pizza Mozz, a plant-based mozzarella-style cheese for the food-service industry, available for immediate delivery. Pizza My Heart was named the first food-service partner, with the product set to debut at its restaurants in Palo Alto and Monterey, California.
Miyoko’s Creamery lawsuit over product-labeling restrictions[2]
Reported:
Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of Miyoko’s Creamery against the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The suit alleges that the department’s labeling demands violate the brand’s free-speech rights.
Sources4 sources
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