Report: Wisconsin Cheeseman on the Block

The Wisconsin Cheeseman will close its doors if it doesn’t find a buyer. The food-gifts merchant said it would either sell or wind down operations within the next two months, according to published reports.

The merchant is owned by privately held Wisconsin Food Gifts, which also owns Mille Lacs Gourmet Foods gift basket wholesaler and Scott’s Fundraising Resource.

WISC-TV reported on its website that 80 full-time workers were notified Thursday that they may lose their jobs, and that the company would be sold as-is or liquidated.

According to its data card, which was updated on Jan. 14, Wisconsin Cheeseman has 71,572 12 month buyers, but just 32,267 of those are 12 month multibuyers. Its customers spend $70 average order, and are 64% female.

Speaking to the Wisconsin State Journal, CEO Dave Mack said the company has struggled because of the recession, and has suffered real estate woes. The company in 2008 moved its operations and business offices out of a 250,000-sq.-ft. building what it has not been able to sell.