Plant-Based and Proud as Epic Kiwi Cheese Rebels Hit Dairy Heartland

Scott Mathias
Jun 26
2 min read

Once upon a time, Waikato’s Claudelands Showgrounds was the sacred stomping ground of Kiwi dairy. Wheels of cheddar stacked high in the Cheese Hall, and the A&P Show was a yearly pilgrimage where kids were schooled in the art of cheese and the mystique of mould. But times have changed and now, amid the ghosts of herringbones past, a new cheese contender is slicing into the scene without a cow insight.

Enter an Epic Kiwi Cheese, a bold plant-based upstart crafted smack bang in the middle of dairy country. Made in Hamilton, New Zealand, this new range isn’t just daring to exist, it’s thriving, and it’s heading to the Waikato Food Show on July 5–6 with a mission to win hearts, melt toasties, and reclaim the Cheese Hall, one dairy-free wedge at a time.

Let’s be clear, Epic Cheese isn’t trying to be anyone’s compromise. Their line-up includes stretchy Mozzarella, smoky Cheddar, zingy Garlic & Chive, a rogue Peri-Peri, and even soft Feta in rosemary and pink peppercorn formats. It’s unapologetically creamy, cholesterol-free, fortified with B12, and ready to push the “bland and rubbery” stereotypes out of the chiller section.

And if you’re wondering how a vegan cheese dares to launch in New Zealand’s dairy capital? That’s exactly the point.

“This is about doing plant-based our way,” says the Epic team. “We’re surrounded by cows, sure, but we’re surrounded by smart eaters too.”

Indeed, Epic’s mozzarella has already racked up praise for melting, stretching, and actually tasting like something worth spreading on pizza. No lab coats. No synthetic wizardry. Just real ingredients, real flavour, and a cheeky nod to tradition.

Their timing couldn’t be sharper. While the plant-based category has taken a bruising in recent years, signs are now pointing up. Savor’s luxe artisanal cashew cheese range has landed on Woolworths shelves nationwide. One Love Planet is quietly gobbling up market share. And the consumer appetite for quality non-dairy options, especially artisanal, proudly local ones, is anything but melting away.

Source: EPIC Cheese - Feta and Cheese Board

It’s not just about swapping out milk. It’s about making room at the table for different stories, different textures, and different futures.

And where better to tell that story than back at Claudelands? For those of us who grew up with the rickety cheese displays and the sticky fingers of childhood candy floss , Epic Cheese’s arrival feels like a cultural plot twist we didn’t know we needed.

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