Nossa Santa targets R$2.5m revenue from blue cheese
Nossa Santa is based in Quixeramobim, in the central hinterland of Ceará, and produces a Gouda-style blue cheese at Fazenda Santa Mônica. The company’s products have received awards in Brazil and abroad, but its sales remain within Ceará. João Bernardo, the company’s industrial manager, represented the brand at PEC Brasil 2026.
Bernardo said the company sells in Quixeramobim and Quixadá, while Fortaleza is its largest market. Sales there are concentrated in local supermarkets, hotels and restaurants. “Our cheeses have been awarded in Brazil and around the world. We are growing, but we still sell only in Ceará,” he said.
The company has not made expansion beyond the state its immediate priority. Its stated plan is to consolidate its presence in Ceará before pursuing other Brazilian markets or exports. Bernardo said exporting is not currently part of the company’s plans and that the business intends to preserve the artisanal character of its production.
Production began in 2023 and now exceeds four tonnes of cheese a month. Revenue has passed R$1m. The company’s target for 2026 is to raise production by 50% and bring revenue to approximately R$2.5m. A copper vat has already been purchased, and Bernardo said it would enable monthly output of six tonnes. The planned increase will require an expansion of the cheese-making facility.
Nossa Santa is also preparing products beyond its current cheese range. These include a dulce de leche made from a family recipe belonging to the owner, a premium butter produced from cream, and manteiga-da-terra, a traditional Brazilian butter. The company’s current portfolio includes the NotreTerroir, the GranaBambino and the GranaMadona.
NotreTerroir is made with milk from cows owned by the farm and undergoes natural fermentation. Its blue stripe refers to a reservoir with blue-tinted water on the property and forms part of the cheese’s visual identity. Monthly production of NotreTerroir rose from 600kg at the start of the operation to 1.5 tonnes in 2025 and 4.5 tonnes currently. The GranaBambino and GranaMadona are matured for between three and six months and are based on an interpretation of Italian parmesan. Daily milk processing at the facility ranges from 1,500 to 1,800 litres.
Quixeramobim is among Ceará’s largest milk-producing municipalities. “Our objective is to take Quixeramobim to the world,” Bernardo said.
