Murray's Cave-Aged Cheeses Bring Home Six Medals at the 2026 American Cheese Society Awards

Kroger (NYSE: KR) and Murray's Cheese reported that six cheeses from Murray's Cave Aged Cheese program earned medals at the 2026 American Cheese Society Judging & Competition, which received over 1,300 entries.

Rhea-AI Summary

Kroger (NYSE: KR) and Murray's Cheese reported that six cheeses from Murray's Cave Aged Cheese program earned medals at the 2026 American Cheese Society Judging & Competition, which received over 1,300 entries. Double Doe took first place, while Treeline, Savage, Mini Greensward, Stockinghall and Carpenter's Wheel received second- and third-place honors across multiple categories.

According to the companies, several winners, including Double Doe and first-time medalists Treeline, Savage and Mini Greensward, highlight the strength of Murray's in-house affinage model. Three of the winning cheeses are available at Murray's kiosks inside 15 Mariano's stores and nationally through Kroger's retail and online channels.

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Key Figures

Medals awarded: six medals Competition entries: more than 1,300 entries First-ever appearances: three first-ever appearances +5 more

Medals awarded

six medals

2026 ACS Judging & Competition Awards

Competition entries

more than 1,300 entries

2026 ACS competition

First-ever appearances

three first-ever appearances

Treeline, Savage and Mini Greensward

Mariano's locations

15 locations

Murray's kiosk program launched this spring

Cheddar aging threshold

over 13 months

Stockinghall award category

Goat cheese aging threshold

over 60 days

Carpenter's Wheel award category

Prior top honors

2024

Double Doe previously won top honors

Prior ACS wins

2025

Cave Aged Reserve Barnstorm Blue and St. Marks

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 14

5 events

1. Jul 14

   Consumer campaign

   24h Move

   -1.0%

   Tempo launched the Cook Never Club after publishing meal-preparation survey findings.

2. Jul 06

   Community campaign

   24h Move

   +0.1%

   Akin and Kroger launched a baby-essentials campaign supporting Family Resource Centers.

3. Jul 02

   Leadership change

   24h Move

   +3.5%

   Kroger appointed Emilee De Martino executive vice president and chief people officer.

4. Jul 01

   Community campaign

   24h Move

   +1.3%

   Harris Teeter launched a customer round-up campaign benefiting regional education nonprofits.

5. Jul 01

   Acquisition agreement

   24h Move

   +1.3%

   Kroger agreed to acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, subject to regulatory clearance.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

affinage, washed rind, clothbound cheddar

3 terms

affinage technical

"in-house cave aging, also known as affinage"

The process of refining a raw material—most often metal—into a purer, finished form by removing impurities and adjusting composition. Think of it like polishing a rough stone into a gem: affinage improves quality, consistency and suitability for specific industrial uses. For investors, affinage affects production costs, product value, regulatory compliance and the competitiveness of companies that mine, process or trade refined materials.

washed rind technical

"Double Doe: First Place, Washed Rind, Other Milks"

A washed-rind cheese is a style of cheese whose outer surface is periodically washed with a brine, beer, wine, or other liquid during aging to encourage specific bacteria that create a sticky, often reddish rind and strong aroma. For investors, it signals a distinct product category with particular production techniques, aging times, and consumer niches—factors that can affect manufacturing costs, shelf life, pricing power, and brand differentiation in food and specialty dairy markets.

clothbound cheddar technical

"Stockinghall: Second Place, Clothbound Cheddar, Cow Milk"

A traditional method of aging cheddar where wheels are wrapped in cloth and stored to breathe and develop complex flavors and firmer texture; the cloth slows moisture loss and encourages natural rind formation much like a sweater lets skin breathe while keeping warmth. For investors, it signals a specialty, higher-margin product category and distinct supply-chain and inventory characteristics—similar to artisanal versus mass-produced versions of the same good—which can affect pricing, branding, and production costs.

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NEW YORK, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) and Murray's Cheese announced today that six cheeses from its renowned Cave Aged Cheese program received honors at the 2026 American Cheese Society (ACS) Judging & Competition Awards, one of the most respected and competitive accolades in American artisan cheese.

Often referred to as the "Academy Awards of cheese," the annual ACS competition recognizes excellence in cheesemaking and affinage through rigorous technical and aesthetic evaluation by industry experts. This year's competition featured more than 1,300 entries from cheesemakers and affineurs across North America, with winners announced this week during the ACS Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

Six of Murray's cave-aged cheeses, created in collaboration with distinguished cheesemakers and proprietarily aged in Murray's cheese caves, earned medals across a diverse range of categories:

• Double Doe: First Place, Washed Rind, Other Milks, Open Category
• Treeline: Second Place, Washed Rind, Cow Milk, Open Category
• Savage: Second Place, American Made International Style, Cow Milk
• Mini Greensward: Second Place, Cheeses Wrapped in Bark
• Stockinghall: Second Place, Clothbound Cheddar, Cow Milk, Aged Over 13 Months
• Carpenter's Wheel: Third Place, Goat's Milk Cheese, Aged Over 60 Days

Several of the wins marked significant milestones for Murray's caves program, with Treeline, Savage and Mini Greensward earning medals in their first-ever appearances in competition. Double Doe returned to the podium with a first-place finish after previously taking home top honors in 2024. 

Three of the winners are available at Murray's Cheese kiosks inside Mariano's stores, part of a new program that launched this spring at 15 Marianos locations, marking the first time the unique small-batch collection has been available outside Murray's New York City retail shops.

"These awards recognize the passion and expertise of our incredible team of cheese agers and our fantastic cheese making partners. " notes Nick Tranchina, President of Murrays Cheese.

The awards underscore the success of Murray's distinctive approach to in-house cave aging, also known as affinage, a model rarely seen among American cheese and food retailers, and one that continues to uniquely position Murray's within the specialty food industry.

"It was wonderful to see such a wide array of our Cave Age cheeses recognized at the awards. We are truly honored to be able to age and nurture cheeses from so many great American cheese makers. Partnership is key to the work that we do!" says Josh Windsor, Caves Manager and Affineur

Murray's expert affinage team has operated state-of-the-art cheese caves in Long Island City, New York, aging and ripening cheeses from around the world while developing an innovative collection of proprietary cave-aged cheeses in collaboration with leading American creameries and small producers.

Murray's works hand-in-hand with cheesemakers throughout the production and maturation process, creating a foundation for continuous experimentation, innovation and flavor development. The close collaboration between Murray's affineurs and their producer partners allows the team to develop new techniques, styles and flavor profiles, creating cheeses unlike anything else on the market.

The result is a distinctive collection of cave-aged cheeses available exclusively through Murray's, many of which are produced in limited quantities and cannot be found anywhere else in the market. Together, the collection reflects Murray's commitment to redefining innovation in American cave-aged cheese while championing small producers and artisan cheesemakers across the country.

The 2026 honors build on a strong recent history for Murray's at ACS, following 2025 wins for Cave Aged Reserve Barnstorm Blue, which earned Gold and a coveted Top 10 overall finish, and St. Marks, which received Silver in the soft-ripened category.

The 2026 wins further establish Murray's as one of the country's leading authorities in affinage and reflect the company's ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of what American cave-aged cheese can become.

Customers can try these amazing cheeses both in Kroger Family of Companies stores across the U.S. and online at www.kroger.com.

About Murray's Cheese: Murray's Cheese is a New York City institution dedicated to the craft of exceptional cheese and artisanal food. Renowned for its meticulous curation, expert cheesemongers, and award-winning cave-aged cheeses matured in its Long Island City caves, Murray's has become a leading destination for specialty food lovers. The company operates two NYC retail shops, a kiosk in Grand Central Station, and a national ecommerce business, all rooted in a commitment to quality, tradition, and craftsmanship. Murray's also hosts expert-led tastings and educational events, while supplying many of the country's most acclaimed restaurants with thoughtfully sourced and expertly aged cheeses. Murray's joined the Kroger family in 2017 and their cheese kiosks and mongers guide customers through a joyful shopping experience within 1,200+ stores. throughout the country.  Follow along at @murrayscheese and www.murrayscheese.com. 

About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit™. We are, across our family of companies more than 400,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through an e-Commerce experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What awards did Murray's cave-aged cheeses win at the 2026 American Cheese Society competition?

Murray's cave-aged cheeses earned six medals at the 2026 American Cheese Society competition, including one first-place and multiple second- and third-place awards. According to Kroger and Murray's, the wins spanned washed-rind, clothbound cheddar, bark-wrapped and aged goat cheese categories.

Which Murray's cheeses won medals in 2026 and how did they place for KR investors to know?

In 2026, Double Doe won first place, Treeline and Savage earned second in their categories, Mini Greensward and Stockinghall also took second, and Carpenter's Wheel placed third. According to Murray's, these medals covered diverse styles and milk types.

Where can customers buy the award-winning Murray's cave-aged cheeses highlighted by Kroger (KR)?

Customers can buy the award-winning Murray's cave-aged cheeses at Kroger Family of Companies stores and online at Kroger.com. According to Kroger, three of the winning cheeses are also offered at new Murray's kiosks in 15 Mariano's locations.

Why are the 2026 American Cheese Society awards important for Murray's cave-aged cheese program?

The 2026 awards highlight Murray's cave-aged program as a leading affinage operation in the U.S. According to Murray's, the medals validate its proprietary in-house aging model and collaborative work with small American producers and creameries.

Which Murray's cheeses were first-time medalists at the 2026 American Cheese Society awards?

Treeline, Savage and Mini Greensward were first-time medalists at the 2026 American Cheese Society awards. According to Murray's, these cheeses earned recognition in their debut appearances, underscoring the program’s ability to develop new styles and flavor profiles.

How do the 2026 American Cheese Society wins build on Murray's previous ACS results?

The 2026 medals follow 2025 ACS wins for Cave Aged Reserve Barnstorm Blue and St. Marks. According to Murray's, this continued recognition strengthens its track record in national competition and supports its position as an authority in American cave-aged cheese.