A Rebel Journey to Kosher: Inside Rebel Cheese’s road to KSA Certification

The story behind Rebel Cheese’s journey to KSA Kosher Pareve certification

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For years, Rebel Cheese had a goal: become kosher.

For a company that has built its reputation around creating innovative, dairy-free cheese, achieving Kosher Pareve certification was an important milestone. And after years of working toward that goal, Rebel Cheese can finally say that it has been achieved.

Rebel Cheese, headquartered in Austin, Texas, and owned by Kirsten and Fred, has already made a name for itself far beyond the kosher market. The company was featured on Shark Tank, introducing its unique approach to cheese to a national audience and helping establish itself as one of the more recognizable names in the dairy-free cheese space.

But for years, there was another audience the company wanted to reach: kosher consumers.

A Goal Years in the Making

Rebel Cheese had been pursuing kosher certification for years. Kirsten and Fred had customers who continued asking when their products would finally become kosher, while the team continued working toward making that goal possible.

That is where KSA and Rebel Cheese became the right fit.

Before implementing a kosher program, KSA first needed to understand how Rebel Cheese operated, including its ingredients, production and unique processes. From there, KSA worked closely with the Rebel Cheese team to establish the appropriate kosher program for its operation while maintaining the standards associated with KSA certification.

The process took careful consideration. KSA wanted to make sure that the operation met the standards expected of a KSA-certified company, while working alongside Rebel Cheese to create a program that fit its production.

It became a true partnership, with both sides working toward the same finish line: getting Rebel Cheese to the point where it could finally put a KSA Kosher Pareve symbol on its products.

On the KSA side, Rabbi Yechezkel Auerbach, Chairman of the Vaad Hakashrus of the KSA, was integral in establishing the kosher program for Rebel Cheese, while Rabbi Dovi Gorelik, the Kashrus Executive assigned to Rebel Cheese, helped the team throughout the entire process.

And getting there meant that the Rebel Cheese team was willing to put in the work.

Getting the Kitchen Ready

Getting Rebel Cheese to the finish line wasn’t just about paperwork. The kitchen itself had to be prepared for the certification process.

Rebel Cheese worked closely with the KSA rabbinic team to prepare its operation for certification. The team carefully prepared its equipment and worked alongside the KSA to complete the necessary kosherization procedures, making the appropriate adjustments to its production setup along the way. The company even purchased a new smoker and new racks for its production area.

Rebel Cheese stopped production for two days and thoroughly prepared its equipment before the inspecting rabbi arrived.

The process required careful preparation and a willingness to make the necessary adjustments to the operation.

It may sound like a lot of preparation, and it was, but there was a reason behind every step.

That sentiment is something KSA was proud to share.

Inspections and Ongoing Oversight

The initial rabbinic inspection is an important part of establishing KSA certification. It gives the rabbinic team the opportunity to see the operation firsthand, understand its protocols and establish the appropriate kosher procedures.

Once a company becomes certified, that relationship continues through periodic kosher audits. The goal is to maintain a kosher program that continues to work for the company while preserving the standards behind KSA certification.

The Cheese That Isn’t Dairy

There is another reason this certification is particularly exciting.

Rebel Cheese doesn’t simply make cheese. It makes dairy-free cheese.

What makes Rebel Cheese particularly unique is its ability to create products that look, taste and deliver the experience consumers expect from traditional cheese, while being completely dairy-free.

That makes the KSA Kosher Pareve certification especially unique. Consumers looking to experience Rebel Cheese for themselves can now do so with the assurance of KSA Kosher Pareve certification behind the applicable products.

The fact that Rebel Cheese has already captured national attention, including its appearance on Shark Tank and the media attention that followed, says plenty about just how compelling its products are.

The Symbol Is Small. The Story Behind It Is Not.

You may see a small KSA symbol on the corner of a package and think of it as simply a logo.

But Rebel Cheese is a perfect example of how much more that symbol represents.

It represents a company that had a goal, the work of its team, and a kosher program built around its operation with the guidance and oversight of KSA. It represents the partnership that allowed KSA and Rebel Cheese to work together toward the same finish line.

For Rebel Cheese, reaching that finish line is something to be proud of. For KSA, we’re proud to have played a part in making it happen.

And Soon, You’ll See the KSA Symbol

Rebel Cheese has officially reached the finish line, and soon, consumers will be able to see that accomplishment right on the package.

As Rebel Cheese rolls out its updated packaging, keep an eye out for the KSA Kosher Pareve symbol making its way onto its certified products. The new labels are currently being prepared, so it won’t be long before that familiar KSA symbol is sitting alongside the Rebel Cheese name.

Kirsten and Fred are looking forward to that moment, too. “We’re thrilled to be working with KSA and can’t wait for our customers to see the mark on our products!” Kirsten shared.

Where Can You Find Rebel Cheese?

Consumers will be able to find Rebel Cheese both online and at a growing number of retail locations.

The easiest way to find Rebel Cheese near you is through the company’s Find Near Me store locator at RebelCheese.com, where you can search for retailers in your area or shop online.

And as you start seeing the KSA symbol appear on the packaging, you’ll know you’re looking at the newly KOSHER certified Rebel Cheese products.

Find Rebel Cheese near you

A Small Symbol. A Big Milestone.

The KSA symbol may be small on a package, but the story behind it represents the work, partnership and standards that made that certification possible.