La Fromagerie Rwanda receives Company of the Year – Emerging Dairy Company award at the Africa Dairy Industry Awards 2026

KENYA – La Fromagerie Rwanda has been recognised as the Company of the Year – Emerging Dairy Company at the Africa Dairy Industry Awards 2026, held on 17th April 2026 alongside the Africa Dairy Innovation Summit.

The award highlights the company’s rapid growth and its pioneering role in developing Rwanda’s artisanal cheese industry.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Kigali, La Fromagerie Rwanda is a privately owned dairy enterprise specialising in high-quality, locally produced cheeses.

The company was established with a clear mission: to demonstrate that Rwanda has the capacity to produce premium, world-class dairy products using local resources and expertise.

Operating with a strong “made in Rwanda” philosophy, La Fromagerie has positioned itself as a niche but highly influential player in the region’s value-added dairy segment.

The company works with both cow and goat milk, leveraging Rwanda’s growing dairy potential while promoting local sourcing and sustainable production systems.

Its product portfolio is notably diverse for an emerging company, reflecting both innovation and technical capability in cheese-making.

The range includes fresh and soft cheeses such as mozzarella, ricotta, and fresh cow cheese, alongside premium varieties like brie, camembert, feta, and cheddar.

In addition, the company produces specialty and aged cheeses including crottin (goat cheese), tomme (cow and mixed milk), pecorino, and its signature “Blue of the Hills”, a locally crafted blue cheese.

La Fromagerie has also introduced flavoured and infused cheese variants such as basil, cumin, and pepper, demonstrating a strong focus on product differentiation and culinary versatility.

This wide portfolio caters to both retail consumers and Rwanda’s growing hospitality sector, including hotels, restaurants, and gourmet outlets seeking locally produced alternatives to imported cheeses.

A key strength of the company lies in its commitment to quality and food safety. All milk used in production undergoes rigorous testing, with up to 14 quality parameters assessed, including checks for antibiotics and aflatoxins.

The company also works closely with regulatory bodies such as the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), ensuring compliance with national food safety standards.

Beyond production, La Fromagerie plays an important role in developing Rwanda’s dairy ecosystem. By collaborating with local milk producers and building an integrated supply chain, the company contributes to farmer inclusion, value addition, and the growth of the country’s agro-processing sector.

The Company of the Year – Emerging Dairy Company award recognises organisations that demonstrate innovation, scalability, and impact.

La Fromagerie Rwanda’s recognition reflects its success in introducing a new category of artisanal dairy products within the region, while reducing reliance on imports and elevating local production standards.

About the Africa Dairy Industry Awards

The Africa Dairy Industry Awards, held annually alongside the Africa Dairy Innovation Summit, celebrate excellence, leadership, innovation, and sustainability across the continent’s dairy value chain, from production and processing to technology, food safety, value addition, and market development.

Categories include Dairy Industry Persons of the Year (such as Most Influential Dairy Person, Chief Executive Officer of the Year), Dairy Product Innovations of the Year, Dairy Processor of the Year, and others for cooperatives, investments, and commercial farms.

The awards recognise outstanding contributions by individuals, organisations, and projects, bringing together farmers, processors, cooperatives, researchers, policymakers, and investors to promote best practices and greater competitiveness in the sector.

Full details are available at https://africadairysummit.com/awards/.

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