Karoun Dairies Wins 7 Distinctions at the World’s Most Prestigious Dairy Competitions
September 10, 2026 | 3 min to read
San Fernando, California – Karoun Dairies, a recognized leader in specialized Mediterranean and Hispanic-style dairy products, announces a series of exceptional victories at the two largest international dairy competitions of 2026.
American Cheese Society (ACS) 2026: Major competition: 1,600+ dairy products, 123 categories
Karoun Dairies won 4 medals:
| Product | Award | Category | Details |
| Panela | 1st Place | GC – Fresh, Unripened Cheeses | Traditional queso fresco; recognized for freshness and purity |
| Labne | 2nd Place | QL – Strained Cultured Products | Labneh/Greek-style yogurt; signature product excellence |
| String Cheese Marinated | 2nd Place | Cheese Specialties | Hand-braided innovation; balanced flavor and presentation |
| Cremoso Creamy Honey | 3rd Place | Flavored Yogurts | Harmony of flavors and creamy texture |
World Dairy Expo 2026
- Prestigious international competition – Madison, Wisconsin Awards Presentation: September 28, 2026
Karoun Dairies won 3 distinctions:
| Product | Award | Category | Details |
| Village Touma Cheese | 1st Place | Specialty Cheese Class | Mediterranean authenticity; expert recognition |
| Karoun Labne | 2nd Place | Cultured Dairy Products | Consistent quality and innovation |
| String Cheese | 3rd Place | Specialty Cheese Class | Technical mastery and presentation |
“These seven distinctions reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence, authenticity, and innovation. Each Karoun product tells a story of tradition and technical mastery,” said Rostom Baghdassarian, CEO of Karoun Dairies. “Karoun’s victories at both the American Cheese Society and World Dairy Expo competitions demonstrate that specialty dairy products can achieve world-class recognition while maintaining authentic, traditional recipes. These awards validate our approach: honoring heritage while embracing modern quality standards.”
ABOUT KAROUN DAIRIES
Founded in 1992, Karoun Dairies is an award-winning manufacturer and distributor of specialty ethnic food and beverage products. The company’s portfolio includes cheeses, yogurts, yogurt drinks, spreads, and dips that appeal to both multicultural consumers and mainstream audiences increasingly embracing ethnic cuisines.
With over 170 best-in-class awards to its name, Karoun operates from two strategic California locations: a distribution center in San Fernando and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Turlock. All Karoun cheeses and yogurts are made with Real California Milk from cows free of growth hormones.
Karoun Brand Portfolio: Karoun®, Gopi®, Arz®, Parmalat®
ABOUT LACTALIS USA
Lactalis USA is a leading producer of nutritious and great-tasting dairy products, offering a diverse portfolio of beloved brands including Galbani® Italian cheeses, Président® specialty cheeses, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cultured products, Cracker Barrel® cheese, Black Diamond® cheddar, Parmalat® milk, siggi’s® Icelandic-style yogurt, Stonyfield Organic®, Yoplait®, Karoun®, Gopi® and many others.
With approximately 5,000 U.S. employees and 13 manufacturing facilities across 9 states, Lactalis USA is part of Lactalis Group—the world’s leading dairy company and a French family business founded in 1933.