Pine-Covered Perfection: Moosbrugger’s Dieter Heidegger on Global Austrian Award-Winning Cheese

In this flavour-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Canada Food Innovation Show, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois welcome Dieter Heidegger of Moosbrugger, for an in-depth conversation about the art, tradition, and innovation behind Austria’s award-winning cheeses.

Dieter shares the fascinating story of Moosbrugger’s humble beginnings, tracing its roots back to the owner’s father-in-law, a master cheesemaker who started selling cheese from the back of a car. Through passion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to quality, the company has grown into an internationally recognized brand—most recently winning a gold medal in a prestigious blind tasting in France for its distinctive pine-covered semi-hard cheese.

Listeners will learn how Moosbrugger’s cheeses stand out in a crowded market through a combination of small-scale, sustainable farming, traditional production methods, and a willingness to innovate with unique flavours that surprise and delight consumers. Dieter explains why sourcing from small farms, minimizing transportation, and working with master cheesemakers ensures both exceptional taste and environmental responsibility.

The conversation also dives into the global trade landscape, with Dieter offering first-hand insights into how COVID-19 and shifting geopolitical dynamics have reshaped production strategies, sourcing decisions, and international market opportunities. From reducing dependency on far-flung suppliers to embracing slower, more deliberate distribution models, Moosbrugger is adapting to a more resilient, future-focused approach to food production.

Innovation plays a central role in Moosbrugger’s long-term success. Dieter reveals how the company’s development process blends open-minded trend awareness with rigorous product testing to ensure new creations meet both creative ambitions and consumer demand. By testing with unbiased panels and allowing products to develop over years rather than months, Moosbrugger ensures each launch is built for lasting success.

From Austria’s deep culinary heritage to modern market challenges, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at a company balancing tradition, creativity, and global competitiveness—all while producing some of the world’s most distinctive and delicious cheeses. Whether you’re a cheese lover, food industry professional, or fan of entrepreneurial success stories, this episode will leave you hungry to taste the pine-covered perfection that’s turning heads in Canada and beyond.

https://www.kaese-moosbrugger.at/en/

https://www.advantageaustria.org/ca/servicecenter/Buero-Toronto.en.html

About Us

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.

Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. 

He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. 

Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.

With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues.

 Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast.  He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.