Brunswick, Maine — Rusty Lantern Markets, one of the fastest growing convenience store chains across New England, has partnered with Bacio Cheese to elevate its fresh, made-to-order foodservice offerings for customers. Bacio’s Italian-style cheeses align with Rusty Lantern’s efforts to be a leading food destination by upgrading its menu with premium ready-to-eat and heat items that encourage customer visits and build loyalty. This partnership showcases Bacio’s growth and leadership in the convenience store segment.
Rusty Lantern utilizes Bacio’s Whole Milk and White Cheddar blend to prepare its gourmet pizzas, artisan sandwiches, and homestyle Italian dinners from scratch. It’s made with 100% real cheese, a hint of provolone, and all-natural ingredients —no fillers or starch. Bacio cheeses are uniquely crafted from fresh, Grade A milk, with a Kiss of Buffalo Milk® to offer rich, creamy flavor and unmatched melt, stretch, and reheat qualities. Operators applaud its product performance, which delivers better coverage using less cheese without sacrificing quality—just the right cheese for better consistency and portion control.
“Our foodservice program is a key differentiator for Rusty Lantern,” said John Koch, chief executive officer of Rusty Lantern Markets. “Not only does Bacio share our commitment to premium, high-quality ingredients, the Bacio team offers superior customer service and one of the most innovative loyalty programs that delivers marketing solutions customized to the needs of our business.”
The Bacio Gold Club Rewards offers its partners cashback on every pound of Bacio cheese they purchase. Signing up is easy online or through a distributor partner, and purchases are automatically tracked for quick reward accumulation. In addition to cash back rewards, operators can maximize the value of their premium cheese purchases in the Bacoi Marketing Store to access customized marketing and merchandising support, available exclusively to Bacio Gold Club members.
“Bacio is crafted for discerning chefs and operators who are dedicated to using the finest ingredients,” said Bacio Brand Manager Bobbi Laski. “We are honored to be a featured ingredient in Rusty Lantern’s ‘food forward’ strategy and to support the brand’s continued growth.”
Bacio products are exclusively distributed by Performance Foodservice. Convenience store owners and operators seeking to enhance their foodservice offerings are invited to experience the Bacio difference firsthand with a customized product cutting and tasting demonstration.
About Rusty Lantern Markets
Based in Brunswick, ME, Rusty Lantern Markets now operates 29, and soon to be 31 convenience stores and branded fueling stations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It is a privately held company, formed in 2015 by John Koch, Manager and CEO.
About Bacio Cheese
Bacio® is a premium Italian-style pizza cheese. As part of the Leprino Foods family of brands headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Bacio offers a unique mozzarella-style pizza cheese made with a Kiss of Buffalo Milk – a special touch that brings unmatched tradition and flavor. For more information, please visit www.baciocheese.com.
Dining and Cooking