Gwendolyn Dare Hageman

Changing Cheese and Empowering Employees

Darë was brought into existence by chef, Gwendolyn Dare Hageman, who spent most of her life as an omnivore inspired by her chef Dad. The two had a snack ritual involving a block of cheese, a pack of crackers, and a knife. When Gwendolyn decided to pursue an animal-free lifestyle, the thought of losing her favorite snack sent her searching high and low for a sufficient substitute. Time and again, she came up empty, thus beginning her journey in creating the taste she craved.

Not one to back down from a challenge, Gwendolyn grew inspired by the limitations imposed by a meat- and dairy-free lifestyle. She turned to the ancient tradition of cheesemaking and explored fermentation to coax flavor and texture from her plant-based creations. She cultivated a culture that, when married with cashews, exploded with flavor. What emerged was a passion for the food she was making, a hunger to make people happy, and the innovation to satisfy multiple palates. From there, the rest is history. 

 Born and raised in Dare County, North Carolina, the company name, (pronounced “Dairy”, by the way), is a play on Gwendolyn’s middle name and a cheeky nod to the bold approach in which Darë Vegan Cheese was made. Today, her company focuses on small-batch, handmade goodness. With a team of dedicated and passionate individuals, Darë chooses people over machinery and passion over everything to make a product infused with love and intention. 

In this journey, Darë has found joy and purpose in creating a satisfying dairy-free cheese that leaves nothing to be desired. Well, maybe one thing, and that’s more Darë Vegan Cheese!