Anne Saxelby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Saxelby
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Anne Saxelby in 2011
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| Born | March 25, 1981 |
| Died | October 9, 2021 (aged 40) |
| Occupation | Cheesemonger |
Anne Therese Saxelby (born March 25, 1981 – died October 9, 2021) was an American expert in cheese. She was a cheesemonger, which means someone who sells cheese. She also helped make special, handmade cheeses. Anne started Saxelby Cheesemongers, the very first shop in New York City that sold only American-made artisan cheeses. She was very important in helping American cheese makers grow and become well-known.
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Anne's Early Life and School Days
Anne Saxelby was born in Dayton, Ohio. Her dad, Bill, was a business owner, and her mom, Pam, wrote books for kids. Anne grew up in Libertyville, Illinois, and went to Libertyville High School. Even though her parents didn't know much about cheese, Anne wrote a big paper in high school about how foods change and ferment. After high school, she moved to New York City in 1999. She studied art at New York University.
Anne's Career in Cheese
After finishing college, Anne got a job in 2003 making cheese at Cato Corner Farm. Then, she started working at Murray's Cheese, where she learned how to make and sell cheese. To learn even more, she went to Paris for an internship. There, she worked with Hervé Mons, an affineur. An affineur is someone who ages and cares for cheese to make it perfect.
Mons sent Anne to different farms in France and Italy. This way, she could learn about many kinds of cheeses, like goat cheese and sheep's cheese. Anne wanted to show that Americans could make amazing cheeses too. So, she came back home and opened her first shop, Saxelby Cheesemongers, on May 5, 2006.
Saxelby Cheesemongers: A New York First
Anne set up her shop in the Essex Market. She focused on selling only cheeses made by small American cheese makers from the northeastern United States.
In the beginning, Anne was the only person working at her shop. She even delivered cheese orders by bike all over Manhattan and Brooklyn! Her small stall was just big enough for a special refrigerator to keep the cheese cool. She started by selling about 30 different kinds of cheeses from local farms.
In 2017, Anne opened another, bigger shop in Chelsea Market. As her business grew, she needed more space for cheese. So, she bought a warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, with her business partner, Benoit Breal. The original Essex Market location closed in 2019 because the market building moved. Anne decided not to move her shop to the new location.
Helping American Cheese Makers Grow
Anne Saxelby was known for helping local farms and other cheese makers. She helped them find new ways to sell their cheese and grow the cheese market in the area. For example, she helped restaurants in New York choose special artisan cheeses for their menus. She supplied cheese to 173 restaurants and helped them create their cheese offerings.
Anne also spoke up for the vendors at Essex Street Market. She worked to improve how the market was managed and to make sure vendors had good conditions.
The New Rules of Cheese
Anne wrote a book called The New Rules of Cheese. It was published in October 2020. The book teaches readers about how cheese is made and how to enjoy cheese in everyday life.
Anne also drew pictures for some of her mom's children's books.
Awards and Honors
In 2011, Anne Saxelby and her shop were named the Small Business of the Year for Manhattan. This was a big honor for her hard work.
Anne's Personal Life
Anne Saxelby married Patrick Martins in 2012. Patrick owns a company called Heritage Foods USA. Anne and Patrick had three children together: a son and two daughters.
Anne Saxelby passed away on October 9, 2021, due to a heart condition.
