Heather McDown

Academy of Cheese Training Partner and Mid-West & West Coast Sales Manager for The Fine Cheese Co. USA.

Heather McDown

Academy of Cheese Training Partner and Mid-West & West Coast Sales Manager for The Fine Cheese Co. USA.

The Cultured Voice of Cheese

Heather McDown is the Midwest and West Coast Sales Manager for The Fine Cheese Co. and teaches Academy of Cheese Level One Certification to industry professionals.

Upon earning her Master of Arts in Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Cardiff), she moved back home and found herself working at the local Whole Foods Market. During a trip to London in 2014, she realized that her life was going to take a detour; after a cheese tasting with Francis Percival at Neal’s Yard Dairy, she applied for the ACS CCP exam, and in 2015, she gained that distinction.

After eight years at Whole Foods, Heather took a job in distribution in February 2020. Working in the supply chain while the pandemic was happening was one of the single greatest learning opportunities of her life.

In October 2023, Heather joined The Fine Cheese Co. USA team. “This is a total dream job for me,” she says, “My mother is from Scotland, and I have always had a special place in my heart for British cheese. I am so excited to be an ambassador for them in the United States.”

Transatlantic Expertise in Artisan Cheese

Heather bridges British cheesemaking tradition with the American specialty market.

Educator and Advocate for Cheese Appreciation

A Certified Cheese Professional (ACS CCP) with a passion for teaching, Heather excels at translating complex cheese knowledge into engaging, accessible education.

Proven Sales and Supply Chain Leadership

Heather's background in both retail and wholesale gives her a 360° view of the industry, bringing a rare combination of operational savvy and relationship-building skill.