In short: Mepal is a Dutch brand of food containers, water bottles and plastic tableware, based in Lochem since the 1960s. At Raclette Club, we feature the Mepal brand for its 2.8-liter Modula cheese box, with a built-in cutting board.
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The Mepal brand in a few lines
According to the history published by the brand for its 70th anniversary, Mepal was founded in 1950 by Egon Wolff. In 1955, it launched a camping tableware set, then moved in 1963 to the Kwinkweerd industrial estate in Lochem, in the Achterhoek, where it is still based. Stackable containers arrived early: the line that would become Modula goes back to 1965, under the name Moduul, and the current Modula range, with its transparent lid, was launched in 2006.
The company has had its share of twists. In 1976, Egon Wolff sold it to the Danish company Rosti; in 1990, a fire destroyed the building, and production resumed five days later, according to the brand; in 1993, the whole thing returned to Dutch hands, and since 2019 Rosti has no longer been part of Mepal. The brand claims a long tradition of in-house development, from design to manufacturing, and says that spare parts exist for almost all of its products.
Video
Video: Mepal official on YouTube. Official Mepal video (2023, in German) about kitchen storage with its containers, not specifically the cheese box.
Video: Plezier in de Keuken on YouTube. A Dutch retailer’s review of a box from the Modula range (a storage box, not the cheese box).
Video: Carnet de Fromages on YouTube. A cheesemonger’s advice on storing cheese, all kinds of boxes included.
Its products at Raclette Club
| Model | Type | Who it’s for | Page | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modula 2800 ml cheese box (ASIN B00UO9YAI0) | 2.8 L cheese box, 27.1 x 17.4 x 10.3 cm (10.7 x 6.9 x 4.1 in), transparent lid, removable cutting board | Families who keep several opened cheeses | Review coming soon | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
What we think
Mepal makes objects with no needless frills, and that’s a compliment. The Modula cheese box follows the logic of the range: a transparent lid so you can see what’s left without opening everything, a removable board to cut directly on it, and, according to the Amazon.fr listing, dishwasher and freezer safety. For a fridge where raclette, Comté and a forgotten old piece of blue cheese live side by side, it’s a simple way to put things back in order.
The downside is plain: it’s plastic, and a 2.8-liter box takes up room on a shelf. A buyer also reports on bol.com that the small pads under the board come loose in the dishwasher. The listing doesn’t mention an anti-condensation system like Tupperware’s: if you keep cheese for a long time, leave it in its paper before putting it in the box.
Which model to choose?
- For several cheeses at once: the Modula 2800 ml, big enough for a cut-up opened half wheel.
- For a small leftover: a more compact box, like Tupperware’s CheeSmart, to compare in our selection of raclette accessories.
- For the next raclette night: our traditional raclette guide, to finish the leftovers by the book.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Mepal brand come from?
Mepal is a Dutch brand founded in 1950 by Egon Wolff, according to its official history. It has been based in Lochem, in the east of the Netherlands, since 1963.
Is the Mepal Modula cheese box dishwasher-safe?
Yes according to the Amazon.fr listing, which also says it is freezer-safe. One buyer does report, however, that the small pads under the board can come loose in the dishwasher.
Can you find Mepal spare parts?
Mepal says spare parts exist for almost all of its products. For a Modula lid or board, search with the exact reference of the box.
