![Vintage photo of a woman stacking blocks of cheese](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/65-years.jpg)
65+ Years of Growth
Great Lakes Cheese was founded in 1958 by Swiss immigrant, Hans Epprecht, when he began his neighborhood cheese-delivering business.
Our Timeline
A History of Quality and Excellence
![Young photos of Hans Epprecht](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-1958.png)
1958
Hans Epprecht started his store-door delivery business with three values: Hard Work, Honesty, and Integrity
![Vintage Great Lakes Cheese logo and articles](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-1963.jpg)
1963
The first Great Lakes Cheese packaging facility opened in Newbury, Ohio
![Employees gathered in an office, employees working to package cheese, and friends hugging](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-1971-new.png)
1971
Hans Epprecht launched the pivotal Profit Sharing Plan for all employees; our ownership culture begins!
![Overhead view of Wisconsin and New York cheese factories](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-1980s.jpg)
1980s
Two new plants: Plymouth, WI (’82) and Adams, NY (’84)
![Overhead views of three cheese factories in the 1990s](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-1990s.png)
1990s
Three new plants: Cuba, NY (’93), La Crosse, WI (’95), and Hiram, OH (’98)
![A group of smiling employees](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-1998-2.png)
1998
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) established; now one of the largest in the nation.
![Overhead view of Utah and Wisconsin cheese factories](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-2000s.png)
2000s
Two new plants: Fillmore, UT (’01), and Wausau, WI (’03)
![Overhead view of two cheese production plants](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-2010s.png)
2010s
Two new plants: Manchester, TN (’15), and new Wausau, WI (’19) location
![Photos of new Hiram, OH corporate office](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-2020.png)
2020
Doubled the size of our Hiram, Ohio plant and built a new Corporate Headquarters and Customer Collaboration Center
![Two overhead views of cheese factories](https://www.greatlakescheese.com/wp-content/uploads/Great-Lakes-Cheese-2022.png)