Award List

Award List

Our cheese continues to win top honors in taste tests around the world. Our Aged Cheddar, Mozzarella, Provolone and Blue-Veined cheeses have won over 180 awards in the last 25 years. Award-winning quality is the foundation on which Great Lakes Cheese was built and continues to grow.

We Believe Excellence is its Own Reward

Great Lakes Cheese continues to win top honors in taste tests around the world. Our Aged Cheddar, Mozzarella, Provolone, and Blue-Veined cheeses have won over 180 awards in the last 25 years. Award-winning quality is the foundation on which Great lakes Cheese was built, and continues to grow.

New York State Fair (126 Awards)

  • 1988: Gold, Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1989: Gold, Silver: Aged Cheddar
  • 1990: Silver: Aged Cheddar
  • 1991: Gold, Silver: Mild Cheddar
  • 1992: 2 Gold, 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1993: 2 Gold, 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1993: Gold: Reduced Fat Cheddar
  • 1993: Silver: Smoked Provolone
  • 1993: Silver: Mozzarella
  • 1994: 2 Gold, 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1994: Gold: Reduced Fat Cheddar
  • 1994: Silver: Provolone
  • 1995: 2 Gold, 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1995: Gold: Reduced Fat Cheddar
  • 1995: Silver: Provolone
  • 1995: Silver: Mozzarella
  • 1996: 2 Gold, 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1996: Silver: Mozzarella
  • 1996: Gold, Silver: Smoked Provolone
  • 1996: Award of Excellence: All Around
  • 1997: Gold: Mozzarella
  • 1997: Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1997: Award of Excellence: Provolone
  • 1998: Gold, Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1998: Gold: Smoked Provolone
  • 1999: Gold, 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 1999: Silver: Smoked Provolone
  • 2000: Silver: Aged Cheddar
  • 2000: Gold: Smoked Provolone
  • 2000: Silver: Mozzarella
  • 2001: 2 Gold: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 2001: Gold, Silver: Provolone
  • 2001: Gold, Silver: Mozzarella
  • 2002: Gold, Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 2002: Silver: Provolone
  • 2003: Gold, Silver: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2003: Silver: Aged Cheddar
  • 2003: Gold, Silver: Provolone
  • 2003: Silver: Mozzarella
  • 2004: Gold, 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 2004: Gold: Provolone
  • 2005: Grand Champion: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2005: Grand Champion: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2005: Gold: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2005: Gold, Silver: Mozzarella
  • 2005: Gold, Silver: Provolone
  • 2005: 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 2006: Gold, Silver: Mild Cheddar
  • 2006: 2 Silver: Sharp, Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2007: Gold, Silver: Provolone
  • 2007: 2 Silver: Mild, Aged Cheddar
  • 2007: Gold, Silver: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2008: Gold: Aged Cheddar
  • 2008: Gold: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2009: Gold, Silver: Mild Cheddar
  • 2009: Gold: Aged Cheddar
  • 2009: Gold, Silver: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2010: Gold, Silver: Mild Cheddar
  • 2010: Gold, Silver: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2010: Silver: Provolone
  • 2011: Gold: Mild Cheddar
  • 2011: Silver: Aged Cheddar
  • 2011: Silver: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2011: Gold, Silver: Mozzarella
  • 2011: Gold, Silver: Provolone
  • 2013: Silver: Mild Cheddar
  • 2013: Silver: Aged Cheddar
  • 2013: Bronze: Super Aged Cheddar
  • 2013: Gold, Silver: Mozzarella
  • 2013: Gold, Silver: Provolone
  • 2016: Gold: Whole Milk Mozzarella
  • 2016: Silver: Part Skim Mozzarella
  • 2016: Award of Excellence: Part Skim Mozzarella
  • 2016: Gold: Smoked Provolone
  • 2016: Silver: Un-Smoked Provolone
  • 2016: Award of Excellence: Un-Smoked Provolone
  • 2016: Award of Excellence: String Cheese
  • 2016: Award of Excellence: 3-6mo. Cheddar
  • 2016: Gold: Aged Cheddar
  • 2018: Dairy Products Competition Grand Champion: GLC NYS Cheddar
  • 2018: Gold: Super Aged Cheddar, Aged Cheddar, Mozzarella, Smoked Provolone
  • 2018: Silver: Super Aged Cheddar, Provolone
  • 2018: Award of Excellence: Low Moisture Mozzarella, Provolone

U.S. Competition (41 Awards)

  • 1989: Bronze
  • 1991: Gold
  • 1993: Silver
  • 1995: Silver: Provolone
  • 1997: Gold, Silver: Cheddar
  • 2003: Gold, Silver: Aged Cheddar
  • 2003: 2 Gold: Provolone, Whole Milk Mozzarella
  • 2005: Bronze: Aged Cheddar
  • 2005: Gold, Bronze: Whole Milk Mozzarella
  • 2005: Silver: Provolone
  • 2007: Silver: NY Sharp Cheddar
  • 2007: 4 Bronze: NY Medium Cheddar, NY Sharp Cheddar, NY X-Sharp Cheddar, Provolone
  • 2009: 2 Gold, 2 Silver, Bronze: Provolone, Aged Cheddar
  • 2011: Gold: NY Medium Cheddar
  • 2013: 3 Gold: NY X-Sharp Cheddar, String Cheese, Smoked Provolone
  • 2013: 3 Silver: NY Medium Cheddar, Gorgonzola, Shredded Cheese Blend
  • 2013: 3 Bronze: Whole Milk Mozzarella, Provolone, Aged Provolone
  • 2015: Gold/Best-in-Class: Sharp Cheddar
  • 2017: 2 Silver: Part Skim Mozzarella, Smoked Provolone
  • 2017: 4 Bronze: NY Medium Cheddar, Provolone, Aged Provolone, Gorgonzola

World Competitions (23 Awards)

  • 1990: Silver (Only U.S. company in top 7)
  • 1994: Gold: Mozzarella
  • 1998: Silver: Cheddar
  • 2002: Bronze: Mozzarella
  • 2004: Gold: NY X-Sharp Cheddar
  • 2004: Bronze: Whole Milk Mozzarella
  • 2006: Bronze: NY Medium Cheddar
  • 2008: Gold, 2 Silver, Bronze: Part Skim Mozzarella, NY Medium, NY X-Sharp Cheddar
  • 2010: Silver, Bronze: Provolone, NY X-Sharp Cheddar
  • 2014: Gold: NY Sharp Cheddar
  • 2016: Gold, Silver, Bronze: Smoked Provolone
  • 2016: Gold, Silver: Aged Provolone
  • 2016: Bronze: 3 month Cheddar
  • 2016: Silver: 2+ Years
  • 2016: Bronze: Gorgonzola
  • 2018: Gold, Silver: Provolone, Mild
  • 2018: Silver: Smoked Provolone
  • 2018: Silver: Sharp Cheddar 2lb Shred
  • 2018: Bronze: Aged Provolone
  • 2018: Bronze: Matchstick Parmesan
  • 2018: Bronze: Smoked Provolone
  • 2020: Best In Class: Sharp Cheddar 
  • 2020: Best In Class: Natural Sliced Cheese - NY XSH Cheddar Cracker Cuts
  • 2020: Silver: Natural Sliced Cheese – Havarti Cracker Cuts
  • 2020: Silver, Bronze: Aged Provolone
  • 2020: Bronze: Part Skim Mozzarella
  • 2020: Bronze: Smoked Provolone
  • 2020: Bronze: Sharp Cheddar 
  • 2020: Bronze: Whey Permeate

American Cheese Society (2 Awards)

  • 2008: Silver: Aged Cheddar
  • 2010: Gold: Aged Cheddar

Wisconsin State Fair (2 Awards)

  • 2018: 1st Place: Gorgonzola
  • 2018: 2nd Place: Blue Cheese

Our Happy Employees

Amber Bacon, Product Marketing Specialist

"One of the greatest feelings is waking up in the morning and looking forward to work. I love my job, thanks to this amazing family-owned company, as well as my colleagues, who I now consider family." Amber Bacon, Associate Product Manager

Trent Lattimore, Packaging Engineer

"Coming from a larger, publicly-held company, I can attest to the family atmosphere the Great Lakes Cheese environment brings to the table. From the production floor to the front office, everyone is ready to help you accomplish your goals, and does so with a smile. All employees want to see the company succeed, and there's a true sense of teamwork anywhere you go." Trent Lattimore, Packaging Engineer

Erin Shirkey, Director of Sales Operations

"Great Lakes Cheese was not the place I originally expected to find a career, but it's now a place I truly appreciate. With hard work and great mentors, I've been able to advance into new roles as my experience and skills have developed. I've worked here for almost 20 years, but each day, I still continue to learn and be challenged." Erin Shirkey, Director of Sales Operations

Mark Gray, Customer Service Representative

"I’ve been employed with GLC for over 20 years. After hearing from several friends who were working here, especially about the ESOP plan and job security, I decided to exit the construction field for a new career. I’m so glad I made that decision, and the experience of working in both production and the front office has been challenging and rewarding. Being able to participate and contribute to a steadily growing family-oriented business, as an employee-owner, and with the best benefits in the industry, has kept me firmly planted here at GLC." Mark Gray, Customer Service Representative

Nick Ruskiewicz, Sales Operations Coordinator

"I was recently hired by Great Lakes Cheese as a Customer Service Representative. I realized early on what a powerful commitment to teamwork all employees have here. To work in an office atmosphere where the company succeeds by others doing for others to achieve goals regardless of departments is truly eye opening! Great Lakes Cheese is a very large company that feels like a very large family to me. I’m so excited being part of this GLC team and having the opportunity to participate and contribute to such a successful company."Nick Ruskiewicz, Sales Operations Coordinator

Tyler Mazanec, Regional Account Manager

"I was recently hired by Great Lakes Cheese as an Account Manager. Throughout my short time here, I have truly felt the family atmosphere that everyone talks about at Great Lakes. This was one of the many reasons why I chose to come work here. Everyone has a great sense of team work and will go out of their way to help you if you need it. It is one of the few companies that truly cares about the success of each employee."Tyler Mazanec, Regional Account Manager