
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

1958
Hans Epprecht started his store-door delivery business with three values: Hard Work, Honesty, and Integrity

1963
The first Great Lakes Cheese packaging facility opened in Newbury, Ohio

1971
Hans Epprecht launched the pivotal Profit Sharing Plan for all employees; our ownership culture begins!

1980s
Two new plants: Plymouth, WI (’82) and Adams, NY (’84)

1990s
Three new plants: Cuba, NY (’93), La Crosse, WI (’95), and Hiram, OH (’98)

1998
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) established; now one of the largest in the nation.

2000s
Two new plants: Fillmore, UT (’01), and Wausau, WI (’03)

2010s
Two new plants: Manchester, TN (’15), and new Wausau, WI (’19) location

2020
Doubled the size of our Hiram, Ohio plant and built a new Corporate Headquarters and Customer Collaboration Center
