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Great Lakes Cheese Co.
hiram
second generation
Since its inception at the Northern Ohio Food Terminal in 1958 to its prominence today as a national cheese supplier with seven U.S. plants, Hiram-based Great Lakes Cheese has seen much of its success rooted in its willingness to seize opportunities.
The company's history is rife with examples of risk-taking and the identification of new concepts and markets. Founder Hans Epprecht for example, was one of the first to encourage grocers to buy prepacked shredded and sliced cheese at a time when cheese loaves were carved up in back rooms. He also offered profit-sharing to his employees long before such plans were popular.
In the early '80s, the company galvanized its expansion into New York by responding quickly when a private label cheese supplier announced its exit from that market. Great Lakes Cheese also snatched the chance to establish a presence deep in the heart of the dairyland by purchasing the...