The Rea Report Summer 2015 | Page 4

BRIGHT CLIENT GUGGISBERG CHEESE Where Traditions Are Built Wheel by Wheel In the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, cheese manufacturing is an art form – one that, since the 1960s, has garnered national attention, awards and accolades. Guggisberg Cheese boasts an immense selection of expertly crafted products that, with each wheel produced, is wrapped in pride and held to a higher standard of quality. Hard Work, Innovation And Exceptional Quality Drive Success Guggisberg Cheese was founded in 1950 in Millersburg, Ohio, by Alfred Guggisberg, whose interest in cheese production began when he was a young man growing up in the Swiss Alps. Arriving stateside in 1947, Alfred’s reputation for producing cheeses of exceptional taste and quality began to spread. Before long, his skills were sought out by local Amish farmers who were in search of a market for their milk and Guggisberg Cheese was born. 48 “ Years of experimentation gave way to a breakthrough in Swiss cheese production in 1960. Alfred’s new product, Baby Swiss, introduced Americans to a new rendition of the already popular Swiss cheese variety. Baby Swiss agreed with the American palate and the cheese’s creamier taste and signature appearance began to grow in popularity; and before long other cheese manufactures wanted to get in on the action. But try as they might, to this day, the cheese stands alone – no other cheese manufacturer has been able to replicate Alfred’s recipe or duplicate the taste of the original Guggisberg Baby Swiss cheese. A Legacy Becomes a Revolution After his passing in 1985, Alfred’s son Richard took over the family business and currently serves as president. And while Baby Swiss continued to be a popular choice among American consumers, the flood of imitation products hitting the marketplace was an indication that Guggisberg Cheese needed to grow beyond the success of its popular Swiss cheese variety. Since taking the reins, Richard took action to maintain a strategy of innovation and top-notch quality while seeking to prioritize the development the company’s sales force. “It’s easy to put a salesperson on the road, but it’s a whole other ballgame when you understand how those sales are conducted, how your products are being marketed and how the food distribution system works throughout the country,” Richard explained. “Being able to manage all of these moving pieces is not something that you’re going to become an expert in over the course of a few months or even a year. It’s a long, steady process and it only can only happen one step at a time.” The effort has paid off. Today the company owns facilities in Millersburg and Sugar- Even as we continue to add new varieties of cheeses and expand our reach, our mission will always be guided by our ability to manufacturer a quality product. ”