So, what’s your story? Where were you born? How long have you been here in the Driftless, What keeps you here?
We three owners grew up in Randolph (Kathy), Anoka (Deeann) and Humboldt, Iowa (Jackie). We met through a women’s organization called P.E.O. (philanthropic education organization). We all come from very different backgrounds which gives us each unique perspectives that when combined together make a great combo! We started out making cheese in Jackie’s kitchen and after playing around making cheese for a year or so, we decided to make it official and start a business! 5 years later we are finally building our own manufacturing plant in Cannon Falls, MN.
Tell us about what you do for work or your business, and how long have you been doing this?
We started Cannon Belles Cheese 5 years ago with a dream to build a manufacturing plant to process cow’s milk into cheese. We have been through a lot of ups and downs but through it all we have maintained making great cheese that our customers love and seek out! 3 years into making cheese an opportunity came up to start a coffee and ice cream shop in Cannon Falls which is where our cheese business is based out of. It’s been such a fun journey!
Tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career with your business.
Our biggest accomplishment is the praise and compliments we get from customers. It’s fun to people try our cheese at events and their eyes light up when they taste it! Then at the coffee shop we are told daily how comfortable and fun our shop is. We have amazing customers with both businesses and that’s been the biggest joy.
We’re constantly making things better, faster, smarter or less expensive. We leverage technology or improve processes. In other words, we strive to do more—with less. Tell us about a recent project or problem that you made better, faster, smarter, more efficient, or less expensive.
With running 2 businesses we are all about making things better and faster. We decided to go with 1 brand name for the 2 companies and then have 1 website for them as well. Using our brand of “CannonBelles” for multiple things has made things simpler and more effecient.
What do you wish other people knew about you or your business?
We love our customers and strive to make everyone’s day happy when they visit us. We want to be a light or joy in people’s day.
Author – Jaclyn Ohmann