Schepp’s Dakota Deli of Lansford has taken a family recipe for potato salad from being served in the local café, to a business that today employs 26 people and distributes thirteen kinds of wet salads through over seventy-five wholesale and retail outlets and the Internet. The success of the business is due to the tenacity and hard work of husband and wife, Lyle and Jerylyn Schepp.
In addition to providing employment opportunities for local residents, Schepp’s utilizes as many local products in their recipes as they can. In 2003, the Deli estimates they will use one million pounds of North Dakota potatoes and one-hundred and fifty thousand pounds of pasta in the making of their salads.
Jerylyn was managing the Lansford Café when her customers encouraged her market the potato salad she was serving. That was around 1995. Today the company is looking towards its next expansion, which may include a new production facility and an expanded market.
The Souris Basin Planning Council has worked with the Schepp’s during their growth. The Planning Council through the years has given the business a mini-grant and two revolving loans. In addition, Council staff has helped the Schepp’s secure funds through the State and a regional development group to aid in cooperatively marketing their products with Pride Dairy.
