Our Story

Learn how we got to where we are today.

OUR VALUES

Every day, we are driven by our values.

Our Communities

We are honored that we get to give back to our communities.

Our Brands

Our family has grown! Learn about our Family of Brands.

Bringing inspiration to the table for shared meals & memories.

What started as a line of refrigerated salad dressing has evolved into an offering of various food products across multiple brands. Our company name, Litehouse Inc., honors the heritage of our Litehouse product brand while “inc” expresses the vibrancy of our Employee Owners – inclusive and incredible. We are dedicated to delicious, quality food products and building a better tomorrow. See below for what inspires us!

New Look, Same Great Taste

Over the years, we’ve added more to what we bring to the table – including more flavors, more incredible Employee Owners, and more incomparable brands. See how we are embracing a new look for a new tomorrow.

Our Story

ALL IN THE FAMILY

As far back as 1882, the Hawkins family has been in the food business. But not until just after WWII, did Ed Hawkins Sr. receive the inspiration that would lead to the great taste customers have come to expect from Litehouse products.

1949
ANSWERED PRAYER

In 1949, Ed was a chef in Spokane, WA when his boss complained about the poor quality of the blue cheese dressing they served on salads. Ed responded to the challenge by praying about it. The answer to his prayer was a blend of mayonnaise, spices, crumbled blue cheese and buttermilk. To his knowledge, his original recipe was the first creamy blue cheese dressing.

1958
BUYING THE RESTAURANT

In 1958, Edward and his wife Lorena purchased Hurschell’s Lighthouse restaurant located on the shores of the Lake Pend Oreille in Hope Idaho, a tourist town with the population of 200 and a booming summer trade. People enjoyed the dressing served at dinner so much, they would bring in empty jars to fill with dressing to take home.

1963
BUILDING A BUSINESS

In 1963 Edward and Lorena scraped together enough money to purchase 12 cases of jars and had Aunt Ethel Ashley design a logo for a label. The family mixed the dressing by hand in soup kettles. The first jars of Litehouse Salad Dressing were sold to the produce department of Rogers Thrift in Sandpoint, Idaho. A freshly made 16 oz. jar of Litehouse Bleu Cheese dressing cost $0.89 and Litehouse Thousand Island cost $0.79.

1978
DRIVING GROWTH

During the 1970s, Litehouse began to expand their distribution throughout the northwest. Until that time, sales and delivery were done by Doug and Edward Hawkins who would drive around the tri-state area stopping store to store. As the decade came to a close, Litehouse operations had outgrown their Datsun pickup truck. Rapid expansion required a larger space and more employees. The family decided to move the business to Sandpoint, Idaho, where it currently operates today.

1984
SOME NEW BEGINNINGS

In 1984, Edward Sr. passed away, and with him the family’s desire to be in the restaurant business. In 1988 with 12 retail products and facing no growth for 4 years, Doug and Edward Jr. developed a business plan expanding on what Litehouse did best: make great products and employ dedicated people to make these products.

1997
A STEP FORWARD

With a strong portfolio of retail products, Litehouse merged with Chadalee Farms Inc. of Lowell, Michigan, a company with tremendous background in food service and horseradish products dating back to 1893.

1997
EXPANDING THE RANGE

During this era of changing landscapes in produce departments, Litehouse expanded its offerings of innovative products to include freeze dried herbs, meat marinades, dressing packs for salad bars, dips for vegetable trays, caramel dip, and other complementary food products.

2001
BRINGING IN THE EXPERTS

In 2001, Litehouse leased the 50 year old Pend Oreille Cheese Company and started making handcrafted blue cheese as the ingredient for the famous blue cheese dressing. Soon afterward Litehouse started selling blue cheese crumbles and wheels in produce and deli departments.

2006
PASSING THE TORCH

The founders of Litehouse believed that all of the people who make Litehouse great deserve to benefit in its success. That is why they transferred 30% of the company’s ownership to its employees in 2006 and 100% by 2014. Together, Litehouse employees share the hard work and rewards of building this company. Home-grown and home-sustained, we empower all members of our organization to spark the innovations and great new ideas that will propel us into the future.

2019/2020
PORTFOLIO GROWTH

In 2019 Litehouse acquired Sky Valley Foods, which included the Sky Valley and Organicville brands, expanding the portfolio of brands. Then, in 2020 Litehouse purchased Veggiecraft Farms, to further diversify the portfolio.

Now
ONWARD AND UPWARD

From a small restaurant to a leading producer and marketer of refrigerated salad dressings, cheeses, dips, sauces, apple cider, and freeze dried herbs, Litehouse is a leader in the food industry with innovation and great consumer products, keeping a strong commitment to the employees and communities in which they operate.

Our Values

As Employee Owners, we take pride in the products we make and the relationships we have with our customers. Every day we are driven by our mission and vision.

OurVision

To improve life… one community, one table, and one bite at a time.

OurMission

Deliver a memorable eating experience, positively impact the communities we touch, and provide our Employee Owners with opportunities to succeed.

OurEmployee
Owners

Live out these values every day

Learn about our stewardship

OurPillars

PEOPLE CUSTOMER SERVICE QUALITY GROWTH

Our Communities

As a 100% Employee Owned Company we are one big family. See some of the friendly faces that help make Litehouse products every day!

We believe that all of the people who make this company great deserve to benefit in its success. That’s why we are 100% employee owned. Together we share the hard work and rewards of building this company. Home-grown and home-sustained, we empower all members of our family to spark the innovations and great new ideas that will propel us into the future.

SandpointIdaho

Located on Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho, it’s known for ski slopes and terrain parks at Schweitzer Mountain Resort as well as local shops and restaurants, hiking trails, pristine lakes.

LowellMichigan

Affectionately called the Showboat City, Lowell is a small-town suburb of Grand Rapids, known for a vibrant art scene and eclectic shopping district.

HurricaneUtah

Located in southwest Utah, between the city of St. George and Zion National Park, it’s known for its outdoor adventure: the area is dense with mountain bike trails, OHV destinations, camping, and water sports at two state parks, set among red rock mesas.

DanvilleVirginia

Located in south-central Virginia along the North Carolina border, it’s known for historical landmarks, recreational opportunities and beautiful rolling countryside and is the perfect combination of small-town charm and big city offerings.

Our Brands

Meet the Litehouse Family of Brands

On a mission to spread goodness, we’ve worked hard to master the art of crafting deliciousness. We offer quality product that tastes great and makes people smile.