Borden's Delloy Pasta Makes Old-Fashioned Mennonite Noodles

source: Farm and Food Report


Charmaine and Bill Golding had been busy farming half a mile north of Borden, until Charmaine’s aunt and uncle introduced them to the pasta business in 2000.

“They had been making and selling pasta for five years,” explains Bill, “and they wanted to sell us the business. Charmaine’s family had a Mennonite background. This was a homemade-type pasta—as close to the original Mennonite taste as can be, according to a local expert on the matter.”

Bill and Charmaine thus acquired Prairie Pasta, and turned the company into Delloy Pasta, a home-based, family-operated business that makes great tasting, old-fashioned egg noodles.

If you enjoyed the homemade noodles that your grandmother used to make, you'll love this pasta. They make six different products.

“Our most popular is a fine noodle, great for chicken noodle soup from scratch, or for spaghetti dishes. We also make a broad noodle, used for casseroles, and also for soups. Kielke, a special German noodle, is a favourite for some. We make two kinds of pre-packaged, family-size soups. These come with seasoning, and no MSG is added.”

The original owners perfected the recipes, according to Bill.

“They mentored us through the process. We buy all our durum flour from stores, and we operate out of a portable classroom at the farm. Our products are sold in approximately 60 stores, nursing homes and restaurants, or they can be purchased directly from us. They are available for fundraisers, as well.”

Business is booming, and things are about to change significantly for Bill and Charmaine.

“The town wanted us to set up a shop in Borden,” explains Bill. “We acquired a lot in town right on the Yellowhead Highway - we’ll have great visibility. They made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. The foundations have already been poured and the building should be framed by July 15. In theory, by the end of August, we should be all set up and ready to go as a Saskatchewan Made store, plus a pasta plant.”

This is a big move for them and their product. Prior to this, they made the pasta, dried it on the drying rack, and packaged it on another table in 454-gram bags in the portable classroom at the farm.

“Now we will also sell other products made by members of the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association. We are also developing a microwaveable pasta dish with Alfredo sauce. We learned to make it by trial and error when we prepared samples for the trade shows we attended. Our customers told us we should also sell the sauce. We listened,” admits Bill.

Delloy Pasta is on a roll. He loves it.

“We make the deliveries to our retailers ourselves. We have developed a route in and around Saskatoon. We also ship throughout the province by bus. Hockey, soccer and skating clubs love the product for fundraising. We even have a yacht club in British Columbia among our clients.

“You see, I used to work in a bank during the 1970s. I missed the contact with the people. We have met some great storeowners since we started in this business. We start work very early in the morning—around 5:00 a.m. - and we work six to seven days a week, but now we wouldn’t do anything else. The best thing is that this is something we can do together, Charmaine and I.”

For more information, contact:

Bill Golding
Delloy Pasta
(306) 997-2227

Comments