JDS Industries Celebrates 50 Years

JDS Industries, headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, announces it is celebrating 50 years of business.

History of JDS Industries

Founded in 1972 by Darwin and Jane Sletten, JDS started out as a retail trophy shop that sold completed trophies. By 1977 Darwin started to see the advantage of being a supplier to other retailers and began the switch from retailer to wholesale supplier.

The company officially became JDS (Jane, Darwin, and Scott) Industries, Inc. in 1991, and in 1992 Darwin and Jane’s son Scott became a part owner of the company. In 1993, the company’s first warehouse outside of Sioux Falls was opened in St. Louis, Missouri. Between 1995 and 2013, JDS added a total of 13 warehouses.

In 2010 Scott became the full owner of JDS, and in 2016 Mike May, COO, who began his career at JDS in high school working part-time, became a part owner.

“JDS truly sees its customers, vendors, and employees as business partners, and every effort is focused on the success of all,” states the company. “At JDS, we’re proud to have thrived for the last 50 years and to have helped our customers succeed in business. We look forward to doing the same in the years ahead!”