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Neva's
December 2024
Chariton Area Chamber/Main Street is proud to feature one of our local contributing businesses in the monthly Small Business Spotlight.
This month, we are featuring Neva's, which started as just a homemade noodle company and has grown into salsa. Jamie is read to expand his business with not only products but into new grocery stores as well.
What is your job title and role?
Jamie Buckalew, owner of Neva's, LLC.
How long have you been in business in Chariton/Lucas County?
I bought Neva's Noodles from the Loughman's in 2016. At the time, it was a 55 year old company and I'm the 5th owner.
Describe your business
Neva's Noodles has a rich tradition in the Midwest as being the closest thing to homemade available on the shelf. Everything is done in small batches and is truly done the old-fashioned way with new Italian machines. The noodle business is 63 years old and growing very rapidly. Recently, we added a salsa brand, Neva's Salsa. I really enjoyed raising produce over the years and testing different recipes. The salsa was such a hit, we immediately had to contract a co-packer to meet the supply and demand. We also do small batch production on the salsa, it just gets bottled really fast.
Why do you do what you do?
I enjoy being a small business owner and facing the challenges in the grocery business. Once you get a taste of success in this business, it's very addicting.
Was there a specific moment or realization where you made the decision to start your own business?
I remember buying Neva's Noodles in the guard shack at Hy-Vee. The previous owner showed up with his delivery and said, "this is it." Literally, a bunch of scribbles on a piece of paper with his name and phone number. The rest is history!
What inspires you to keep at it each day?
My biggest inspiration is to see how far I can grow this company. I always remind myself there's 24 hours in a day.
Why did you choose Chariton for your business?
Chariton was the logical choice mainly becasue the Hy-Vee warehouse was right here. The business has been in the warehouse for a long time, so it made sense.
What are your biggest challenges as a business owner?
The list of challenges is non-stop. We deal with billion dollar grocery chains that are competing against online and big box stores. When they want something you better be ready. Our biggest obstacle is egg prices. We go through roughly 2,500 eggs a week, so it's crucial to get the best price. Another big challenge is cardboard boxes. People don't think about this, but Amazon pretty much controls the pricing, just by the volume they use.
What are your biggest rewards?
One of my biggest reawards has been branding Neva's. It's no longer just a noodle company. We have both Neva's Noodles and Neva's Salsa under the Neva's brand. Neva's is also a member of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association.
What will people get from your business that they won't get anywhere else?
We strive to offer products that are made with real ingredients and take no shortcuts. That's a big deal! Our noodles are made with milk, which is one of the big differences. Our salsa only contains real ingredients, no pastes, or dehyrdrated products. Also, I'm a big supporter of local businesses! Remember, without those businesses the community loses valuable support for a wide variety of things.
Learn more about Neva's at:
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