Westside Community Guide

Big business in small town America By Brittany Smith Westside Community Guide G entry, Gravette, and Decatur may be small towns in Northwest Arkansas but they have become hubs of industry and are also home to booming big businesses. Mckee foods McKee Foods Corporation established a manufacturing facility in Gentry in 1982 and became the city's largest employer, which it remains to be today. McKee Foods, most well-known for their Little Debbie Snack Cakes, is a "privately-held, family- run company with a history of innovation and a deeply held belief in the importance of doing business with integrity." It was founded in 1934 by O.D. and Ruth McKee. O.D. previously sold 5-cent cakes from the back seat of his 1928 Whippet but when he bought a small bakery in Tennessee, the dynasty began. O.D. and Ruth's fruitful combination of vision, innovation, and structure soon resulted in a thriving success. McKee has continued to grow under the leadership of O.D. and Ruth's children and grandchildren, who have followed the ethical and responsible business practices of their predecessors. Today McKee Foods still manufactures America's number-one snack cakes and has facilities in Tennessee, Virgina, and right here in Arkansas. ere are also two Little Debbie bakeries in the area, one in Gentry and one in Springdale, where you can shop for your favorite baked goods at a great price. e Gentry Plant employs more than 1,500 people and plays an active role in the community by supporting United Way and local schools through time, money, and products. Simmons foods Simmons Foods is another family-run company that began small and is now one of the pillars of the community. Simmons started as a small poultry company in 1949 in Decatur and quickly grew, building a second processing plant in Siloam Springs in 1952, which transitioned to become the company's headquarters. Simmons has grown exponentially since then and this growth includes a new facility positioned between Gentry and Decatur, Simmons Prepared Foods Benton County, the largest expansion in the history of the company. e expansion is a response to increasing and growing customer demand and is a $300+ million investment that provides more than 1,500 new jobs. Simmons is a farm to fork poultry producer that supplies premium chicken 14 – 2021 2021 Westside Community Guide Best Prices in the Highlands 14141 Hiwasse Rd at the Highlands • Hiwasse 2nd Location - Off Hwy 59 N • Centerton 479-855-2505 www.Alumniministorage.com For All Your Household Storage • Boat & RV Parking • Security Gate Entrance • All Metal Buildings with Concrete Floors Units Size 5'x10' to 15'x30' We're your Shield. We're your Shelter. ShelterInsurance.com Chris Taylor 120 Main St NE Gravette, AR 72736 479-787-5421 CTaylor@ShelterInsurance.com AUTO • HOME • LIFE ® We're your Shield. We're your Shelter. ShelterInsurance.com Chris Taylor 120 Main St NE Gravette, AR 72736 479-787-5421 CTaylor@ShelterInsurance.com AUTO • HOME • LIFE ®

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