Business notebook: Central alum launches growing brand of beef jerky

After spending countless hours working at a convenience store, Matt Edwards finally figured out what was missing.

"There's not many options" if you are looking for something quick but healthy to eat on the go, the Cape Girardeau native said.

"Protein bars are loaded with calories and whatnot," he said. "I eat those, (but) I just couldn't do it anymore."

Edwards also said he never cared for certain brands of beef jerky.

"You stare at those shelves long enough, you realize, 'Hey, what if I created a soft, moist and tender type of jerky? Would other people want it?'" Edwards said.

And Moab Jerky was born.

The jerky is the first product from Edwards' company, Krave Primal Co. It is made from eye of round and is cross-cut against the grain, Edwards said. Once it's cut, it is marinated for 24 hours, then slow-smoked.

"I mean, it's a process to create this stuff," Edwards said.

It is available in several flavors, including teriyaki and spicy Cajun. Edwards said a cranberry chipotle flavor is in the works, as is a jerky trail mix that will include nuts, sunflower seeds and other ingredients.

Moab Jerky is available locally at Schnucks and Huck's in Cape Girardeau and MotoMart in Perryville, Missouri.

Edwards, a 2003 Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate who lives in St. Louis, said he originally planned to be a local business but said he already has expanded to eight states.

By the end of November, the product is projected to be available at more than 300 retailers.

That's big growth for a company that launched in April.

"I'm just getting warmed up," Edwards said.

SEMO to offer training for veterans

Southeast Missouri State University will hold a one-day entrepreneurial education program called "Boots to Business: Reboot" for veterans and their spouses.

The program will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Small Business and Technology Development Center in the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, according to a news release from the university.

The program will take participants through key steps for evaluating business concepts and knowledge to develop a business plan, the release said.

Participants also will be introduced to resources that can help them access startup capital.

Lunch will be provided. Registration is required by Oct. 30. To register, visit innovationMIC.org/trainings/boots.

Verizon improving network in region

Verizon is improving its network in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

The company has announced it has made improvements to existing XLTE and 4G LTE networks, including the addition of continuous Advanced Wireless Services spectrum, new cell sites and antenna improvements, according to a news release from Verizon.

Retailers look ahead at holiday shipping

Just in time for the winter holiday shopping season, Amazon, Wal-Mart, Macy's and other retailers are working behind the scenes to make sure they can deliver online orders to shoppers faster, the Associated Press reported.

Retailers are building bigger warehouses to handle shipments, sending orders to shoppers directly from their stores and using sophisticated software that tells them the quickest, cheapest way to get orders shipped.

And Amazon is cutting the time it takes to process an order from hours to minutes by using robots to pull items for shipment in its warehouses.

U.S. online sales are expected to increase 12 percent to $371 billion this year, accounting for 10 percent of overall retail sales, according to Forrester Research.

But as online shopping grows, so does the impatience of shoppers who want their orders fast.

kwebster@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3646