b'called StartSmart being offered in Columbus. It was about a six-weekDuring the process, Margaret and Neal considered the course, and when we walked out of the last class, I felt we were thenpackaging from the consumers perspective. The new 6 oz. truly partners. box contains two packs of cheese straws, so consumers can open one package and save the other for later. That summer, Neal and Margaret attended their first wholesale gift show in Atlanta, and Southern Straws was officially off the ground andMargaret says they wanted a fresh and unique look that running. Under the new mother and son partnership, Southern Strawsrepresented the boutiques and shops that carry Southern has expanded its reach from a handful of shops in 2011 to more thanStraws. 300 boutiques, wine shops, resorts, and specialty grocery stores. Now in their fifth year as a team, Neal and Margaret are often Neal and Margaret produce the cheese straws in a custom-built kitchenasked about working together. in midtown Columbus. They offer three flavors of cheese straws: Original, Spicy, and Mild. True to cheese straw tradition, the Original hasOur strengths balance each other, with Neal being the just a little kick, Spicy provides more heat, and Mild is for those whostrategic leader, while I ensure that the details arent lost in the enjoy a cheesy wafer without the heat.process, says Margaret. Weve had our moments of conflict, but we both have the same vision of growing Southern Straws As the company continues to grow, the team remains true to its roots.to whatever level its meant to be, and we usually are laughing They hand-craft the cheese straws with fresh, premium ingredientsabout our spats a few days later. I cant get that mad at him; and cut them into bite-sized wafers that are packed with flavor andhes my son. cooked to crisp perfection. With a team of three employees, in addition to Margaret and Neal, they bake, pack and ship the cheese straws fromAsked about the future of the company, Margaret points Columbus. to Neal and says, Hes 29, and there is a tremendous opportunity for growth for Southern Straws when youve got This year, the company embarked on a rebranding of its packaging.a young, dedicated entrepreneur as your partner. I just get excited thinking about whats ahead.24 SG MAGAZINE| FALL 2019 BUSINESS + CULTURE25'