To say the Clarion Locker has been busy lately is an understatement. They are still booked out for over a year. They are always looking for more help and are working like crazy. On top of all that, they are undertaking a big project – a significant expansion.
Manie and Elmarie Nel have owned the Clarion Locker since 2009. They said that just a decade ago, they really couldn’t have imagined that their business would be booming to the level it is now. Over the years, Elmarie said that while it has been wonderful to have a growing business, they did start to outgrow their space. “Our freezer has always been our bottleneck,” she said. “We just don’t have enough space in there.”
With that in mind, an opportunity presented itself. They saw a chance to grow. Consequently, they acquired part of the building right to the north of their current location. The space was formally home to Allen Printing. Now, the Nels could not be more excited for what the new space will allow them to do.
Elmarie explained their plan for their new and current buildings. They have already begun connecting the buildings by adding a bridge between the two. They will also be doubling their freezer space and expanding their cooler by 25%. The new space will also accommodate another loading dock and better employee break room.
The Nels said that once the expansion project is completed, they will also be capable of adding another slaughter day which will increase their intake for more processing. Regardless of how busy they are, Elmarie said, “We always hate to turn people away.”
Another thing the Nels are excited about is the Rollstock machine that they have ordered. This is a fancy contraption used to package food products efficiently and quickly. Elmarie explained this will significantly increase their packaging capacity. “We will be able to do a lot more third-party packaging,” she said. In the more distant future, Elmarie said they could see using the new building space for their store front but will still be using the current store for now.
With all these new possibilities, the Nels say they are in need of more great help than ever. To that end, they are excited to announce an opportunity made possible due to a grant they recently received through the state-funded Future Ready Iowa program. The program funds internships primarily in high-demand career fields in order to build Iowa’s talent pipeline.
With the grant funds, the Clarion Locker will be offering two paid internships this summer. People under the age of 19 are eligible. Elmarie said those chosen will work at the locker throughout the summer, normal weekday hours. She added that it will be a great opportunity for the interns to not only learn about meat processing, but also about small business operation. And considering they are in need of full-time help at the locker as well, she also said the internship could easily turn into a permanent position for the right individuals.
People interested in the intern positions are encouraged stop by the Locker in Clarion as soon as possible for more information and to apply. Per the rules of the grant, the internship could start in early May.
Between the possibility of new interns and their expansion, the Nels and the Clarion Locker have a lot on their plate. They look forward to the changes and additions to their business, even as they continue to provide their customers great quality meat products for their plates.
