Meet: Jadon Foods:

Safety first when it comes to feeding customers

Amanda Coatney flattens gluten-free cookie dough at Jadon Foods, 4343 N. Rancho Drive, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Jadon Foods is a gluten-free bakery that also specializes in diabetic-friendly and dairy-free baked goods.

Jadon Foods

Jane Lee, owner and president of Jadon Foods, poses at the bakery, 4343 N. Rancho Drive, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Jadon Foods is a gluten-free bakery that also specializes in diabetic-friendly and dairy-free baked goods. Launch slideshow »

Name of business: Jadon Foods

Address: 4343 N. Rancho Drive #120, Las Vegas, NV 89130

Phone: 949-6168, ext. 1

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.jadonfoods.com

Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday

Owned by: Jane Lee

In business since: 2008

Describe your business.

Jadon Foods is a woman-owned, minority-owned, small baked goods manufacturer specializing in cookies and snacks for those with dietary challenges. Our product lines include gluten-free, dairy-free, diabetic-friendly and combinations of all three.

We will be launching a bread line in the coming weeks, offering quick breads and rolls before moving into pizza dough and more.

We believe in supporting Nevada’s economy and strive to do business with as many local suppliers as possible. As a result, we are able to offer a variety of items within our shop that expand beyond our own product line. Each keeps within the dietary requirements we support.

Coming soon, look for our allergen-friendly products made without soy, corn, gluten, nuts, eggs, dairy, fish or shellfish.

Who are your customers?

Our customers range from individuals to institutions. We recently were awarded the gluten-free baked goods contract for the Clark County School District.

Some of our corporate customers include MGM Resorts International, Freed’s Bakery, NV Energy, Citibank and Wells Fargo. Our products can be found in employee cafeterias, customer appreciation gifts, employee recognition awards, employee benefits programs, retail shops, vending machines, community outreach promotional items and more.

What makes your business unique?

At Jadon Foods, we are able to customize products and recipes to meet specific needs. For example, if you want a chocolate cake but are unable to consume dairy, gluten or eggs, we can tailor a recipe to meet your needs.

That makes us a valuable partner to dieticians and nutritionists who seek high-fiber, low-cholesterol options, as well as elite athletes who seek specialty products to assist muscle recovery and endurance.

On the design side of the business, we are able to offer private-labeled gifts to help further the brand of our customer. Our loyalty programs allow customers to recognize their clients in unique ways.

With the number of households seeking gluten-free products on the rise, being able to provide healthier gift options shows proactive awareness.

We actively seek strategic alliances with local businesses, believing that each of us can make a difference in the economic recovery of our community, state and nation. This has allowed us not only to broaden our product offerings, but also to provide the very best quality as we partner with artisans recognized within their fields.

What is your business philosophy?

Treat our customers, no matter how large or small, the way we would want to be treated. We operate with transparency and believe our values are reflected in the way we handle ourselves.

What’s the most important part of your job?

Safety is our brand promise and is the single most important aspect of everything we do. We take great measures to protect the integrity of our products so that when our customers eat our cookies or snacks, they know it is safe for their dietary challenge.

What is the hardest part about doing business in Las Vegas?

Navigating administrative requirements. To the credit of our lawmakers, measures are being taken to streamline processes.

What is the best part about doing business in Las Vegas?

Las Vegas has many facets: it is a tourist destination, a community where families are raised and a city that is known globally with fondness. It offers local businesses the opportunity to expand and grow in a number of ways to take advantage of these strengths.

What obstacles has your business overcome?

Small businesses in general face myriad challenges. But it is through this process that we become battle tested and grounded in our approach.

Access to funding, marketing, brand awareness, cultivating a desire for your products, introduction to appropriate individuals/departments/buyers, finding resources — all have been barriers at one time. These are expected challenges.

How can Nevada improve its business climate?

Nevada can improve its business climate by making it easier for small businesses to launch and remain in business. That means reducing or consolidating administrative requirements across jurisdictions and showing a preference for local businesses over larger, out-of-state competitors.

What have you learned from the recession?

The recession has taught us to find ways to innovate, be creative and be prepared to take advantage of opportunity when it presents itself.

We have access to a labor pool that otherwise would have been unaffordable several years ago. Support programs exist today to help guide and reward companies who are on the cusp of success. Resources, while significantly pared down, remain available and serve as critical guides in overcoming challenges.

Most importantly, the recession has taught us the importance of persistence. Persistence reaffirms your own resiliency and the direction in which you navigate your business.

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