JDog Junk RemovalA military veteran has chosen southwest Missouri to plant his national junk removal franchise operation, while continuing to perform civilian contract work in the Middle East. Franchisee
Roy Birdwell opened JDog Junk Removal on Sept. 6 to serve in a 35-mile radius of Springfield. He hired fellow Army veteran
Drew Biernacki to run the business after the two met while contracted in Bagram, Afghanistan, outside of Kabul. Founded in 2011 by Army veteran
Jerry Flanagan, JDog Junk Removal sorts, hauls, recycles and discards trash from residential and commercial sites. Biernacki, who works from his Clever home, said pick-up fees are $350 for a full trailer and $175 for half, with military, EMS and fire discounts offered. Birdwell plans to open a second JDog Junk Removal operation in his hometown of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. Phone: (417) 849-9108. Web:
JDogJunkRemoval.comBranco Construction Inc. After 81 years in business, Neosho-based Branco Construction Inc. added its second office. The regional contractor opened July 28 in Springfield at 1525 E. Republic Road, Ste. A-125, in Kensington Place.
Sean Thouvenot, vice president of field operations, said after decades of working out of job sites in the market, it was time to establish a formal office. “We’ve got some project managers who live up this way, and we could better serve our customers,” he said. Staffed by four employees, including Business Development Director
G.R. Stovall, who left J.E. Dunn Construction in April, the office is responsible for most jobs east of Mount Vernon, Thouvenot said. Crews currently are working on a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on South Campbell Avenue, clean water facilities for Springfield Public Works and school projects in Nixa. Hours: 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone: (417) 887-1166. Web:
Branco.comMarket Fresh Produce LLCNixa-based Market Fresh Produce LLC on Aug. 22 closed on the purchase of the former home of Harlin Fruit Co. in Monett for an undisclosed amount from owner
Jerry Sutton. Harlin Fruit, 602 N. 17th St. in Monett, closed in May as Sutton liquidated its assets and held an auction in preparation for retirement. The deal with Market Fresh also included customer data.
Mark Stratton, the human resources director for Market Fresh, said the newly rebranded Market Fresh facility would initially employ up to 20 people. Market Fresh currently employs 55, including 16 at its administrative office in Nixa. Market Fresh, a $50 million business that ships produce to food service companies in 42 states, plans to turn the Monett facility into a repackaging center for tomatoes and to distribute potatoes, onions, peppers, avocados and kiwis in an eight-hour radius. Hours: 7:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and as needed on Saturday. Phone: (866) 855-7751. Web:
MarketFreshProduce.netSend new business info to sbj@sbj.net.
