Coleridge – Buresh Meats, originally a family-owned catering business, is expanding its footprint with a new retail store in Coleridge, enhancing its established presence in Nebraska. Founders Scott and Andrew Buresh initiated the retail venture in March 2019, leveraging their experiences from the catering side of the business. Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Buresh Meats managed to thrive, attracting customers from neighboring communities and states with its high-quality meat products.
The burgeoning business now boasts a main store located on Highway 15, north of David City, along with a Columbus location that opened in August 2021. Scott Buresh credits his seven children as the driving force behind the business's growth. “The boys just kind of ran with it, watered it and took it forward,” Buresh said.
Looking to extend its reach further, Buresh Meats plans to launch its third location in Coleridge in 2025. The new retail operation will feature similar offerings as its other locations, focusing on beef, chicken, pork, and seafood. Alongside these products, shoppers can expect a variety of appetizers, sauces, seasonings, and dairy options like milk and cheese. The flexibility of the inventory will allow customers to purchase items for immediate meals or to stock up their freezers.
Scott Buresh believes the Coleridge location is a strategic choice that will benefit both local residents and the growing Buresh family business. He noted, “We decided to take a look at it and decided this is a building that we can make work.” Also, he acknowledged that many individuals in the area are already familiar with Buresh Meats, having previously shopped at their stores.
The Buresh family attributes their success not only to a robust business model but also to their Catholic faith. This foundational belief system drives their commitment to quality products at reasonable prices. Buresh stated, “We keep running that format and keeping our prices as low as we can and still remain profitable as a business to reach more people.”
Since its establishment, the company has successfully sourced a wider variety of products directly from suppliers across the United States. By working closely with slaughterhouses, Buresh Meats has been able to lower costs significantly, effectively maintaining competitive pricing in an ever-changing market.
“We found quite a few businesses to work with us on their products and have been able to buy in large quantities to supply the varied needs of our customers,” Buresh explained. Their substantial purchasing power has captured the attention of additional companies seeking to distribute their products through Buresh Meats.
Community engagement remains a vital part of their business strategy. Buresh remarked, “It’s quality products at a fair price and good customer service.” To disseminate information about their offerings, the company relies on word of mouth and active social media engagement. Random giveaways and posts about new products help to keep customers involved and informed.
The Buresh family's journey has been one of learning and adaptation. Each co-owner brings a unique skill set that empowers the business's daily operations. “We’re going to try to make it as simple as we can with the system that we put in place,” Buresh stated regarding future expansions and operational consistency across all locations.
As the Buresh Meats team looks to the future, Scott Buresh expressed gratitude for the hard work his children have contributed to the business, calling them “the future of the business.” He emphasized their commitment to providing quality service and products: “We’re here to do whatever we can to assist in making the business flow and run as best as possible and continue to serve our customers and to grow.”
With plans for the Coleridge expansion underway, the Buresh family is poised to continue its legacy of quality and community commitment, thrilled at the prospect of serving more customers in Northern Nebraska.
