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For both Rouses and Sanderson Farms, “local” and “family” are more than sales pitches. Local companies mean local jobs, not only for those directly employed, but also for area suppliers, and the local startups that only local companies tend to take risks on.

For both Rouses and Sanderson Farms, “local” and “family” are more than sales pitches. Local companies mean local jobs, not only for those directly employed, but also for area suppliers, and the local startups that only local companies tend to take risks on. Last year, the company employed 18,000 people. The Sanderson Farms commitment to the local community extends beyond the payroll, however. “If we have a processing plant in Hammond, Louisiana, some of our growers may be in McComb, Mississippi or on the outskirts, and we support those local areas as well.”

in the aftermath of storms, she says, “we’re one of the first ones in with ice and trucks and boxes of chicken.” She adds, “It’s just the culture of our com- pany. The Gulf South is where we originated, and where we live and work. And we are so excited to be at Rouses.”

Both companies are also known for giving back to the community, as the Gulf Coast sees firsthand every hurricane season. Rouses always endeavor to be the last stores to close and the first to open for communi ties after hurricanes and storms, and has always given away truckloads of water and ice and food at locations right after the storm. Sanderson Farms is out there as well, feeding their communities. Says Burroughs: “We don’t seek glory for doing the right thing. We just do the right thing, the responsible thing, especially in times of great need.” Especially

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