GROW Nebraska® Foundation and Buy Nebraska Blog

Six years ago, Andrew Vrbas was a budget-strapped college student making soap in his college apartment. He had an idea for a business that would help change the lives of people around the world. After just five years in business, his Pacha Soap Co™ enterprise is already doing that. The business that he and his wife, Abi, started in Hastings in 2013 has donated 3.4 million bars of soap to people in developing countries, has created 256 jobs in Nebraska and around the world, has provided 74,078 children with hand-washing education and has created wells to provide 4,000 people with clean water. And in 2017, Whole Foods honored Pacha Soap with its 2017 Supplier of the Year award. It all started with Andrew’s 2010 trip to Peru. “As a junior in college, I didn’t know that a trip to volunteer for others would ignite a life change in me,” Andrew said. “My trip took me to Peru, South America, to volunteer at a local school and then later on, a local constructio...

Cheryl Hughes has loved eating popcorn since she was a little girl, especially caramel corn. When she learned that her favorite popcorn snack shop at Kearney’s Hilltop Mall would be closing in 2000, she decided to take action. “My initial goal was to continue to offer caramel popcorn to the area,” Cheryl said. Nearly 20 years later, Cheryl and Gary Hughes’ HR Poppin’ Snacks Gourmet Popcorn pops more than 20,000 pounds of popcorn seeds annually from their production shop in Gibbon. They sell their popcorn in more than 135 flavors at stores around the country. Their stellar customer service, high-quality round popcorn and willingness to share and give back have helped them become a rural Nebraska success story. “I am able to help people a lot through this business,” Cheryl said. “You wouldn’t think that selling popcorn would allow you to do that.” Gary and Cheryl Hughes Starting a popcorn business When the Munchville snack shop owner announced he was closing his Hillto...