From making sauces in a shed to owning a facility in Centralia, Country Bob’s has been in business for 57 years! The creator of the famous all-purpose sauce, Bob Edson also known as “Country Bob,” crafted his sauce in his shed in Mt. Vernon and sold it at Sharps Food Market.

Albert Malekovic, the CFO and co-owner of Country Bob’s, took over the business with his cousins five years ago. Country Bob’s is a three-generation, family-owned, and Christian-based company. Albert gave us a tour of the facility, showcasing how their sauces are made. We walked through the area where they produce custom bottles using a machine that can create four to seven bottles at a time. We also visited the section where the bottles are filled and labeled, all while enjoying the soothing background of meditation music.

Over the years, Country Bob’s has successfully placed its products in Sam’s Clubs, independent retailers, and 2,000 Walmart stores. Not only do they make their own sauces in Centralia, but they also produce sauces for other companies. From their signature all-purpose sauce, their product line has expanded to include 12 additional sauces, further diversifying their offerings. Their latest additions are the delicious wing sauces!

Country Bob’s has only one building and it is proudly located in Jefferson Country, whose reach covers all over the country. The CEO students greatly appreciated the time Albert took to share about his family business, he was generous enough to send each student home with a product of their choosing!

✍️Post content written by CEO student Alisa Pak