History of VeryVera

From the very beginning as founder of Vera & Company, a home-based catering business begun in her home kitchen in 1984, Vera Stewart believed that where there’s a will, there’s a way. Today, as President and CEO of VeryVera, a privately held company with divisions in catering, gourmet-to-go, mail order confections and Vera’s Café, Vera’s success is still best summarized by her company motto, “It will get done!”

A Family and Consumer Sciences graduate of the University of Georgia, Vera has cultivated a talent for preparation and presentation that has brought both success and recognition to her catering business since the 1980s. However, as the local economy began slowing in the early 1990s, Vera began looking for new ways to grow and diversify. To that end, she launched VeryVera in 1993, a mail order subsidiary of Vera & Company specializing in homemade baked goods. Incorporating recipes passed down by her grandmother, Vera Wingfield, Vera created a new niche in the gourmet mail order market by offering “homemade cakes, like your grandmother made.” Featuring fresh ingredients and old-fashioned cooked icing, her product line includes traditional Southern sweets such as pound and layer cakes, pecan sandies and savory classics such as cheese straws.

A perfectionist in every detail, from selection of ingredients and product packaging to customer service and shipping, Vera’s steadfast vision has resulted in a loyal customer following that now extends from coast to coast. The contents of this press kit will show the national exposure in print and media that VeryVera has experienced. Although VeryVera products are homemade, it is to Vera’s credit that nothing else about the company is old-fashioned. Recognizing the marketing possibilities inherent to the Internet, Vera created and launched her first Website in 1996, at a time when E-commerce was largely in its infancy. Her current site is intriguing and is updated on a monthly basis and has won several local Addy Awards. Vera’s latest venture was the introduction of Vera’s Café, which opened in October 2002, offering local customers a trip to “Granny’s Kitchen” with delicious sandwiches, soups and desserts.

A member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the National Caterer’s Association and the Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association, Vera Stewart was named 1997 Small Business Person of the Year by the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce. As both innovator and businesswoman, Vera continues to create and seek new opportunities for her company. Vera Stewart can be reached at 1.800.500.VERA or at vstewart@veryvera.com.


During the course of our history, we have received numerous awards and recognition:

1988

Professional Organizations

Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce
Coordinator- Small Business Roundtable 1997-98, 1996-97
Member – Small Business Roundtable 1995-96
Member Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association
Member National Federation of Independent Businesses
Have had a letter published in their national magazine
Member National Caterer’s Association