NEW ON THE BUSINESS SCENE: HEAVENLY HAM TO OPEN

Heavenly Ham, which specializes in baked, spiral-sliced and honey-spiced hams and smoked turkeys, will open this week at 3443 William, Suite A.

The business also will offer fully-cooked barbecue ribs, specialty bacon, a number of condiments and a variety of side dishes.

The local franchise is owned and managed by Kenny and Laura Ritter of Cape Girardeau.

Heavenly Ham, a nationwide business franchised by Paradise Foods Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, has 122 stores in 33 states. The Cape Girardeau store is only the second in Missouri.

The new business will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

"We make it easy for consumers to put the finishing touches on any meal, by providing a variety of fresh-baked breads and gourmet cookies, assorted specialty condiments, soup mixes and free recipes," said Laura Ritter.

In addition, Heavenly Ham offers a box lunch for one and/or a "party platter."

The lunch includes a choice of ham, turkey, ham salad or turkey salad sandwiches, with a side dish choice of potato salad, slaw, pasta salad or potato chips, a gourmet cookie and soft drink.

"Our party platters are available in a number of sizes, for holiday celebrations, office parties or general entertaining," said Ritter, who added that the store will also ship Heavenly Ham products throughout the U.S.

Heavenly Ham was founded in 1985 by Hutch Hodgson, who purchased 50 percent of a year-old Hilton Head Island, S.C., specialty ham franchise company. Four years later, Hodgson obtained the remaining 50 percent of stock to gain control of the company. Today, three working partners now own a minority interest in the company.

Hodgson is president and director of the company; James M. Cook IV is senior vice president, secretary and director; Wade H. Brannon Jr. is vice president and assistant secretary and Kenneth B. Caldwell is vice president and national sales manager.