Local businesses celebrated at Sanpete Chamber of Commerce Best of Business Gala

ByM.T. Moore
Sarah and Jason Mardell accept two awards, including Business of the Year, from the Sanpete Chamber of Commerce during their Best of Business Gala. Photo by M.T. Moore.
Roxy Johnson (right) accepts the Innovation Award during the Sanpete Chamber of Commerce Best of Business Gala. With her is Faylyn Warnick, chamber president. Photo by M.T. Moore.

EPHRAIM—Mardell Kitchens dominated the Sanpete County Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Best of Business Gala, walking away with both the Fastest Growing Business award and Business of the Year honors at the Noyes Building on Tuesday Jan. 13.
The gala, now in its second year, brought together business owners, community leaders and residents to celebrate the companies and individuals driving Sanpete County’s economy forward. Snow College catered the evening, while a raffle for Traeger grill benefited the Sanpete Pantry.
Mardell Kitchens, owned by Jason and Sarah Mardell, has grown from a single deli in Fairview to five restaurants across Sanpete County.
Jason Mardell’s family roots run deep in the area; his fourth great-grandfather James Tillman Sanford Allred founded Spring City. The company recently received a $50,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to restore the exterior of their Corner Station Deli, housed in a building that served as Reece’s Service Station in the 1920s.
Keynote speaker Dale Lewis delivered a presentation titled “How Not to Suck at Business,” blending humor with practical advice that kept the crowd engaged throughout the evening.
Soapcreek Manufacturing claimed the Innovation Award for the second consecutive year. The Ephraim-based company produces over 25 percent of all shampoo and conditioner bars manufactured in the United States, partnering with national brands including Crate & Barrel and Kroger’s Simple Truth line.
Mid-Utah Radio received the Pioneer in Business Award, recognizing the locally owned station’s decades of service to central Utah communities.
The Sanpete Pantry earned the Community Impact Award for its work fighting food insecurity across the county.
Other 2025 winners included Das Café for Best Customer Service, Haley Berry Real Estate for Best Social Media, Harvest Grill as Best Business Start Up of the Year, CentraCom for Employee Culture Excellence, Snow College for Best Website, Charlee’s Comfort Kitchen for Collaborative Spirit, and Dream Acre Flowers for the Green Business award.
The Chamber was launched in late 2023 with $15,000 in seed funding from the Sanpete County Commission. The organization has since grown to host ribbon cuttings, networking events and initiatives like the annual Small Business Season Christmas campaign.
Sponsors of the gala included Ephraim Crossing, Majesty Group Real Estate, Mountain America Credit Union, Sanpete Dumpsters, CentraCom and Aspen Leaf Realty. All nominees and winners were selected by community members and Chamber members.