Category: Business

Donation Overflow – Hurricane Matthew Contributions Exceed Those For 2010 Earthquake – FFTP

Local charity Food For The Poor has indicated that there has been an outpouring of support from Jamaicans for its efforts to deliver relief to Haitians who were displaced after Hurricane Matthew ravaged the island earlier in the month.

Chairman of Food For The Poor in Jamaica Andrew Mahfood told The Gleaner that the organisation has received $10 million dollars in goods and $5 million dollars in cash from individuals and companies.

“Already, we have received much more this year than we did when Haiti had the big earthquake,” he said, while providing an update on the donation drive launched by the charity after the passage of Hurricane Matthew.

According to Mahfood, the charity is currently preparing containers to be shipped to its offices in Haiti, from which they will be distributed to those most affected by the hurricane.

“I think the most important thing now is water, so we will be shipping out large supplies. We got a large donation of five containers of bottled water from a private-sector company, and we are going to procure more bottled water as well as more tinned food,” he said.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Mahfood also disclosed that a local private-sector company would be providing additional funds to the relief efforts through a campaign that would see the company matching funds through proceeds from the sale of its products.

New York-based Jamaican banker Gerald Wight Jnr, formerly of BCW Capital, is also to provide the charity with a sizable donation through his network with the chairman of Haiti’s only investment bank. Wight yesterday flew into Jamaica to host local private-sector interests and officials of the Haitian bank to kick-start fundraising efforts.

Mahfood further pointed out that Food For The Poor was well placed to lead the relief and recovery efforts as it has been working in Haiti for an extended period and has built numerous homes and schools since it set up operations there. Food For The Poor Haiti also feeds more than 200,000 Haitians each week.

From all indications, it would appear that Food For The Poor has become the de facto organisation for the relief efforts from Jamaica to Haiti. Even the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has been channelling its assistance through the charity. It is for this reason that Mahfood has moved to assure Jamaicans that the charity is a faithful steward of whatever donations it receives.

“My family is associated with Food For The Poor. We have very strong directors on the board, and it’s those kind of people that are part of an organisation that when we say we are going to do something, we do it. So when we say goods are going to leave Jamaica and go to Haiti, if the public wants to see the bills of lading and pictures of the goods being delivered to the people in Haiti, they can because we do this every day in Haiti,” he said.

andre.poyser@gleanerjm.com

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20161020/donation-overflow-hurricane-matthew-contributions-exceed-those-2010

ffp-gleaner-october-20-2016-pg-a2

GraceKennedy Donates To Hurricane-Hit Haiti

don-wehby

Hurricane-ravaged Haiti is to receive a donation valued at over J$2.5 million in non-perishable food items from GraceKennedy Ltd.

This donation is bound for Haiti through Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica, which recently made a public appeal for donations following the direct hit from Hurricane Matthew earlier this week.

Don Wehby, group chief executive officer of Grace-Kennedy Ltd, said that the company responded immediately to appeals for help for Haiti after seeing the extent of the destruction that occurred.

“What I have seen online and heard from Food For The Poor about the situation really breaks my heart. Jamaica escaped this storm, but several countries have really been hit and we all just have to come together and do what we can to bring relief at this time,” Wehby said.

He added: “Hurricane Matthew has again reminded us of how vulnerable our region is to the risk of extreme weather events. A different level or normal will be required of us all as we work out how to plan for these natural disasters, some of which, like Matthew, won’t follow normal or expected patterns.”

Among the items being donated are crates of porridge mixes, corned beef, sausages, mackerel, cheese, beans, juices and water products.

GraceKennedy staff are also planning to collect items of clothing and other essentials to send to Haiti through FFP Jamaica.

 

‘Needs Very Vast’

 

David Mair, executive director for FFP Jamaica, said the needs are so vast that all contributions are welcomed.

“We are touched by GraceKennedy’s response and thank the staff and leadership for this donation. This will help meet the very vast needs that are coming to our attention. While we are aware of the number of lives lost and have seen images of the damage, a full assessment is yet to be made, and so the loss of lives and damage are likely to be so much greater. We continue to be grateful to all Jamaicans who are making every effort to lend a hand at this time,” said Mair.

Other forms of contribution from GraceKennedy’s subsidiaries and partners are also under way.

Hi-Lo Food Stores has set up collection points at its 13 locations and is supporting FFP’s appeal for non-perishable items. All donations will be collected by FFP, which is organising shipment of items to Haiti. FFP’s Haiti office will handle distribution there.

 

 

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20161008/gracekennedy-donates-hurricane-hit-haiti

ASPIRING DOCTOR CELEBRATES AWARD OF CARLTON ALEXANDER BURSARY

encouraging-academic-excellence

Catherine Kennedy (right), Director of the GraceKennedy foundation, presents a Carlton Alexander Memorial Bursary to Peta-Jhay Shelly, student of Immaculate Conception High School. Sharing in the moment is Peta-Jhay’s mom Dionne Henry (left), employee of Dairy Industries Jamaica Limited.

 

 

Describing herself as a hard worker who has lofty ambitions of changing the world through medicine, Peta-Jhay Shelly has continued to make her mother, Dionne Henry, proud. Henry watched happily as her daughter accepted her Carlton Alexander Bursary Award earlier this month from the GraceKennedy Foundation.

Shelly’s consistent excellent academic performance since she was first granted the award in 2010 has merited her continued inclusion as a bursary recipient for six consecutive years.

The Immaculate Conception High School student, who started sixth-form at the prestigious school this month, has many reasons to celebrate.

The aspiring medical doctor recently received excellent results in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations, attaining nine ones in the nine subjects she sat.

“I was excited when I got my results because I continue to outdo my own expectations and I was also very happy to make my mother proud,” the student stated.

Shelly, who is focused on the sciences, was rewarded with a $60,000 bursary for her first year of sixth-form. If she continues to perform at a high standard, she could receive a similar amount in upper six. The Carlton Alexander Bursary Award offers a bursary of $40,000 to students in grades 7 to 11 while there is an increase to $60,000 per year for awardees who are in sixth-form. Students attending tertiary level educational institutions receive an award of $100,000 per annum.

The increase in the bursary has been welcomed with relief by Shelly, given the mounting expenses that come with matriculating into sixth-form at her institution. She sang praises of the Award which is in its 26th year.

“It is a great initiative and has helped my mother a lot over the years especially this year because the books are very expensive and now that I am in sixth form, my school fees have gone up,” explained Shelly who will be pursuing Biology, Chemistry and Spanish in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

The 17-year-old, who says she is not daunted by the expected challenge that sixth-form will present, is optimistic about matching her performance at the CSEC level in CAPE.

“I just want to stay focused and hope that I can come out of lower sixth with straight ones,” said Shelly.

GRACE FOODS RECALLS SPECIFIC BATCHES OF CURRY PRODUCTS

GraceKennedy Limited has announced the recall of the following batches of its curry products in keeping with a recall by a former supplier, Miami-based Oriental Packing Company, Inc.:

Product Net Weight Best Before Date & Batch Number
Grace Mild Jamaican Style Curry Powder – in glass container 2 oz BB 03/11/19   OPCLOT # 030716

BB 03/28/19   OPCLOT # 032516
Grace Mild Jamaican Style Curry Powder –

in glass container

 6 oz BB 03/11/19  OPCLOT # 030716
Grace Hot Jamaican Style Curry Powder – in glass container

 

 2 oz BB 03/11/19  OPCLOT # 030716

 

BB 03/28/19  OPCLOT # 032516
Grace Hot Jamaican Style Curry Powder – in glass container 6 oz BB 03/11/19  OPCLOT # 030716

 

BB 04/11/19  OPCLOT # 040816
Grace Caribbean Tradition Hot Curry Powder – in plastic container 4 oz BB 12/14/19  OPCLOT # 121115

 

BB 12/14/19  OPCLOT # 120115

 

BB 03/11/19  OPCLOT # 030716

 

BB 03/28/19  OPCLOT # 032516

 

BB 04/11/19  OPCLOT # 040816

 

The products being recalled are packaged in the USA and distributed within the USA, Bermuda and the Bahamas.

 

The recall has been initiated due to the presence of lead in some variants of curry products which Oriental Packing Company, Inc. produced for GraceKennedy Foods (USA) and other companies.

 

Lead can accumulate in the body over time, and may cause serious and sometimes permanent adverse health consequences.    To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the products being recalled.

 

Consumers who may have purchased the Grace Curry products bearing the above best before dates and corresponding batch numbers, should not consume them.  Instead they should return same to point of purchase, where the full cost will be refunded. The best before dates and batch numbers can be found on the top of the product caps.

 

Mr Ryan Mack, President and CEO of GraceKennedy Foods (USA), stated that “GraceKennedy wishes to assure consumers that their safety is paramount and that providing safe, high quality products to our consumers remains our number one priority.”  He added that the recall did not include any other batches of Grace Curry products.

 

Consumers in the USA with questions pertaining to the recall may contact Linda Colon at GraceKennedy Foods (USA) at (201) 329-6260 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. Consumers in the Bahamas and Bermuda may contact Steve Boucher at (954)774-2687. Questions may also be sent via email to  gracekennedy@gkco.com.

 

FIGHT SPORTS LAUNCHES ON DIGICEL PLAY

Digicel Play is taking the fight to the cable TV market with the news that the 24/7 linear channel FIGHT SPORTS will be joining the Digicel Play family on an exclusive basis.

 

The FIGHT SPORTS network is driven by live events, Championship bouts, news, tournaments in all styles of fighting, plus lifestyle, reality, documentary and other fight-related original programming.

 

Particular highlights are LIVE World Title Championship Boxing, LIVE MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), LIVE World Championship Kickboxing, and LIVE Martial Arts, as well as exclusive original series MMA:30 and Wide World Fights, and a top shelf selection of Mega Fights™ featuring the sport’s greatest competitors including Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Lennox Lewis, Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson, and Canelo Alvarez.

 

Digicel Play is a new frontier in home entertainment, giving customers the power to have their entertainment and access to the internet the way they want it. It is jam-packed with cool features, making it the most attractive home entertainment experience around. As the only true fibre to the home network, Digicel Play turns homes into the ultimate entertainment zones and delivers TV, superfast broadband and telephony, coupled with the best channel and content line-up and the best viewing experience.

 

john-suranyi-digicel-play-dec4John Suranyi, CEO of Digicel Play Caribbean and Central America, commented; “We are single-minded in our determination to bring the best of the best to our customers. When it comes to TV content, Digicel Play is second to none. FIGHT SPORTS adds another exciting dimension to our already compelling sports line-up and we know our customers are going to get a real kick out of it.”

 

“After years of syndicating our series in the region, we are looking forward to creating a new home for all of our current and future FIGHT SPORTS fans!” said Co-CEO Craig Miele.  “We are encouraged to see the growing interest in our business around the world.  From Europe to Asia and now throughout the Caribbean, our distribution continues to grow at an amazing pace with even more announcements to come,” said Co-CEO Richard Miele.

 

GraceKennedy Money Services Continues its Caribbean Expansion into the Turks & Caicos Islands

GKMS

GraceKennedy has announced that effective today, GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) will be expanding operations into the Turks and Caicos Islands through GraceKennedy Money Services Turks & Caicos Limited (“GKMS Turks & Caicos”). GKMS is a member of the GraceKennedy Group and authorized agent of Western Union.

With this new market, GraceKennedy through GKMS, now serves as Western Union’s agent in eleven countries across the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands and the most recent addition, the Cayman Islands in November 2015.

According to GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby, “As we mark our 25th year of

Don-Wehby-3
Don Wehby, CEO, GraceKennedy Group

representing Western Union in the region, we are pleased to offer Western Union services in the Turks & Caicos Islands. This expansion is aligned with GraceKennedy’s strategic vision of becoming a Global Consumer Group delivering long term consumer and shareholder value, through brand building and innovative solutions in food and financial services, provided by highly skilled and motivated people. With two and a half decades of expertise in the money services industry, we look forward to meeting the needs of customers in the Turks & Caicos Islands.”  Mr Wehby is also Chairman of GraceKennedy Money Services Caribbean, SRL.

 

 

Michelle Allen
Michelle Allen, CEO, GraceKennedy Money Services

 

 

According to Michelle Allen, Chief Executive Officer of GKMS, “We are excited to offer customers in the Turks and Caicos Islands Western Union services.  We are committed to providing our customers throughout the region with reliable, convenient and innovative money transfer solutions.”

 

 

 

She continued, “We will also continue our investment in robust compliance systems, which are critical to our business, allowing us to protect our customers while meeting all regulatory requirements.”

GKMS Turks & Caicos will initially have one operating location, ‘Your Choice TCI’, located at Payless Warehouse Limited, 7 Hospital Road in Providenciales.  The company plans to add more locations over time.  ‘Your Choice TCI‘  will open Mondays to Saturdays from    9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Over the past 25 years, GraceKennedy Money Services has delivered a wide range of Western Union products and services aimed at enhancing customer convenience and experience. These include the ability to receive and send international and domestic money transfer services for a loyal customer base.

 

GRACEKENNEDY FOODS JAMAICA SHOWS STRONG GROWTH FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2015

GraceKennedy Foods is reporting that its Foods segment in Jamaica has seen significant growth for the nine months ended September 30, over prior year. Areas specifically highlighted for mention included the company’s manufacturing and retail (Hi-Lo) segments, as well as Grace Foods & Services through its major consumer promotion for 2015.

“We refer to GK Foods – Jamaica, as the fortress of our business. This is where it all began and so we are firmly committed to ensuring that the fortress not only stands strong but continues to grow,” said GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby. He continued, “It is a fiercely competitive environment, but we have the right people in the right places, who are executing well on our strategy and we are seeing the results.”  Mr Wehby added that the focus for 2015 and beyond was to win the hearts and minds of customers, through great people. “Re-engaging our customers is a consistently high priority and we continue to work at this every day, because we know without our valued customers, we have no business,” he said.

 

GraceKennedy’s recently released third quarter results showed that the Food Trading segment  had revenue growth of 17% over the corresponding period last year. The company saw significant positive impact of its “Grace on the Move” promotional campaign in Jamaica.

 

The Group CEO also spoke to the strength of GK Foods Jamaica’s manufacturing arm, which was boosted by strong demand for products manufactured in Jamaica, efficiency gains, yield improvements and favourable commodity prices. All these factors combined resulted in higher profits when compared to prior year.

 

Grace Agro Processors (GAP), the company’s processing plant in Hounslow, St Elizabeth has been performing well despite the challenge of severe drought this year. As at the end of September, GAP had exported 38 metric tonnes of pepper mash. According to Mr Wehby, the 2016 outlook for GAP’s export business was expected to grow significantly, which would directly benefit local farmers with whom GAP partners.

 

“We are also very happy with what we have seen happening in our Hi-Lo stores,” said Mr Wehby. He noted the investment made in the chain through renovations completed in its Barbican and Manor Park Stores to the tune of J$265M. As a result of those investments, says Mr Wehby, Hi-Lo continues to deliver improved results not only in the renovated stores, but across the chain. Customer feedback has been very positive, he noted. The total amount to be invested by GraceKennedy for further Hi-Lo store renovations is J$1B.

 

“We’re looking forward to the Christmas season, as we know how popular our Grace hams are, and we believe that’s an area we will do really well in. Our aim is to finish the year by sustaining the strong performance and growth we have seen so far,” said Mr Wehby.