Tag: don wehby

Photo: Alia Atkinson pays courtesy call on GraceKennedy

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Jamaica’s swimming sensation and GraceKennedy Brand Ambassador Alia Atkinson has been occupied this festive season with visiting organisations that have supported her, and expressing her gratitude. Among these was GraceKennedy (GK) Group, whose headquarters she visited in downtown Kingston on Monday, December 19. There she spent quality time with Don Wehby, CEO, GraceKennedy Group, and the staff members. Here, as part of her visit, Wehby shows her a photograph he still cherishes which includes him, Atkinson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, another GK brand ambassador.

GraceKennedy 94th Anniversary Week of Celebrations Ends on a High Note

Sister Sledge’s ‘We Are Family’ was the closing number for the Crowning of GK’s Karaoke Kings and Queens held at GK’s head office on Friday February 19.  The song, delivered in energetic karaoke style, was delivered by a group of GK employees in a spirit of true camaraderie and fun, closing out a week of activities commemorating GraceKennedy’s 94th Anniversary on February 14.

The highly-entertaining karaoke competition saw many hopefuls with talent, bravado and confidence, vying for the grand prize of $9,400.00 each.   At the end of the day, Randy Anderson and Kelly McIntosh, both of GK Foods Supply Chain Unit, were crowned the winners.

In mid karaoke session, GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby cut the company’s Anniversary cake with Anicee Gray-Brown of GK Foods Central, who joined GK in 1994.

The week started on Monday, February 15, with an outside broadcast of RJR 94FM’s Jamaican Morning with hosts Allan Magnus and Paula-Ann Porter Jones.  In his interview, Mr Wehby spoke to the growth of GraceKennedy over the years, the Group’s global expansion while continually supporting Jamaica’s development, and the continued commitment to downtown Kingston including the construction of a new Corporate HQ, which coincidentally started that same day.

 

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GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby (right) discusses his company’s 94th anniversary with Allan Magnus (left) and Paula-Ann Porter Jones, hosts of RJR 94FM’s Jamaican Morning during an outside broadcast on February 15, 2016

 

On Wednesday February 17, approximately 60 GK employees took to the waterfront in downtown Kingston for the ‘Harbour Haul’, a voluntary effort aimed at cleaning up a section of the coastline.  In less than three hours, they removed over 1,000 lbs of garbage and plastics from the Kingston Harbour’s coastline.

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Throughout the week, there were daily giveaways for the company’s employees.

“It’s been a great week. We celebrated as a family, knowing that that is what got us to 94 years, and will take us to 94 more,” said Mr Wehby. “We thank all of our customers for their support of GraceKennedy.”

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.

Jelani Walker is the First Recipient of the Don Wehby Scholarship for Excellence in Sports and Academics

GraceKennedy Group CEO and St George’s College ‘Old Boy’ Don Wehby spoke at the school’s graduation ceremony. During his remarks, he made a call for more individuals to get involved in the development of their alma maters, pledging $100,000 of his personal income to fund an annual scholarship for needy, academically inclined athletes at the institution.

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Mr Wehby has made good on that promise. On Tuesday, September 8, at the St George’s Founder’s Day service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, sixth form student Jelani Walker was awarded the inaugural Don Wehby scholarship for Excellence in Sports and Academics.  The scholarship will be given annually to a sixth form student in need of financial assistance, who displays academic excellence, excellence in sports, community service and a high level of discipline.

“I was an athlete in High School, and I know first- hand the challenge to balance the schoolwork with the sports. Add financial need to the equation and it can cause great stress and worry, and that can really negatively impact how a young person performs in school. I think it’s also good to reward young people who aim high, display good values and achieve greatness. Jelani is an outstanding you man, and very deserving of this award based on the criteria,” said Mr Wehby.

“I just want to encourage more of us who can – as individuals and as corporate entities – to give back to the schools that have, in large part, helped to make us who we are.  It’s good for the young people, good for the institutions and good for Jamaica,” said Wehby.