The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) hosted its 5th annual Manufacturers & Exporters (M&E) Awards Gala in Association with VM Group, October 08, 2022, at the Jamaica Pegasus under the theme “Manufacturing and Exporting: Reigniting Jamaica for Greatness”. The ceremony was the first face to face Gala since 2019 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was also a grand celebration of the JMEA’s 75th Anniversary.
The JMEA’s M&E Awards acknowledged and rewarded the achievements and efforts of local manufacturers and exporters and their resilience in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Award winners displayed hard work, dedication and inspirational business acumen and agility over the past two years.
The host for the night’s ceremony was former Miss Jamaica World and media personality, Dr. Terri-Karelle Reid, who delivered a witty and jovial performance that kept the audience engaged, dancing and chuckling with amusement in between her masterful announcements of the night’s winners. Myrna Hague, “Jamaica’s first lady of Jazz” put on a world-class performance during dinner through timeless covers, while DJ Narity set the mood with the sound of music through the awards and kept the crowd “bouncing” with hits after hits.
Nineteen awards were shared between thirteen (14) companies. The biggest winner of the night was Red Stripe, copping 4 Awards: the Vision 2030- Jamaica Award for Corporate Social Responsibility; the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ) Award for Quality and Standards, the Robert Lightbourne Award for Productivity and Competitiveness; and the JMEA-VM Group Legacy Award.
Seprod Limited walked away with two of the most coveted awards of the night: The Prime Minister’s Award for Large Champion Exporter in Manufacturing and the Governor General’s Award for Manufacturer of the Year.
Three (3) new awards were given this year two of which were awarded to individuals as opposed to companies: The Consular Corp of Jamaica Next Generation Leadership Award, which went to Mr. Charles Barrett of Jamaican Teas; the President’s Award for Director in Service, which went to a very surprised Kathryn Silvera, who has served as a JMEA Director for more than ten years and have provided tremendous support to the work of the Secretariat; and Best Digital Ad Campaign, which went to Jamaican Teas.
Additionally, Fleetwood Jamaica Limited walked away with the JPS Energy Efficiency Award and the JMEA Best New Packaging Award. The Award for Best Support Service was won by Technological Solutions Limited (TSL), while EdenJoy Whole Foods walked away with the JBDC Nicola Gordon-Rowe Buy Jamaican Award. The Peter King New Manufacturer of the Year Award went to NA Dezigns N More, while Morgan’s Creek took home the New Exporter of the Year award.
Caribbean Foods Limited won the JAMPRO Award for Champion Small Exporter for Manufacturing. The Prime Minister’s Award for Large Champion Exporter in Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries was secured by Rainforest Caribbean. Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ) copped the Paulette Rhoden Award for Medium Champion Exporter of the Year. Trade Wind Citrus won the Charles Henderson Award for Breakthrough Product of the Year. The Ray Hadeed Award for Best Micro, Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprise went to Home Choice Enterprise Limited, and the much-coveted Governor General’s Award for Exporter of the year went to Grace Kennedy Foods, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The President of the JMEA, Mr. John Mahfood, in his welcome and opening remarks, indicated that the theme for this year’s M&E Awards, “Manufacturing and Exporting: Reigniting Jamaica for Excellence” is indicative of the importance of the productive sector and how many companies have demonstrated their resilience after weathering the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. He lauded the local companies who have taken up market share and expanded into other CARICOM markets, much in the same way other CARICOM members have had expanded into the Jamaican market in years prior. He reiterated the commitment of the JMEA to continue leading the way in advocacy for policies that benefit the members of the JMEA and the wider productive sector. He also noted that while Jamaica faces a tough time with a hyperinflationary market, where everyone ordinary citizens are feeling the financial burden, companies should seek to make their staff as comfortable through improved salaries and benefits.
The M & E Awards was also supported by Exclusive Sponsor, Red Stripe; Emerging Sponsor: J Wray and Nephew Limited; Niche Sponsors: Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF)/Tourism Linkages Network (TLN); and the Jamaica Pegasus; Gold Sponsors: Jamaican Teas, Caribbean Producers (Jamaica) Ltd, Appliance Traders Limited (ATL), Proven Wealth Limited, and Lithographic Printers Limited; Silver Sponsors: Visa, Nestle Jamaica Limited, Grace Foods Latin America and Caribbean Division, EXIM Bank, TVJ & JNN (RJR Gleaner Communications Group) and Wisynco; Bronze Sponsors: Jamaica Producers Group, ARC Manufacturing Limited, Seabord Freight and Shipping Jamaica Limited, Caribbean Foods Limited, and Project 2 Project Limited. Awards Sponsors were the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), National Certifications body of Jamaica, Vision 2030-Jamaica and JAMPRO.
For more information:
Contact:
Stacey Guyah, Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA)
Tel: (876) 887-4133 | (876) 564-3069
Email: stacey@jmea.org