Brand Portfolio includes: Ramson's, Elle & Vire, Bush's Beans, Mr Potato and Preferred Popcorn

How did you land the job?

Chas E Ramson was started in 1922 by my great-grandfather Charles Ernest Ramson. Our family has successfully run the business for the last 90 years. I'm part of the fourth generation that will be continuing the family tradition. After completing my degree in international hospitality and tourism management at Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island, I returned to Jamaica and worked in the hotel industry for three years. With some experience under my belt, I felt it was time to join my family and help grow our business.

My hospitality experience has helped me to grow most of my brands, especially Elle & Vire, which is currently the number three brand for our company, and our performance with the brand is number one in the Caribbean for Elle & Vire international. I also manage the company's house brand Ramson's, a grocery line launched in the 1980s and named after our family.

How long have you been in the job?

I have been with Chas E Ramson Limited since May 2007. Five years that have flown by so quickly.

What's great about your job?

The great aspect about my job is that it is constantly changing. I learn something new every day. Our team and I have to keep on top of marketing trends and innovate how we promote our brands. I get to interact with so many persons - supermarket owners, chefs, end consumers of my brands. I work with the idea that my brands are my babies; I oversee them from ordering to selling, to marketing. Also with a team of four other brand managers at Chas E Ramson, we are able to brainstorm together and utilise our products for cross promotion.

Tell us something we might not know about Chas E Ramson Limited.

Chas E Ramson is one of the oldest distributors in Jamaica since my great-grandfather sold Erasmic Soap and Kellogg's as a Manufacturers' Representative. We have prime locations in Kingston and Montego Bay to better serve our customers islandwide. We distribute a wide range of quality brands to meet our consumers needs, from dairy to snacks, wines, paper products, meats and of course, our Foska Oats; we have something for everyone. We also give back to our community: from hiring persons from our surrounding environs to sponsoring community football. We provide back-to-school supplies as well as contributions at Christmas and Easter to the Waterhouse community which is in the vicinity of our head office.

Where can consumers find out more about your brand?

Persons can log on to www.chaseramson.com to find out more about all the brands under the Chas E Ramson portfolio. They can also listen every Wednesday at 8 am to FAME 95 FM for Liming and Vybin' to hear tips, receipes and information on a different brand every week.

WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN!

Kathryn Silvera, brand manager at Chas E Ramson, has five gift baskets for five lucky Thursday Life readers. Each basket includes 4 125g Elle & Vire yogurts, 2 cans of Bush's Beans, 1 Milkana cream cheese spread, 2 Smucker's jams, 1 Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, 1 bottle of Santa Carolina wine, 2 boxes of Ramson's mac and cheese, 1 bottle of Ramson's ketchup and a box of 3x99g Preferred Popcorn.

To win, simply answer the following question: How old is the Chas E

Ramson company?

The first five Thursday Life readers to correctly send the correct answer by e-mail to marketingpromotion@jamaicaobserver.com by noon tomorrow, Friday, August 31, will win a gift basket from Chas E Ramson.

Please include your name, ocupation and contact number.

RECIPES

Fruit Harvest Yogurt Parfait (Prepared by Chef Brian Lumley)

Ingredients:

2 kiwis

100g seedless grapes

2 125g packs of plain Elle & Vire yogurt

2 125g packs of strawberry Elle & Vire yogurt

2 tablespoons Ramson's honey

Sprinkle of Foska Oats

Elle & Vire aerosol whipping cream

Method:

Slice kiwis and grapes into thin strips.

Drizzle honey along inside of glass.

Arrange fruit slices along inside of glass.

Spoon strawberry yogurt and layer bottom of glass.

Place fruit slices atop the layer.

Sprinkle oats on top.

Spoon plain yogurt and make another layer.

Place fruit slices atop new layer.

Sprinkle with oats again.

Top with whipping cream.

Two-Cheese Pizza Bagel (Prepared by Chef Brian Lumley)

Ingredients:

1 18g Milkana Cream Cheese spread

1 125g Milkana Brie

1 340g bottle Ramson's Mango Chutney

Ramson's 5-pack 12 grain bagels

1 can of 141g Ramson's Vienna sausages

Tomato confit:

2 small tomatoes

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

4 sprigs of thyme

Thinly sliced peg of garlic.

Combine ingredients over a very low heat for 40 minutes.

Method:

Bring bagels to room temperature and split in half.

Spread 2 teaspoons of mango chutney onto bagels.

Spread three to four dollops of cream cheese onto bagels.

Slice two Vienna Sausages and layer pieces onto bagels.

Add two to four pieces of Brie.

Add two teaspoons of tomato confit into centre of bagel and drizzle sauce around the bagel.

Sprinkle with fresh basil and place in toaster at 400 degrees Farenheit until cheese melts. (approximately 10 minutes)