GRACE Foods and Services officially announced its partnership with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) that will help national competitors as they prepare for the London Olympic Games this summer.

As the nutrition sponsor of the association, Grace Foods and Services has promised a minimum of $5 million and will also facilitate diet education for athletes.

GraceKennedy Group chief executive officer (CEO) Don Wehby said his company is proud to support and boost the performances of the athletes, particularly in Jamaica’s 50th year since gaining Independence.

“GraceKennedy understands all the elements that work together to deliver performance and perhaps one of the most important elements is nutrition. We feel that it is our duty to support the very best standard bearers of the Jamaican flag in this our Jubilee year.

“We are also delighted to announce the support of our respected food, nutrition and lifestyle consultant Heather Little-White. Grace Foods and Services will partner with the JAAA to provide nutritional education and meal planning … so that athletes, coaches and their families will have the very best tools,” he said during yesterday’s launch at GraceKennedy’s Harbour Street headquarters.

Wehby explained that Grace Foods will donate 10 cents from every sale of Grace Vienna Sausage, Grace 5.5 oz Canned Mackerel, Grace Corned Beef, Grace Frankfurters, Grace 16 oz Tropical Rhythm, Grace Tomato Ketchup, and Grace Cock Soup to the JAAA through to the end of June 2012.

He added: “From the sale of these, our most popular products, we are honoured to pledge a minimum of $5 million this year to the JAAA.”

To emphasise their commitment to the cause, GK Foods CEO Michael Ranglin handed over a symbolic cheque of $1 million to an appreciative JAAA president Dr Warren Blake.

Dr Blake praised Grace for its plans to provide meals for the Jamaican athletes’ preparation camp in Birmingham, which he said would “increase the chances of them (the athletes) performing optimally” and called on other corporate entities to get involved.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the women’s 100-metre Olympic champion, stressed the importance of good nutrition and highlighted the obstacles that Jamaican athletes faced at last year’s World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

“This initiative from GraceKennedy is tremendous because what we eat and how we take care of ourselves is important. Nutrition is at the forefront of everything that we do. If you are an athlete and you are not eating properly it will show.

“In Daegu I can tell you that … when I went to the cafeteria with Melaine (Walker) and other team members and we saw (cooked) pork, but with a little blood in it and we didn’t see any rice that we could eat. Those are the times we miss our dumplings, our yams, our chicken and mackerel with Omega 3,” said the bubbly, pint-sized Grace Foods ambassador.

Newly-appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister Natalie Neita-Headley endorsed the Grace Foods/JAAA collaboration and sought the backing of Jamaicans to ensure its success.

“On behalf of the government and the people of Jamaica I want to express my sincere appreciation for being invited to be a part of the launch of this historical and critical initiative. I’m aware that the company has supported athletes and has continued to do so… and I’m pleased that the interest is in nutrition and lifestyle. I appeal to the Jamaican public today to support this initiative,” Neita-Headley said in her keynote address.