Name: Nadine Thomas

Company: Confectionery & Snacks Ja Ltd.

Title: Brand Manager, Charles Chocolates & Devon Biscuits

How did you land this job?

Eight years ago a friend of mine in advertising referred me to Confectionery & Snacks. However, it was not until a year later that the position I currently hold became vacant. I was interviewed by the General Manager and Regional Marketing Manager, and made the commitment to build the Charles Chocolates & Devon Biscuits brands in Jamaica. As the first member of the Marketing Department for C&S, the challenges were great, but the results of the long hours and hard work have been fruitful. Today I am a part of a vibrant marketing team shared with Sunshine Cereals and Sunshine Snacks.

How long have you been in this job?

Seven years.

What’s great about your job?

For any brand manager, being able to interact with the consumers your brands represent on a daily basis is quite a rewarding experience. Satisfying our customers’ needs and desires is our ultimate goal. Therefore, the planning and execution of marketing plans specifically geared to the Jamaican market is done with extreme care and takes into consideration the culture barriers and uniqueness of the Jamaican consumer. Being a part of that process is rewarding as I get to share our preferences with the rest of the region. So for example our Rum & Raisin tablet bar is made with Jamaican Rum to capture our sense of taste. Also, Jamaica is big on cricket and because of this, Devon Biscuits has sandwich biscuits uniquely branded “Big 4″and “Big 6”, a concept to which we can all relate , especially our young cricket lovers. These are competitively priced and provide a filling snack for the entire family. There is no doubt that the constant change in the retail industry keeps us on our toes, and we are always thinking outside the box to keep on top of the market.

Tell us something we might not know about Charles Chocolates & Devon Biscuits.

The brand of Charles Chocolates embodies lots of energy and as such we tap into that part of the Jamaican culture through dance by title-sponsoring the Charles Chocolates Dancin Dynamites TV Show. Through this medium we see how our brand changes lives by having a positive impact on young people. So while our consumers enjoy our products, we not only entertain but we fulfil desires. Along with Devon Biscuits — also a sponsor of the show — we take the brands on the road and go into schools where we motivate and inspire our young customers to dare to chase their dreams and to be proud Jamaicans.

Charles Chocolates and Devon Biscuits are constantly expanding their product lines. The latest are the Charles Chocolates Coated Hazelnut and Charles Chocolates Coated Almonds and the Devon Biscuits Fruit Shortcake Roll pack. Look out for these in stores islandwide!

Both Charles Chocolates and Devon Biscuits carry a wide variety of products and as such our favourites sometimes get singled out as individual brands. But just in case you did not know, Charles Chocolates is the parent brand for not only Charles Tablet Bars but also popular products such as Catch, Xbar, Nuggle, Tiki, Bobbie, Toco Loco, Ping Pong, Cheers, Jordan Almonds, among others including new favourites Charles Sugar Free tablet bar and Catch Dark. Rich in antioxidants, the Catch Dark is a treat for our dark chocolate lovers. You should also note that Devon Biscuits has a nutritious line of Devon Roll pack and Sandwich biscuits along with the best Coconut Shortcake on the market. They are also the manufacturers of Jamaica’s favourite purple pack biscuit — Chocolate Digestives.

Why are Charles Chocolates & Devon Biscuits products attractive options for customers?

We pride ourselves on being able to provide quality products for an affordable price. Our variety caters to all age groups and therefore provides for the entire family and for all occasions such as Christmas parties, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, weddings and parties. I hope that this Easter customers were able to try our Jordan Almonds. If you are getting married and would like to order your special colours to match your bridal party, then Charles Chocolates can do that for you. Also Devon Biscuits Digestive Roll and Snack pack products provide a scrumptious option for all those cheesecake lovers out there. Our most attractive attribute is that both these product lines taste absolutely great!

Where can consumers find out more about your brands?

Charles Chocolates and Devon Biscuits are distributed by Confectionery & Snacks Ja Ltd with offices in Portmore and Montego Bay. The contact number is (876)-939-7461. Our products are found in wholesales, supermarkets and any retail outlet islandwide. We can also be found on our regional head office’s website www.abil-tt.com. You can also follow and win prizes on our Charles Chocolates Facebook page and on Twitter. We hope to hear from you soon!

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Charles Chocolates and Devon Biscuits Brand Manager Nadine Thomas has six gift baskets stocked with Charles Chocolates and Devon Biscuits for six lucky Thursday Life readers. To win, simply answer the following question:

Q: Name four products that fall under the Charles Chocolates brand.

The first six Thursday Life readers to send the correct answer by e-mail to marketingpromotion@jamaicaobserver.com by 12:00 noon today, Thursday, April 11, 2013, will win a gift basket from Confectionery & Snacks Ja Ltd.

You must include your name, occupation and contact number.