Thursday Life (TL): How did you land this job?

Muna Shadeed (MS): Throughout the last 10 years or more I’ve actually been working in sales both abroad and here in Jamaica. At the beginning of my sales career I was a bit nervous and timid, but I always had my father, Faraj Shadeed, who is the founder of Island Spice, behind me, reassuring me and always advising me to “be brave, have courage, and don’t let anyone tell you no”. His encouragement and wise words of advice have been comforting me for as long as I can remember and I am forever grateful for the strength and drive he has given me.

TL: How long have you been in this job?

MS: I’ve been officially working at Island Spice as director of sales and marketing for four years. Unofficially, I feel like I’ve almost been working here all my life as I grew up in this company, watching the many changes we’ve gone through over the last 30 years and even participating in our growth within the last decade.

TL: What’s great about your job?

MS: My job entails many different aspects; however, the greatest part of it all is when I get stopped by customers who are passionate about our brand and genuinely support us. On a daily basis, you can always find me engaged in conversations that range from educating people on new and creative ways to use our products, to laughing, reminiscing and sharing about family dinner mishaps and secret recipes. Busy schedule or not, taking the time out to chat with our patrons about our products, to tweak cooking methods, or to even give someone a dish suggestion is what I most look forward to. Nothing is more humbling or gratifying than to hear people’s stories about how they have incorporated Island Spice into their households and everyday lives.

TL: What attracts consumers to your brand?

MS: Besides being a proud Jamaican company, our brand is strong in making sure that our products are consistent and made with the highest quality ingredients. I think that is the key to success. In representing Jamaica, Island Spice offers consumers a sense of comfort by ensuring that no matter what kind of day you’ve had or are about to have, cooking with our products will always meet your expectations.

TL: Where can consumers find out more about your brand?

MS: Consumers can find out more about our brand on our Facebook page or online at www.islandspice.com. We haven’t forgotten about our friends and families abroad, as you can order online and always have a piece of home with you wherever life’s journey may lead you.

TL: Tell us something we might not know about your brand.

MS: Many people may not know that we have a fairly new sister brand called Sun Spice. Available in only sachets at the moment, Sun Spice offers signature blends such as all-purpose seasoning, chicken seasoning, fish spice, curry, and many more. Although it is posed at a lower price point, Sun Spice falls nothing short of the delicious, aromatic fusions that consumers have come to love from Island Spice.

TL: Do you have any additional news you wish to share with your customers?

MS: All of our products are MSG-free! We believe in promoting healthy lifestyles rather than packing our products full of unnecessary ingredients that may pose a problem to our customers’ well-being. In fact, we are avid about offering products that endorse healthy habits; we are about to relaunch a new line of blends which are sugar- and salt-free! Look out for these new products and let us know what you think!