MANDEVILLE, Manchester — When John O Minott Sr took his son to work every summer from the latter was six years old, he had dreams that the boy would one day take the reins of his fast-growing coffee business, Jamaica Standard Products (JSP).

Celebrating the company’s 80th anniversary last Sunday, John O Minott Jr, now managing director, told an enthralled audience that his father was elated when he decided to join the company after he left university.

“…Every summer holiday I had to work at least two weeks. He had me all over the place — in the factory, riding on the trucks, in the office, or wherever he could place me. I am convinced he brainwashed me to join the business. When I was graduating from university he asked me if I would like to work anywhere before joining him. He could get me a job at any large company in Jamaica. I said no, as I knew he needed the help. He was elated and said, ‘I promise that I will teach you in five years what it will take 10 to 15 years to learn elsewhere,’ ” Minott Jr told his audience gathered at Manchester Golf Club last Sunday.

The occasion was to recognise over 100 employees and associates of JSP who contributed 10 or more years to the company. The event was attended by business and civic leaders.

Minott Jr, in expressing his gratitude to staff, said the company considers all of its 180 permanent employees as family.

His father took over the reins of JSP in 1972 from his grandfather, Leslie Oliver Minott who founded the business in 1942, and propelled the business into the coffee market. Minott Sr died in 2020.

“My dad took over and really pushed the High Mountain Coffee brand, selling both locally and overseas. We got contracts with GraceKennedy to supply them with our coffee using their label and he set up distributors in the United States and the United Kingdom to carry our roasted High Mountain Coffee. We won numerous gold medals for the quality of our roasted coffee at the prestigious Monde Selection located in Brussels. We achieved ISO9001 Certification, Haccp Certification, and more recently aiming to certify to [Safe Quality Foods] by the year end,” said Minott Jr.

The third-generation business has its base in Williamsfield, Manchester. There the company houses its roasting, distribution, and administrative operations. Presently JSP operates two farms — a 300-acre farm in Cave Valley, St Ann, and a 70-acre farm in Springhill, Portland.

JSP has played an integral role in community development, having started the annual High Mountain Coffee Road Race. The over-30-year-old event is considered to be the oldest road race in Jamaica.

“Our road race is more than just that, it turned out into a community event. We attracted as many as 20,000 people outside of the participants. People referred to it as the next grand market in Mandeville over the years,” said Minott Jr.

“The last one was held just before the pandemic. We have not been able to restart, and I am not sure with the kind of crowds that we have if we can do it right now but it is one of the most significant events in the parish,” he added.

Minott Jr announced JSP’s intentions to bring to the market a Blue Mountain liqueur as it celebrates 80 years.

“For our 50th anniversary we launched a coffee liqueur also under the Baron Hall Estate label. We intend to have a Blue Mountain liqueur under our Island Blue brand as a part of our 80th anniversary celebration. This will be launched in short order,” he informed.

JSP entered the sauces, spices market two decades ago and, under its Baron Hall Estate label, sells an array of jerk and pepper-infused sauces and spices.

Minott Jr said the company plans to open a coffee shop in Mandeville.

“We operate five retail shops on the north coast under the names of Coffee and Spice and Island Blue. Our flagship store is located at the Sangster International Airport and we recently won back the concession, having operated in that space over the last 30 years. Our existing concept is more retail — selling more finished products than serving brewed coffee — than food and beverage. We are now planning to start our first true coffee shop in Mandeville in the very near future,” he said.