IN a tribute to team members who have helped shape its legacy, Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ), operators of KFC, recently staged its 50th Birthday Long Service Staff Awards where more than 170 team members were honoured for their long-standing service and dedication to the KFC brand.

Underscoring the sentiment, managing director of Restaurants of Jamaica Mark Myers took to the stage to present the long-service awards, offering a gesture of gratitude as each honoree came forward.

“As we celebrate 50 years of serving Jamaica, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the incredible KFC team members who have made this journey possible,” said Myers.

“Your unwavering commitment, resilience, and passion have shaped our brand’s success and built a partnership that has truly stood the test of time. For those who have given over 20, 30, and even 40 years of service, your dedication has set the standard for us all. You are the heart and soul of this organisation, and tonight, we honour you. On behalf of the directors and the Myers family, thank you for being the foundation of our legacy,” added Myers.

Among the longest-serving employees recognised was ROJ’s Senior Business Analyst Donald Baugh, who has dedicated 49 years to the brand.

Reflecting on his journey Baugh said: “I remember when [co-founders] Mrs Lorna Myers and Anthony Myers were just starting out with KFC. The hard work, late nights, and determination they put into building this brand inspired all of us. Watching how far we’ve come, I feel proud to have been part of it. It’s more than a job; it’s a lifetime of memories and growth.”

In the meantime, affirmed KFC Jamaica’s Marketing Manager Andrei Roper was full of praise for the team members.

“We envisioned this evening as a salute to the people behind the brand’s success, a reminder that while the food is world-famous, the true flavour of KFC Jamaica lives in the people who serve it every day,” said Roper.

Since opening its first restaurant on Old Hope Road in 1975, KFC Jamaica has grown to 42 locations and now employs more than 2,500 staff members islandwide.

As part of its 50th birthday celebrations, the company has committed $7 million in donations to children’s homes as well as education grants to the children of several employees.