THE community of Salem, St Ann, was in celebration mode on Saturday as KFC Jamaica marked the opening of its newest restaurant in the parish and 44th islandwide with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, restaurant tour, and an afternoon of prizes and meal giveaways for customers.

Among those joining Restaurants of Jamaica — operators of KFC Jamaica — team for the grand opening were Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis, and Alfred Lawrence, who attended on behalf of Councillor Claudette Brown (Jamaica Labour Party, Sturge Town Division).

Representatives of Best Dressed Chicken, a long-standing KFC Jamaica partner, were also in attendance to share in the celebration.

Located on the Shivco Supercentre property in Llandovery, KFC Salem is the brand’s sixth restaurant in St Ann, and its 30th outside the Kingston Metropolitan Area.

Representing an investment of approximately $285 million, the restaurant has created 45 employment opportunities and was developed to give residents and commuters easier access, while helping to ease pressure on KFC’s other locations across the parish.

Restaurants of Jamaica Managing Director Mark Myers addressing the opening of KFC’s 44th restaurant in Salem, St Ann, on Saturday.

Restaurants of Jamaica Managing Director Mark Myers said the opening responds to the continued growth of St Ann and the loyalty of customers who have long made their demand for greater convenience clear.

“Jamaicans have never been shy about telling us where they would like the next KFC restaurant to be, and when a community asks, ‘When are you coming closer?’, it usually sounds less like a suggestion and more like a deadline, especially when traffic is involved. So, Salem, today we can officially say: Message received,” Myers said.

He added that the continued support of Jamaicans has allowed the brand to keep investing in new communities, while making deliberate decisions about where its restaurants are needed most and bringing the service closer to the people they serve.

“This opening responds to the way St Ann is growing and how residents and commuters move through the parish each day. By placing our sixth St Ann restaurant here in Llandovery, we are bringing the service closer to our customers…No brand reaches more than five decades of service and 44 restaurants on its own.

“That growth has been built on Jamaicans continuing to choose us, support us, challenge us to improve and make KFC part of their everyday lives. Our responsibility is to keep listening and ensure that each new restaurant brings real value to the community it serves,” Myers added.

Belnavis welcomed the investment and the added convenience the restaurant brings to the parish.

A customer joins the KFC dancers for an impromptu dance moment during the KFC Salem official opening celebrations on Saturday.

“The opening of KFC Salem is a welcome investment in St Ann, particularly for the employment opportunities it has created and the convenience it offers residents and persons travelling through the parish,” Belnavis said.

“It is always encouraging to see businesses continue to place confidence in our communities, and I am pleased to share in this milestone,” added Belnavis.

Following the ribbon cutting, invited guests toured the restaurant and met members of the KFC Salem team, whose hard work, consistency and commitment have supported the location from its soft opening through to the official celebration.

With the formalities wrapped KFC dancers brought their signature energy to the opening. Customers purchasing bucket deals also had the chance to win prizes and complimentary meals, adding more excitement to their Saturday visit.

By the end of the day, KFC Salem had moved from its initial soft opening to a full official welcome, ready to continue serving residents, workers and commuters travelling through Llandovery and surrounding communities.