Countdown to the 27th Staging of the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards

Principal

Dalton Bryan

The history of the company

Genteel Brands Manufacturing Company Ltd is an organisation that specialises in manufacturing cultural Jamaican foods in a convenient ready-to eat-format. We manufacture flavoured peanuts and flavoured peanut butter.

Three years ago, the company started by manufacturing flavoured peanuts but expanded the offering by making flavoured peanut butters. The flavour profiles were selected to offer the most unique taste that would say ‘I am Jamaican’. The Blue Mountain Coffee was used as it is world famous and is loved all over. Jamaicans love spicy foods and our Scotch bonnet pepper gives a distinct taste that adds a nice flavour profile to any meal. Lime was selected because lime and beer go well together and when you are having your beer, peanuts go well as a handy snack. So, lime-flavoured peanuts and beer is a great combination.

The range of new products

1. Scotch Bonnet Flavoured Peanuts

2. Coffee Flavoured Peanuts

3. Black Coffee Flavoured Peanuts

4. Lime Flavoured Peanuts

5. Scotch Bonnet Flavoured Peanut Butter

6. Coffee Flavoured Peanut Butter

7. Lime Flavoured Peanut Butter

8. Coffee Flavoured Lotion

9. Coffee Soaps

Where the ingredients are sourced

Ninety per cent of the ingredients are sourced locally, with 10 per cent being sourced from the United States of America due to the unavailability of the product locally.

Where the products are currently being sold:

1. Things Jamaican Stores: Devon House, Airport & South Camp Road

2. Carby’s

3. Lee’s Supermarket

4. Super Valu Fresh Foods

5. Brooklyn Supermarket

6. General Foods

7. Loshusan Supermarket

8. John R Wong

9. Online: Cool Market & Doulabiz Ltd

The story behind the packaging for the products

Traditionally, Jamaicans like having peanuts in plastic bags. However, the market has evolved to laminated metal bags. I started out putting the peanuts in plastic bottles but it made the product very expensive and not attractive. Only one place locally had the laminated bags needed but the minimum quantity was 300,000 units for each flavour. As a start-up, I could not afford it, so I searched overseas for this product. The bags were designed to reflect the colour of the flavours and to give them an international look. I was able to get a smaller minimum quantity which was manageable from the overseas supplier. The bright colours make them stand out and command attention. The labels for the peanut butters were also designed to capture the colours of the flavours. The bottles were easy to find locally, which eliminated the need for large minimum quantity order. I just substituted the peanut butter for the peanuts in the bottles.

I made these products because I have always wanted to have my own business and create generational wealth for my sons. I want to be my own boss. This business was started when I returned home from overseas in the pandemic. I tried applying for jobs but was not successful. I had my sick mother and my family to support. The product has helped me in gaining exposure to the business community and has created additional opportunities and income. I want to show that Jamaicans can create products locally that can compete and be successful locally and overseas.

My first breakthrough came when the Jamaica Business Development Things Jamaican stores gave me an opportunity to sell my products in their stores. Their clientele are both local and overseas. Carby’s was next as they sell mostly Jamaican products. Christmas in July gave me a larger platform to display my products to the world. However, the JMEA Expo was the icing on the cake. I got the breakthrough to the supermarkets, which was great.

The products became available to the public in the last quarter of 2024 at trade shows and pop-up shows.

Our core customers are health-conscious people who want to snack healthy.

The response to the products has been amazing. When I am at the popup shows and I get to interact with the customers and explain the flavour pairings with the peanuts, it opens their mind to new possibilities. When samplings are done, this gives them a first-hand taste before buying. Suggestions are also given on new flavours and how to improve the current products.

My products are successful because I believe in myself and the products that I make. The products have all-natural ingredients which the customers appreciate. The innovative approach has won customers over with them suggesting different flavours that I should make. Brand Jamaica is in demand and local customers want to support their local entrepreneurs.

I plan to grow the business by introducing and manufacturing traditional Jamaican products that can be exported globally. Diversifying the offering is critical to growth. I have a ready-to-eat canned product to be introduced in the last quarter of this year. I have launched a cosmetic line named after my mother with the main ingredients being coffee. Also, I plan to have a website/
YouTube page that shows how to use the products in creating healthy meals using everyday ingredients.

My major challenge is funding and having a manufacturing facility for myself with automated machines to make the production process easier. I have been locked out of the peanut market by the dominant players. I am able to sell my peanut butter in the supermarkets but most of my peanut sales are from my trade shows. Females are my dominant customers. I would love an investor to help me to take the business to the next level. Without the proper funding, raw material must be purchased just in time for production. There is only one supplier for bottles locally and the supplier is not dependable. The laminated sachets are sourced from China and the freight is expensive. If you buy a large quantity of bags, the cost is less. However, since I am a small company, I cannot afford to do this.

If I knew then what I know now, I would try and source a machine for all the steps in the production process. This would make things easier. I would also try to get a mentor to help me through the different stages.

My post Hurricane Melissa message, having considered the importance of food security, sustainability and supporting our local food ecosystem, is that local companies are the backbone of any country. Local companies provide employment and offer the pride that quality products can be homemade, which will reduce the need for imports and give an opportunity for export with foreign currency earning a major boost. The hurricane has shown that local companies are vulnerable to these extreme shocks. If support is not given in the recovery phase, then a total dependence on foreign aid will not allow the country to grow. A dependence on external suppliers for our food is not sustainable. Local is the best way as it ensures growth and reduces the dependence on imports.

E-mail: myflavoursofjamaica@gmail.com

Tel: 1 876-371-0451

Flavours of Jamaica CEO Dalton Bryan makes his presentation to the judges (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Up for judging: Samples of Flavours of Jamaica Scotch Bonnet, Lime, and Coffee-flavoured peanuts and peanut butter.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Food Awards judge Christopher Reckord and guest judge Angelique Beaubrun examine the Flavours of Jamaica flavoured peanut butter packaging. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)