2026 Nominee For Best (New) Local Product: Grillin’ Time
Principals: Michael & Monique Todd
A history of the company
Grillin’ Time was conceptualised in 2024, beginning with a simple love for chicken wings. What started as a personal passion soon evolved into a business idea that truly excited us. The next step was research where we identified an unfilled need for meal options that are convenient, quick to prepare, great tasting, and healthy. We then went through several rounds of product testing to perfect our flavours and packaging, with official production and distribution beginning in June 2025.
Where the ingredients are sourced
Our chicken is locally sourced, along with approximately 95 per cent of our spices. It was important to us to keep our product authentically Jamaican. Only two spices are imported, as they are not available locally.
Where the products are currently being sold
Our products are currently sold in the following stores:
Kingston – Loshusan Supermarket, Sovereign Supermarket, Lee’s Food Fair, CPJ Market, General Foods, MasterMac Food Stores, Super Valu Fresh Foods, Butcher Shoppe, Drax Hall – CPJ Market, Uncorked Ochi, Montego Bay – CPJ Market
We made these products because… our family has always enjoyed chicken wings, whether prepared in the air fryer or on the BBQ. However, preparing them required advance planning — defrosting and seasoning the night before — which didn’t always fit into our busy lifestyle.
From that experience, we recognised a gap in the market for a product that is convenient, healthy, and easy to prepare without compromising on taste. We wanted something that could be stored in the freezer and cooked on demand — no guesswork required.
Whether you’re coming home late, hosting unexpected guests, or preparing a quick family meal, Grillin’ Time offers a reliable, flavourful solution that anyone can cook with ease.
Our first breakthrough came when…we transitioned from concept to execution. As newcomers to the food industry, we invested significant time in research and development. We conducted product tastings, sourced equipment and packaging, and developed our branding. Securing our first retail order was a pivotal moment—it confirmed market interest and marked the beginning of our growth.
The products became available to the public in… June 2025 when we started at the first location in Kingston.
Our core customers are… working adults seeking convenient, high-quality meal options that fit into their busy lifestyles. They want to spend less time in the kitchen while still making healthier choices. Additionally, our products appeal to families and individuals who value ease of preparation, as well as those who entertain and need reliable, quick meal solutions.
The response to the products has been…very positive from both adults and children. Having done many tastings in the supermarkets we love to hear directly from our consumers, and the feedback has been inspiring. We love to hear when customers mention what spice they taste or say whether they like the spicy Jamaican Jerk more than the Sweet & Savory, or that the Sweet & Savory is delicious on a bed of white rice. It is all great to hear.
Our products are successful because… they address a clear gap in the market for locally produced, healthy, and convenient meal options. We are committed to quality and consistency, ensuring that every package delivers the same great flavour and experience. We take pride in maintaining high production standards and never compromising on quality.
We plan to grow the business to become… available throughout Jamaica from small grocery stores to larger supermarket chains. We expect to grow the product range and flavours first, and then by adding cooking accessories in the future. Who knows, we may even go international for the diaspora to enjoy as our flavours are distinctly Jamaican, especially the Zesty BBQ & Jamaican Jerk.
Our major challenge is… storage of our products as we have to balance having enough of the raw material on hand as well as the finished goods. Both raw materials and finished products require freezing, which involves significant capital investment as we scale.
This issue remains and managing the raw material inventory is… a challenge as we are currently increasing our cold storage space but at the same time must manage capital expenditure. So right now, it is balancing maintaining adequate inventory levels while expanding into new locations.
If we knew then what we know now… we definitely would have made less errors along the way. For example, it took us quite a few samples before we got the correct vacuum sealer and bags as we wanted to ensure that each package is always tightly sealed so the flavours are locked in and it has a long shelf life.
Jamaicans should support our products because… we are passionate about great-tasting food as well as good health & convenience and no longer do these factors have to be mutually exclusive. Our products are made with care as we want our customers to have a consistent, positive experience and love what they are eating without sacrificing taste, time or their health.
Our post-Hurricane Melissa message, having given consideration to the importance of food security, sustainability and supporting our local food ecosystem, is… buy local to support our country and our people – this is so critical and honestly, we have found all our suppliers to be passionate about what they do and have a shared drive to provide good quality, local produce. Having interacted more recently with suppliers, and our consumers each week, it reaffirms to us that Jamaica remains a great country filled with amazing people!
Grillin’ Time co-principals Monique (left) and Michael Todd introduce the Sweet and Savoury Boneless Thighs to guest judge Angelique Beaubrun. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
Grillin’ Time’s (from left) Sweet and Savoury Chicken Tenderloin, Zesty BBQ Boneless Thigh and Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wing. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judges Patricia Henry-Brown (left) and Norma Williams examine the packaging for the Sweet and Savoury BBQ Wings. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
2026 Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards Logo
