Norbrook Caribbean Investment Company, a firm owned by young entrepreneur Khary Robinson, has acquired local Internet shopping company Mailpac Services for an undisclosed sum.

Mailpac is a 12-year old company that offers mail and packaging services to Jamaicans who wish to purchase items from stores overseas via the Internet. Upon opening a Mailpac account, clients are given a US mailing address or “Smart Address,” which consists of a Post Office Box and a street address. They can then make orders for goods online, using their “addresses” to receive them. Mail, magazines and packages are sent to Jamaica where MailPac provides customs clearance and delivery.

Robinson, 30, the younger brother of businessman Kimani Robinson, told the Business Observer that the acquisition will give Norbrook a firm foothold in a rapidly growing market.

“As technology adoption expands in Jamaica, we are all now able to access the global marketplace through internet or phone shopping,” noted Robinson.

“Jamaicans can now acquire the goods and services available all over the world through our platform and we want Mailpac to be the service provider of choice to do that,” he added, disclosing that Norbrook’s plan is to build on Mailpac’s platform to make internet shopping and freight forwading easier for customers.

Norbrook currently operates businesses in three sectors — Transaction Services, Specialty Products and Transportation & Logistics. Robinson said the firm’s investment strategy is modeled on the acquisition of companies that are well positioned to provide high quality, unique services to the Jamaican marketplace, with a particular focus on providing greater efficiency and convenience in the lives of customers.

Another of Robinson’s companies is Student Card Limited, a cashless payment solution for students which allows parents to pay for school fees and student lunches with the use of a prepaid card. Mailpac, the businessman said, is a perfect compliment to the broader model of his firm.

“We truly believe in the idea of creating greater efficiency and convenience in the lives of our customers and this is exemplified in every investment we have made thus far,” he said, adding “Through Mailpac, we hope to build a deeper relationship with the Jamaican consumer — both corporate and individual — and extend our service platform to their everyday lives.”

Colleen Phillips, managing director of Mailpac, had earlier confirmed the sale to the Business Observer.

Phillips founded MailPac in 1998. The company currently has three branches — St Andrew, Montego Bay and St Ann — and reportedly has a customer base of 10,000 persons.

According to Robinson, the acquisition will not immediately affect the day-to-day operations of Mailpac nor the staff compliment of the company.

“Things will generally remain the same for now. We have a great group of employees and managers that have operated the business for many years and we are simply looking to build on that platform, creating greater reach, more access points and better payment options,” he said.