Homestyles Jamaica, which produces microwavable Jamaican dishes, plans to start exporting next year in a bid to boost profitability at the seven year-old operation.

“We hope that in exporting, we will make a profit,” Homestyles managing director Claudette Tenn told Sunday Finance following winning two awards at the Jamaica Observer Food Awards on Thursday night.

“We are not making money now, just breaking even,” she revealed.

Homestyles Jamaica won awards for Best New Food and Food Entrepreneur of the Year.

The company’s operating revenues currently match expenses, but the most costly component is the “$70,000 a month electricity bill,” said Tenn, who recently invested $1 million to acquire a modern cold freezer in order to effect energy saving.

The entrepreneur is currenty in negotiations with Jamaican authorities, including Jampro to facilitate entry into Canada and Caribbean markets which require certification. Exporting, she said, would drive demand and require more staff. Homestyles has a staff complement of eight but its microwavable products have a national reach. It produces 15 categories of frozen meals, including oxtail, stew peas and curried goat, mackerel run-down etc, found in leading supermarket chains across the island. The company also produces jerk sauce.

Homestyles ventured into Canada some five years ago, cooking foods in that market for distribution. The cooking occurred in Canada because Hometsyles didn’t possess the necessary certification required to export frozen foods from Jamaica. The venture eventually ceased mainly due to external challenges, Tenn revealed.

“The cost was expensive and their was a family illness. If it wasn’t for the family issues I think I would have continued in Canada,” she explained, adding that her prospective return to North America will eliminate costly Canadian labour.

tenn started Homestyles in 2003 when her part time venture into catering led to explorations in the frozen foods market. “I did research for about a year before deciding to begin,” said Tenn, who was an accountant supervisor in the insurance industry.

“We really offer value for money considering that each package serves between two to three people,” she explained to Sunday Finance.

Tenn constantly innovates, which adds new revenues streams to her business. Her latest food venture, mackerel rundown, offers a relatively cheap meal amidst an ongoing recession.

“It is getting popular,” asserted Tenn about the product, which retails at some $200, half the cost and weight of the company’s staple one pound meals. Tenn reportedly was courted by many companies, including GraceKennedy, seeking to acquire her brand. She however has declined such offers referring to the company as her child. The company has won eight Food Awards in total since starting operations, she noted.

The 12th annual staging of the Food Awards was at Devon House in Kingston. A total of 31 individuals and companies were presented with awards at arguably the Anglophone Caribbean’s most prestigious culinary event.