NEW YORK (JIS):
ANCHORED BY world-renowned Busha Brown, Jamaican companies Suntrax Corporation Limited, Tijule Company Limited and Reggie's Roast made their presence felt at the 50th annual NASFT Fancy Food Show at the Jacob Javitts Center in New York last week.
Tijule and Suntrax were the only two Jamaican companies to situate their booths in the Caribbean Pavilion this year.
Suntrax successfully debuted its jerk chicken and pork, while Tijule brought back some of its canned products and frozen meals under brands such as Nel's Old Time and Royale.
Busha Browne, represented by Sara Stern and Winston Stona, saw a very positive response. Mr. Stona confirmed that the company had seen "continued growth" and revealed that the market is beginning to understand that Jamaican products are, "healthier and can hold their own with the best brands in the world."
RANKED HIGHEST
In a study conducted in Men's Journal in May of this year, the company's Planters Steak Sauce was ranked highest, outdistancing well-established brands such as Heinz and A1.
"The one problem that continues to haunt us," Mr. Stona said, "is that when tourists visit the country and become fans of the Jamaican cuisine, we do not have many Jamaican restaurants where they can continue to enjoy the food that they so enjoyed while on vacation."
Newcomer Reggie's Roast, a three-year-old New Jersey based operation, which specialises in Blue Mountain coffee and is a member of the Blue Mountain Coffee Co-operative, also saw positive responses from show attendees. Though a relative newcomer, the company's products are already distributed in several of New York's largest and most successful stores including Whole Foods, Fairways and the Food Emporium.
David Levy of Reggie's Roast said the company was currently looking to establish new and diverse avenues for distribution.
The NASFT Fancy Food Show showcases hundreds of companies from around the world in cities across the United States each year.
