Roberts 70th Anniversary 1944 2014

Contents Credits Editor: Lyle Jones, Advertising Manager: Paulette Jones, Writers: Nick Nunes, Tyson Henry, Lyle Jones, Shari Green, Jennifer Branch-Maloney Photography: Brian O’neale, Amery Butcher, Crucial Productions Inc Design: Sian In Design Inc., Layout: Imageworx Advertising Executives: Kelly Johnally, Debbie Brathwaite Printers: Printweb Caribbean Ltd.

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16 Meet our Staff

46 Marketing – Propelling

Quick snapshot of the extensive history of this 70-year old enterprise – Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited. Did you know the company started out under a breadfruit tree? Look how far we have come thanks to you!

Let’s introduce you to all those whose love and hard work are key ingredients in the cooking products and animal feeds produced by the Roberts family of companies – Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited, Pinnacle Feeds Ltd. and Vitamin Pet Foods Ltd. Also meet the staff of the Roberts Farm & Pet Mart.

the Company Forward

Historical Highlights

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Message from the Chairman The Board of Directors of Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited stands confident with the management and staff looking optimistically toward future successes of the company.

6 Message from the Managing Director We continue to be challenged as part of the manufacturing sector by regional and international competitors. Read how we plan to press on and overcome these challenges.

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Message from the BMA BMA Director acknowledges Roberts’ milestone worthy of high praise.

10 Board of Directors Learn the background of the directors who chart the path for Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited.

12 Company Leadership Meet the men and women who have led Roberts this far and who will continue steering the company into the future.

24 Strong Focus on HR Development Our people mean everything to us.

Without our employees, Roberts Manufacturing could not exist. Naturally we place a strong focus on our human resources. Read more.

26 Time for Thanksgiving The attainment of any milestone in business is worthy of celebration, but none more so than the celebration of longevity in one’s chosen industry. Here’s to 70 years for Roberts!

28 The Production Process Learn how we add healthy flavour to your life with our beloved range of cooking margarines, spreads, shortenings and soybean oil.

32 Know Our Products You’re already familiar with our products but we’d love to tell you more about them.

37 Roberts Recipe Cards Show off your love of cooking with the Roberts recipe cards on pages 37 – 44.

The marketing function is critical to the success of the entire Roberts family of companies.

48 Consistency Pleases Bakers Bakeries large and small choose no substitutes to the high quality and consistency of Roberts’ products.

50 Little Woods Foods A Long-Time Partner of Roberts Every year thousands of Roberts-manufactured products are shipped out of the island enriching our economy and spreading the word of valued Barbadian goods. Here’s a testimonial from one of Roberts’ long-time export partners in Trinidad.

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Roberts –A Cheerful Giver As an institution that takes its social responsibility very seriously, Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited has over the years provided valued support to many a worthy cause.

53 Passion Feeds Success Acclaimed Chef Peter Edey praises Roberts for investing in the development of the local and regional culinary field.

55 Distributor Listing Want to purchase our products? Get in touch with any of our local distributors in Barbados and across the Caribbean and North America.

Historical Highlights 1944

Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited was established on March 24, 1944 - named after founder, J. C. Roberts (pictured above left).

1993

The plant at Lower Estate was expanded with the commissioning of the soybean extraction plant.

1947

Roberts Glow Spread Margarine and Roberts Mello Kreem Margarine were first produced in the old BICO building on Bay Street, St Michael, and launched in Barbados.

1998

Roberts gained International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9002: 1994 certification within a record time of nine months.

2000

The feed division of Roberts was amalgamated with that of ADM Barbados Feeds to form Pinnacle Feeds Ltd.

The canning plant was commissioned to produce cans to contain margarine and for the local paint manufacturing industry.

1956

1969

1981

2001 Animal feed for United States brand Full-O-Pep began under an arrangement with the Quaker company. Full-O-Pep Feeds was later renamed Wayne Feeds under a franchise from Continental Milling.

Pinnacle Feeds Ltd introduced a quarterly newsletter for the farming community called The Feed Solution which is still published today.

2002

Roberts upgraded its ISO certification to ISO 9001: 2000 management systems.

The shortening and margarine plant moved to join the feed operation in Government Hill, St Michael.

2003

Roberts obtained the Hazard Analysis, Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification.

2005

Roberts partnered with the Junior Duelling Challenge programme which has soared in popularity. This has grown into an additional programme for the region under the Caribbean Junior Duelling Challenge name, both of which Roberts title sponsors to this very day.

The company acquired the majority shareholding in Vitamin Pet Foods Ltd and added the production of dog, puppy and cat food.

Cat food production was later discontinued.

Roberts also purchased Chick Growers Ltd – a poultry processing plant.

1988

The computerised feed plant and administrative offices moved to Lower Estate, St Michael.

1989

Roberts ceased production of metal containers and introduced packaging configurations for the shortening and margarine products in plastic containers.

Pinnacle Feeds Ltd became the sole platinum sponsor of Agrofest.

Installed a new fully computer-operated system to provide more efficient controls for the feed plant.

2008

The Roberts Farm and Pet Mart was added to the Lower Estate operation.

Installed a state-of-the-art Gerstenberg Schroder Perfector unit (heat exchanger) to automate some aspects of Roberts’ shortening and margarine production process to optimise consistency in product quality.

1991

The shortening and margarine plant was relocated to Lower Estate.

Installed a new Geelen pellet cooler for the feed plant.

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ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Roberts won the Best Booth Award for the Food Pavilion at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Expo (BMEX) 2013.

2009

Installed a new Andritz pellet mill in the feed plant.

2010

Implementation of health and safety procedures throughout the company.

2011

The Roberts quality assurance team commenced the migration of margarines and spreads to trans-fat-free formulae.

Launched Eat Bajan Meat advertising campaign for Pinnacle Feeds Ltd.

2012

Formed an alliance with Eurofins Laboratory to provide technical support for analysis of raw materials and finished products enabling same-day analysis.

Created a Facebook community for local dog enthusiasts at Barbados Loves Dogs supported by Vitamin Pet Foods Ltd.

2013

Launched Roberts online cooking community on Facebook at Caribbean Loves Cooking, which won a Gold Addy Award in 2014, in line with the overall theme “For The Love Of Cooking!” for the Roberts portfolio of shortenings, margarines, spreads and soybean cooking oils.

Roberts won the Best Booth Award for the Food Pavilion at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Expo (BMEX) 2013.

Pinnacle Feeds Ltd opened a Facebook page to promote farming and eating locally produced meat. This page can be found at Eat Bajan Meat.

Roberts provided sponsorship of the 20th Biennial Conference of the Caribbean Association of Home Economists Inc. held in Barbados.

2014

Pinnacle Feeds Ltd returned as the sole platinum sponsor of Agrofest.

Commercialisation of new packaging – labels and caps – for the soybean cooking oils under the Roberts, Sunrise and Buyer’s Choice brands.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

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Message from the

Chairman

Frere Delmas

A History of Challenges

and Successes THIS YEAR MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED AS IT COMMEMORATES ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY.

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As an industry leader, Roberts has an important role to play in the area of food security and sustainability and the generation of foreign exchange. Our aim will be to strengthen our effort to further support the farming community in initiatives which seek to increase the production of high-quality poultry and meats for local consumption, thereby assisting in the national effort to shrink the annual food import bill.

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We must vigorously pursue the alternative use of local ingredients in the manufacturing of feeds, which would result in a substantial reduction in our demand for foreign exchange to buy raw materials while at the same time benefit our agricultural community.

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With the national fuel bill hovering around $800 million yearly, we will be seeking to utilise alternative energy in the running of plant operations, which will result in a decrease in the use of foreign exchange and operating costs, redounding to benefit the consumer through lower prices.

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Ultimately, our goal as a business will be to find new markets and increase market penetration. Roberts is therefore poised to grow through its relationship with its shareholding companies, Neal & Massy and ANSA McAL, which both have a strong retail and distribution presence throughout the Caribbean.

Established on March 24, 1944, as a private entity producing soap and its first margarine formulation called Oleo, the history of Roberts Manufacturing has been one of challenges and successes.

The company emerged at a time when the island was oriented towards an agricultural economy; moreover, its continuing dependence on imported raw materials made it susceptible to market demands and increasing costs. Additionally, the onset of market liberalisation over the last decade has led to increased competition.

Despite these challenges, the development of Roberts over the past seven decades has been nothing short of remarkable. Its growth and development have been characterised by the enterprising spirit of its management, its talented and highly trained staff, exceptional products, outstanding product innovation and diversification, a loyal and valued customer base – both locally and regionally – and its evolution into a modern plant with more efficient processes.

In fact, the true mark of this progressive indigenous company has been its ability to consistently adapt, forge ahead, and make the necessary adjustments in unpredictable operating environments with changing customer demands and expectations.

However, Roberts cannot rely solely on its past experiences and achievements to ensure its success in the future. Our focus for the future will therefore hinge on a number of strategic initiatives:

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As Roberts stands on the cusp of this platinum anniversary, the board of directors and management draw their confidence for the future from the successes of the past 70 years, but we assure our valued stakeholders – employees, customers, suppliers and associates – of our commitment to be more deliberate and forward-thinking to ensure the sustainability of the company for generations to come.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Message from the

Managing Director

David Foster

THE YEAR 2014 MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED; from humble beginnings and a vision from our founders, we have grown from a workforce of 25 employees in 1944 to more than 160 employees in 2014. Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited is recognised for producing quality products that are consumed locally, regionally and internationally.

The company has worked systematically to transform its manufacturing processes and products over the years. In 1998, Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited gained recognition for being the first company in Barbados to be ISO (International Organization for Standardization) registered and in June 2003, the company attained certification in the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. These certifications confirm the high standards in terms of quality and production processes that exist within the company which our customers have grown accustomed to, but they will also signal to potential customers that our products meet the rigours of international standards.

As the modern consumer evolves so must our portfolio of products. Research and development is a major strategic initiative that we are constantly investing in to ensure that we build a pathway to the future. Technology will also play a key role in maintaining competitiveness as competition both locally and in the export markets will continue to increase.

It is vital that with the growth of the company, there will be further need to provide specialised training for staff to ensure we can cope with the demands of our current operating environment.

A key initiative going forward would be the implementation of a

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Ever Keeping Pace With The Times customer service management system to solidify our commitment to maintaining and improving the level of service we provide to our internal and external customers and to better understand their needs.

The local manufacturing sector will be challenged by regional and international competitors that will continue to threaten our market share. This will call for increased innovation, further improvement

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our partners in helping us achieve this important milestone. to our manufacturing processes and implementation of increased efficiencies as markets become more liberalised. This is a challenge that we need to respond to rapidly if we are to continue to be sustainable. I am confident that with the necessary resources we can continue on a path for expansion and competitiveness.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our partners in helping us achieve this important milestone – our employees, customers, suppliers and associates that have contributed to our continued success. Special thanks to all of the past and present chairmen and directors of Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited, who have provided guidance and support to the management through the years, as well as our shareholders Neal & Massy Holdings and ANSA McAL Limited for their confidence in the long-term viability of the Roberts Group of companies.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

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Message from the

BMA

Bobbi McKay

A Milestone Worthy of High Praise FOR 70 YEARS, ROBERTS MANUFACTURING HAS WHIPPED ITS WAY INTO THE HEARTS OF BARBADIANS – BOTH YOUNG AND OLD. For those who have been around long enough to savour the memories of breadfruit topped with Roberts Mello Kreem Margarine (when it came in a can) and Roberts Glow Spread which was served on biscuits or was the key ingredient for every cake or sweet bread made, Roberts is indeed a Barbadian household name.

This company’s impact goes way beyond the culinary delights that it has presented to us through the years. Its growth, development and vision over the decades have made it a sterling contributor to our national economy and as an exporter of a variety of products, its contribution to our foreign exchange reserves is undeniable.

As an employer of over 150 staff, Roberts continues to create jobs and supports local families right across Barbados. Its investment in state-of-the-art equipment ensures operational efficiency and high-quality products for all Barbadians and, most of all, Roberts ensures that the products that we have grown to rely on for our favourite dishes are still available today.

Roberts Manufacturing has been a member of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA) for more than 30 years; as part of the Food and Beverage Group, its contribution has been commendable. It is a long-standing partner and has consistently supported the BMA’s flagship exhibition – BMEX. Year after year patrons look forward to the impact and contribution of Roberts’ exhibit. From its prized recipe cards, to new product offerings, to the demonstrations of creative ways to use Roberts’ products, the

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company is definitely a must-see exhibitor at BMEX every year.

Roberts is an authentic Barbadian company, designing its products with Barbadian flair and flavour. Its product range has exploded over the years and quality has been delivered with continued excellence. Roberts Manufacturing is one of those companies that the BMA is proud to have as a member. Its contribution to the manufacturing sector is noteworthy and the organisation is well positioned to help share its best practices and pave the way for other manufacturers to follow. Its visibility and contribution at the community level are also admirable and convey a true sense of Roberts’ identity.

Seventy years is indeed a great milestone and worthy of celebration. Many companies have risen and regrettably fallen over this period of time, but the strength and character of Roberts Manufacturing have seen it through the years.

Manufacturing is at the heart of our national economy and when we choose local products rather than lesser quality imports, we continue to ensure that companies like Roberts Manufacturing are here for many years to come. The company knows and shares our tastes; its products are competitively priced; it provides jobs for Barbadians and thus strengthens our economy.

This is an excellent opportunity for us at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association to salute Roberts Manufacturing on this milestone. The journey has only just begun as it continues to innovate, improve and deliver great Barbadian products both here and abroad.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

info@hindstransport.com www.hindstransport.com

Board of Directors Frere Delmas CHAIRMAN As Country Manager for the Neal & Massy Group in Barbados since 2013, Frere Delmas serves as Chairman for a number of Neal & Massy’s locally based subsidiaries and as a Director on the boards of others.

During his 35-year career, Delmas accumulated a wealth of management experience and knowledge in the areas of food retailing and wholesale distribution. He provides leadership oversight at the domestic level and for the group’s retail interests in St Lucia.

Prior to his current post, Delmas was the Executive Chairman for Neal & Massy’s Retail Business Unit and, before that, the Executive Chairman of the BS&T (Barbados Shipping & Trading) Food Retail and Distribution Division. He was also a BS&T board director prior to Neal & Massy’s acquisition of BS&T and also held other management positions in this sector.

Delmas pursued studies in Business Administration at Loughborough College in England prior to starting his career.

David G. Foster HIGHER NATIONAL CERTIFICATE (ENGINEERING) – MANAGING DIRECTOR In 1992, David Foster joined Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited as Chief Engineer, after a career in the sugar industry where he was part of the engineering team responsible for building the Portvale Sugar Factory.

Foster was appointed Managing Director in 2008 and has been serving the company with exemplary service for the past 22 years. He represents the company on the boards of Pinnacle Feeds Ltd, Vitamin Pet Foods Ltd, Barbados Agricultural Society, Southern Meats Inc. and Plastic Containers Ltd. Foster served with distinction as a former president of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA) and actively lobbies on behalf of the manufacturing sector. He represented the BMA on the board of the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation and was specially selected as Chairman of the Facility Committee.

He has a passion for photography, enjoys sports, is a keen squash player and has also represented Barbados in this game.

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ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Randall Ian Banfield (HBA IVEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS 1983) NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Randall Banfield has been employed by the BS&T Group of companies since 1983.

He currently serves on the boards of Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited, Super Centre Ltd, Knights Ltd, Neal & Massy Inc. (USA), NMH Trading & Distribution (Jamaica) Ltd and as a trustee of the BS&T Pension Fund. Banfield is the Managing Director of SBI Distribution Inc. He and his wife Marcia are the proud parents of three children.

Nicholas V. Mouttet NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Nicholas Mouttet is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the ANSA McAL (Barbados) Ltd. Group of companies. This includes responsibility for subsidiaries across the Caribbean, including Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua and Jamaica.

Mouttet has over 16 years’ experience in marketing and sales regionally and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Florida International University.

He has been actively involved in charitable work and has served as President for the Young Men’s Christian Association in Trinidad and also as a Director on the board of the Trinidad & Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, among many other associations.

Ray A. Sumairsingh MBA, ACIB – NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ray Sumairsingh holds directorships on several ANSA McAL boards, including ANSA McAL Limited, ANSA Merchant Bank Limited, TATIL and TATIL Life Assurance Ltd. He represents the group on associated companies’ boards in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica and St Lucia.

Sumairsingh is a former President and Director of the Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies, where he served with distinction for 18 years, as well as President and Director of the Insurance Association of the Caribbean, where he also served for over 15 years. A former Director of the Unit Trust Corporation representing the Financial Services Sector of Trinidad and Tobago, he is currently a Director representing the publicly listed companies on the board of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.

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Company Leadership

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Jason Sambrano

Cameron Pile

Gilli Jonteaux

Roger Abram

Chief Financial Officer

Accountant/Office Manager

Engineering Services Manager

Shortening and Margarine Plant Manager

As Chief Financial Officer I am responsible for the organisation’s financial affairs and I assist the Managing Director in leading the company. I started my career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Assurance and Business Advisory Department.

After a five year stint at PwC, I spent one year as the Group Internal Audit Manager for Clico Holdings (Barbados) Ltd. I was later transferred to St. Lucia Distillers Ltd as Finance and Information Systems Director – a position I held for five years before coming to Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited. I am a Chartered Accountant (ACCA), a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados and hold Bachelor of Science degree with honours in Management from the UWI.

I began my career at Roberts in January 1994 as Assistant Accountant and in August of the same year, I was promoted to the position of Office Manager/Accountant. I have held this post for the past 20 years and am responsible for office administration, credit control, preparing the company’s financial statements and budgets and information technology administration. I also oversee the operations of the Accounts Department, which has a staff complement of eight.

With 24 years’ experience in engineering and manufacturing, I have worked across various industries such as electronics, food and tool manufacturing. I first joined Roberts Manufacturing in 2003 and was appointed Engineering Services Manager in 2009.

My responsibilities include managing all engineering and maintenance requirements for all plant machinery and the compound. I also oversee the operations of the extraction plant and am proud to head the committee ensuring the health, safety, security and environment for all employees, suppliers and customers. I have been trained and hold qualifications in mechanical and electrical engineering, automation and management.

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I am the plant manager for the plant that produces our shortenings, margarines, spreads and soybean cooking oils that our customers have embraced and made household names. I first joined Roberts in 1995 as an Office Junior/Messenger and was promoted to Office Assistant then to Production Supervisor. In my current role as Plant Manager, I manage the operations of the various production lines and am responsible for production planning, coordinating, scheduling and staffing. I hold a Diploma in Production and Operations Management from the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity (BIMAP) and am enrolled in the Executive Development Programme at UWI. I am also the proud recipient of various departmental awards over the years.

Company Leadership

Adrian Yard

Tony Spencer

Francis Dottin

Farm Service Manager/ Production Coordinator

Feed Plant Manager

Laboratory Manager

I joined the staff of Roberts Manufacturing in March 2001, having previously worked at the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute and the Ministry of Agriculture. A graduate of the University of the West Indies and the University of Reading, I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, a Master of Science degree in Animal and Forage Science and an Executive Diploma in Management Skills. I have attended training courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Arkansas.

My responsibilities include supervising the Farm Services Department under Pinnacle Feeds, the Roberts Farm and Pet Mart and coordinating production among all the manufacturing plants at Roberts Manufacturing.

Having started my career with Roberts in 1977, I now have 37 years’ experience in the business of animal feed manufacturing.

In 2001, I was promoted to Feed Plant Manager – a role I enjoy immensely and for which I am thankful to God, my family, friends, management, staff and customers. I have always taken great pride in going beyond the call of duty having served on quality assurance, international certification, research and development, and health and safety committees. I graduated with a distinction in the BIMAP Diploma in Management, am holder of certifications in feed manufacturing technology from Kansas State University, and aquaculture, pet food extrusion and nutrition from Texas A&M University. I take very seriously my role.

I joined Roberts in 1978 as a Laboratory Technician and in 2000, I was promoted to Quality Assurance Supervisor. In 2011, I assumed my current role as Laboratory Manager. Roberts has invested significantly in my training and I have successfully completed training in statistical quality control and supervisory management at BIMAP, quality assurance principles at UWI, feed manufacturing technology at Kansas State University and fats and oils technology from AarhusKarlshamn, Sweden.

I am a proud member of the American Oil Chemist Society team and am responsible for ensuring that the company receives quality raw materials and processes them to the high standards to which our customers hold all of our products.

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Company Leadership

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Allison Kirton-Holder

Paula Kinch

Senior Human Resources Officer

Senior Purchasing Officer

I am responsible for the Human Resources Department in my capacity of Senior Human Resources Officer. A proud UWI graduate, I have completed my undergraduate degree in the social sciences and am currently completing my postgraduate degree in Labour and Employment Relations. I have been a trainer for over 15 years and have pursued additional studies in the areas of compensation, performance management and occupational health and safety.

I joined the company in 1994 as an Office Junior and subsequently filled the positions of Receptionist, Accounts Clerk and Administrative Assistant before becoming the head of the Purchasing Department as Senior Purchasing Officer with responsibility for acquiring the necessary raw materials required to make our margarines, spreads, shortenings and oil as well as those for Pinnacle Feeds Ltd. and Vitamin Pet Foods Ltd. This department is also responsible for coordinating all incoming shipments. I attended the Academy of Commerce & Technical Studies, completed training at Kansas State University on grain purchasing and Aarhuskarlshamn Sweden in fats and oils.

Shari Green Senior Marketing Representative Having joined the company in 2012, I have taken on the role of heading the Marketing and Export departments at Roberts Manufacturing for the past two years, overseeing a complement of four stellar staff members.

After graduating in 2007 with first class honours from the UWI Cave Hill Campus with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and a minor in Spanish, my work experience has largely been within the local manufacturing community.

In 2012, I completed the MBA programme from the University of Wales by distance. I enjoy travelling and experiencing various cultures.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Verstine Sargeant Senior Supervisor, Roberts Farm and Pet Mart I have been working at Roberts Manufacturing for almost 23 years. I am the Senior Supervisor at the Farm and Pet Mart and am responsible for 11 employees who work in my department. The Farm Store sells all animal feeds, pet food, gardening and agricultural supplies as well as shortening, margarine and cooking oil manufactured by the company. My responsibility is to manage the day-to-day operations of the store. My job is quite challenging but I enjoy interacting with the customers and try always to ensure that they are satisfied with the service they receive. Customer service is key for us.

Company Leadership

Michael Pierce

Christopher Brathwaite

Erwin Collymore

Senior Warehouse Supervisor

Production Engineer, Extraction Plant

Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Officer

I have been employed with Roberts Manufacturing for 19 years and as Senior Supervisor for three years with 36 years of warehousing experience throughout my lifetime. I have a Diploma in Operations Management and Warehousing, and I oversee the finished product warehouses that store feed and margarines. My job is to make sure that operations run effortlessly, ensuring customers get their products within a set standard time.

I started working with Roberts in 1998, left to pursue studies and rejoined the company after two years. I was rehired, later promoted twice and am now the Production Engineer for the extraction plant. My direct staff complement comprises 16 highly skilled personnel.

I am responsible for power, steam and air generation in the process of extracting meal and oil from soybeans, which are used in our separate animal feed and cooking products manufacturing processes.

I enjoy the dynamic environment of Roberts where I have the opportunity exercise a wide range of skills.

I am the HSSE Officer responsible for the health, safety and security of our people ensuring a clean and efficient environment conducive to maximum productivity. I serve on the Health and Safety Committee as vice-chairman and am responsible for business continuity planning and loss control. I am a graduate of the UWI Cave Hill Campus with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and have completed a certificate course from the UK-based National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH). As a believer in continuous improvement, I am currently pursuing a Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health with NEBOSH.

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Meet Our Staff FINISHED PRODUCT WAREHOUSE From left: Errol Garner, Neville Hunte, Dale Currency, Kerry Belgrave, Ezra Leacock, Jeffrey French, Anderson Carrington, Fedo Payne, Llewellyn Hinkson, Sean Spencer, Charles Merritt, Ian Dottin, Michael Pierce, O’Neale Thomas, Michael Hunte and Rawle Lynch.

Missing are Mike Ryan, Nigel Alleyne, Carson Chase, Rene Knight and Jamel Lashley.

LABORATORY From left: Francis Dottin, Carlyle Jones, Curt Thompson, V. Ernelle Lord, Cheryl Maynard and Nadine Benn-Greaves.

Missing are Kerry McKenzie and Mario Arthur.

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ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Meet Our Staff OFFICE From left: Kezia Nurse, Deborah Grainger, Erwin Collymore, Cameron Pile, Sharon Power, Priscillia Franklyn, Allison Kirton-Holder, Paula Kinch, Cherrydan Lucas, Shari Green, Gurceyne Williams, Ephna Hinkson, Toni GoddardGreene, Jacqueline Best, Adrian Yard, Sonia Nurse, Rossana Skeete, Denis Maynard, Jason Sambrano and Diana Greenidge.

Missing are David Foster and Terrel Niles.

ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT From left: Gilli Jonteaux, Winston Hunte, Wayne Springer, Wayne Cumberbatch, Jason Roachford, Kirk Lashley, O’Brian Wilkinson, Nolan Small, Terrance Porte, Kenny Parris, Christopher Brathwaite, Winston Benjamin, Ronald Yearwood, Melvin Worrell and David Joseph.

Missing are Hubert Burnham, Hallam Cheltenham, Everton Greaves and Leon Hing.

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Meet Our Staff SHORTENING & MARGARINE PLANT From left: Veronica Thomas, Damian Holder, Rodney Holder, Shirley Squires-Payne, Dennis White, Delano Holder, Michael Homer, Valencia Hunte, Randey Morris, Wilbert Williams, Ryan Beckles, SherryAnn Kellman, Henderson Carter, Cecilia Walrond, Rommel Francis, Anthony Hunte, Wendie Headley, Ena Gooding, Marlon Crawford-Roberts, Kenrick Grazette, Cecily Caddle, Sharon Holder, Brenda Maloney, Andrew Bruce, Ulric Burke, Bernard Shorey, Corey Brathwaite, Roger Abram and André Lynch.

Missing are E. Veronica Applewhite, Lawrence Small, Corey Brathwaite, McNeil Springer and Marcia Todd.

EXTRACTION PLANT From left: Dexter Briggs, Ebert Fields, Shane Parris, Altmark Applewhaite, Charles Brewster, Arthur Franklyn, Christopher Brathwaite, Gilli Jonteaux, Randolph Franklyn, Christopher Small, Allan Emtage and Vanrick Padmore.

Missing are Jason Wooding, Pierre Richards, Roger Holligan and John Taylor.

FEED PLANT From left: Tony Spencer, Jason Gittens, Roger Trotman, Jasper Grant, Michael Clarke, Barry Callender, Leon Lashley, Terrol Alleyne, Stephen Small, Dennis Harewood, Adrian Holligan, Eli Williams, Ricardo Todd, Arleigh Gibson, John Layne, Randolph Maloney, Randy Hunte, Omar Layne, Fabian Smith, Emmerson Hinkson, Charles Bowen, Carlo Thomas, Reginald Broomes and Damian Walcott.

Missing are Junior Harry, Hubert Weekes, Martin Johnson and Charles Crichlow.

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ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Meet Our Staff FARM SERVICES From left are Dario Bryan, Adrian Yard and John Gardiner.

FARM AND PET MART From left are Roslyn Bolden, Carlos Alleyne, Tedson Greene, Pedro Waithe, Verstine Sargeant, Dennis Parris, Margaret Chase, Akeem Franklyn and Dwayne Gill.

Missing are William Ifill, Kirby Clarke and Jennifer Murphy.

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ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Strong focus on

HR development Allison Kirton-Holder

THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS HEADED BY ALLISON KIRTON-HOLDER, SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, WHO HAS BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS. Her responsibilies include charting a path for employees from recruitment to withdrawal from the company and ensuring that the strategic objectives of the company are met.

The Senior Human Resources Officer sees the Human Resources Department as the thread that binds such a complex, dynamic company together. She is excited about its role in providing challenging work and strategies to engage its workforce.

Kirton-Holder, who is currently completing her MSc in Labour and Employment Relations, is well qualified for the job, with an undergraduate degree in the social sciences and jobspecific training as it relates to compensation and performance management. With over 12 years’ previous experience as a trainer and human resources consultant, she finds the eclectic mix at the company stimulating and challenging.

The predominantly male environment comprises approximately 146 full-time employees and 20 part-time employees. There are eight major departments, namely the Feed Plant, Shortening and Margarine, Extraction, Engineering Services, Warehouse, Laboratory, Farm and Pet Mart and Administrative. There is a diversity of careers at Roberts, including lab technicians, food technologists, operators, engineers, farm services representatives, health and safety specialists, and much more; all with the objective of ensuring that our feeds, margarines, oil and dog food are of the highest quality.

Our employees are well trained, and exposed to a variety of short- and long-term training and development opportunities. We provide on-the-job, online, local and overseas training to ensure that they are well equipped for the path ahead.

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Roberts supports our local educational institutions and through internship programmes has employed interns from the Barbados Vocational Training Board, Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic and the University of the West Indies. We are also a member of the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity and an annual sponsor of the Human Resource Management Association of Barbados conference.

Roberts is a responsible employer and not only gives back to our community, but is respectful and committed to the Barbadian labour-management traditions. We work very closely with the Barbados Workers’ Union to ensure that the interests of our employees are respected.

Roberts is proud to have been around for 70 years and attributes much of our success to our hard-working employees.

Even though the average tenure of employment at Roberts is approximately 20 years, we seek out new talent to complement our products and services and have boosted our research and development arm in the Laboratory as well as our Farm Services and Production departments.

We would like to thank all those who have contributed to our production process in even the smallest way. To all those from purchasing to production, from sales to delivery, from management and supervisors to our general employees, we salute you and sincerely thank you for your enthusiasm, dedication and hard work.

We would also like to acknowledge all those retirees who came before us and laid the strong foundation on which we now stand.

We endeavour to carry on your legacy as we continue to chart our course in these challenging times.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Time for

Thanksgiving THE ATTAINMENT OF ANY MILESTONE IN BUSINESS IS WORTHY OF CELEBRATION, BUT NONE MORE SO THAN THE CELEBRATION OF LONGEVITY IN ONE’S CHOSEN INDUSTRY. It is an occasion for thanksgiving, as such success is the reward of hard work, dedicated effort and sacrifice by all members on the team.

For the principals at Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited, the celebration of their 70th anniversary presented the perfect occasion for a thanksgiving service on plant where the Roberts family could celebrate the blessings received and enjoyed as one.

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Staff shared in singing songs of worship, praise and thanksgiving and were also serenaded by the Roberts Choir.

Thus on Monday, March 24, at 7:45 a.m., management and staff gathered at the Lower Estate, St Michael facility to give thanks – 70 years to the date of establishment.

Prayers were offered up by Production Engineer, Extraction Plant, Christopher Brathwaite, and the scripture reading by Export Administrator, Sharon Power. Marketing Representative, Denis Maynard, provided his colleagues with a serving of spiritual food for thought.

Staff shared in singing songs of worship, praise and thanksgiving and were also serenaded by the Roberts choir.

During the two-hour service attendees were also treated to presentations by Chairman of the Board, Frere Delmas, who reflected on the company’s performance over the years and the prospects for the future as the organisation charted its way through the waters of economic uncertainty.

Following brief remarks by Chief Financial Officer, Jason Sambrano, it was time to celebrate the contribution of the several employees who had achieved perfect attendance records for the period under review.

The ever-present staff members were commended for their dedicated service and received monetary awards acknowledging their achievement presented by Allison Kirton-Holder, Senior Human Resources Officer. Kenny Parris, Maintenance Technician, offered the closing prayer for the celebration.

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Christopher Brathwaite, Production Engineer, starting off the proceedings with prayer.

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Opening remarks by Frere Delmas, chairman.

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Two years on the trot: Engineering Services Manager, Gilli Jonteaux, receiving his second consecutive Perfect Attendance Award from Allison Kirton-Holder, Senior Human Resources Officer.

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Allison Kirton-Holder, presenting Jason Sambrano, Chief Financial Officer, with a Perfect Attendance Award.

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Members of the Roberts 70th Anniversary Choir: (left to right) Verstine Sargeant, Gurceyne Williams, Deborah Grainger, Valencia Hunte, E. Veronica Applewhaite, Everton Greaves and Jacqueline Best.

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Denis Maynard delivering the sermonette.

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Three times the charm: Feed Plant Supervisor, Hubert Weekes receiving his third consecutive Perfect Attendance Award.

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How We Add Healthy

Flavour to Your Life The Production Process THERE IS A MIND-BOGGLING ASSORTMENT OF COMPONENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT CONSTITUTES THAT BOTTLE OF SOYBEAN COOKING OIL IN YOUR PANTRY AND THE SMALL CONTAINER OF MARGARINE IN YOUR FRIDGE. After you learn how Roberts Manufacturing meticulously transforms raw materials in accordance with global health standards to produce the finest soybean oil, margarines, shortenings and spreads, you will realize why our products have been an inimitable favourite for 70 years.

Sourced both locally and internationally, only the finest materials and ingredients are used to produce and package the products that have graced supermarket shelves and homes alike, both in Barbados and abroad.

Paula Kinch, Senior Purchasing Officer at Roberts Manufacturing, reveals: “Fats are imported from Europe, emulsifiers are sourced from Central America and Europe, and our flavours come from North America and the Caribbean.” It doesn’t end there either.

“Our lids and bases come from North America, our [soybean oil] bottles are sourced both locally and in the region, the pails come from Europe, and the cartons come from the Caribbean,” she asserted.

The caps for Roberts soybean cooking oil bottles are bought from an agent based in North America who in imports them from the Caribbean, where they are made. Such is the strength of the Roberts Manufacturing brand and its reputation that the majority of business relationships were formed over 20 years ago and are still strong to this day.

Our soybean cooking oils are very popular, partly due to their rich content of omega 3 and omega 6. These fatty acids regulate lipid and cholesterol metabolism and prevent narrowing in artery veins. In addition, its high content of vitamin B prevents digestive problems. For these reasons, refined soybean oil is widely used all over the world.

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Roberts Manufacturing meticulously transforms raw materials in accordance with global health standards to produce the finest soyabean oil, margarines, shortenings and spreads.

The soybean is an ancient crop native to eastern Asia with a history dating back 3 000 years. Because no other oilseed can grow on such an expanse of latitudes as soybeans, soybean oil is widely available and provides a consistent supply year after year, regardless of crop growing conditions.

Here at our plant, the production of crude oil (which is later refined) and high quality meal (a critical component of our animal feed) is the main objective in soybean processing. For achievement, thorough knowledge of the technical system and disciplined operation is required, which is why the company boasts a complement of highly trained technicians, scientists and engineers, all possessive of a gamut of experience and skills.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

REFINING THE OIL The production of your favourite soybean cooking oil from its crude form requires a combination of refining steps, all of which require attention to detail, progressing under the watchful eyes of Francis Dottin, Laboratory Manager at the plant.

“After the oil leaves the refinery it undergoes purifying that removes the typically nutty smell and pigment. This process is executed in 10 tonne batches at 200 degrees Celsius for 8 to 9 hours. After this it is cooled to 50 degrees, when it is then stored, quality tested, and then bottled,” Dottin explained.

With deliberately subtle flavours that won’t distort the aroma of your food, Roberts soybean oils are an excellent cholesterolfree source of vitamin E, with 0g trans-fat per serving. The high smoke point at 465°F makes soybean oil excellent for frying foods quickly and easily.

MARGARINES MAKE FLAVOURFUL, HEALTHY DIFFERENCE Roberts Manufacturing has consistently focused its energies on producing high quality products for its local regional and international clientele. This focus not only relates to its adherence to the best practices during the production process, it is reflected in the healthy nature of the product inputs as well.

In the case of its shortening, margarines and spreads, all of the fats used are vegetable sourced.

EXTRACTING THE OIL When the facility is ready to process the soybeans, the beans are removed from the silo or tank and cleaned of foreign materials and loose hulls. Screens typically are used to remove foreign materials such as stems, pods, sand, and dirt.

TESTS FROM BEGINNING TO END Fat forms a major part in the production of the widely popular margarines and spreads, and in the case of shortenings, is the only component.

During the extraction process, which is well standardized worldwide, the soybeans are conveyed to the mill by means of belts or mass flow conveyors and bucket elevators. In the mill, the whole particles of beans are cracked into several pieces. After this it heads to the extruders where the hulls are removed, and the process of heating begins before it heads to the expellers.

As such a key ingredient in the company’s product lines it is easy to understand why the laboratory performs solid fat index tests on all fats purchased for use in the production process to determine the percentage of solid fats at various temperatures.

Such information is important since monitoring solid and fat levels in the margarine is an important part of the production process.

According to our Production Engineer, Christopher Brathwaite, “The [soybean extraction] process at Roberts Manufacturing is two-fold. The soy beans are delivered and we sieve those beans and start the process of extrusion where we squeeze them using expellers. During this process of squeezing, two things happen: the machine produces oil on one end and meal comes out of the other.”

With such attention to detail at the beginning of the cycle it should come as no surprise that testing continues on the finished product. Shelf stable margarines including Glow Spread and Mello Kreem, for example, undergo a penetrometer test, which measures the firmness or consistency of the margarine.

According to Senior Laboratory Technician, V. Ernelle Lord: “Product consistency is important not only for establishing

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warehousing conditions, but also for the bakers as it will impact the yield and the texture of their cakes.”

A LOOK AT THE PROCESS Margarine production involves combining heated fat and water in a controlled process to create a new by product that can vary in composition and utility based on the percentages of the components combined.

Margarine typically has two phases, the fat phase and the water phase, both of which are prepared in the preparation room.

Soluble inputs (including the unique ingredients for each product such as flavours and so on) and emulsifiers are added to the fat in the fat phase, in which fat is heated to high temperatures and pumped into the stainless steel tanks.

In a similar procedure, water is combined with soluble inputs and pumped into the same tanks as the fat-based solution where they are combined to create an emulsion.

This emulsion is then sent through a system of pipes to an

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Consumers have found a dependable line of Roberts’ products that enhance both the flavour and nutritional value of their food. apparatus called the heat exchanger. The margarine emulsion enters the heat exchanger at temperatures ranging between 60 degrees Celsius and 70 degrees Celsius and continues through pipes that are cooled externally by ammonia in a chamber.

As this liquid margarine is cooled, it is pumped through a system of pipes to the refiner. Once in the refiner, the cooled margarine solution is whipped and readied for packaging in containers such as foil wrappers and tubs for retail, and pails and corrugated boxes lined with plastic for commercial usage.

The whipped product is then passed through pipes to one of two filling chambers where it is packaged according to the tub size required. For pails exceeding four pounds, the product is directed to the bulk-filling chamber.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

FOOD SAFETY COMES FIRST A typical day for Nadine Benn-Greaves, the tireless Food Technologist, entails documenting the plant’s operations for the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.

Benn-Greaves also checks with the various supervisors and managers to make sure they have done checks and also to verify any corrective actions, where improvements are needed with procedures and/or equipment.

“I look at every area within the process and try to mitigate with preventative systems. For the different areas on the plant, we look at the premises, process and people and how they all impact the food. We keep up with the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to make sure we are aligned with any new requirements because we also export to the USA,” she said.

Once a year, primarily during off-peak periods, the staff is trained to adhere to food safety and HACCP standards. Every year employees are screened medically as part of fulfilling the requirements of keeping a food licence. Along with health inspectors, we also receive visits from our customers and an ISO NQA (National Quality Assurance) external auditor.

This constant and deliberate adherence to quality is mirrored across the breadth of the sprawling factory and vindicates the company’s 15-year-old International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification. In its soybean cooking oils, margarines, shortenings and spreads, consumers have found a dependable line of Roberts’ products that enhance both the flavour and nutritional value of their food.

Know Our Products

Roberts Mello Kreem Spread Roberts Mello Kreem Spread is a reduced fat cooking spread that contains no cholesterol.

Known as the tastemaker, its smooth, creamy texture adds a distinctive flavour to gravies, soups and stews. Roberts Mello Kreem Spread is available in 250 gram refrigerated packets and shelf-stable 445 gram and 1.81 kilogram tubs at retail. For commercial use, this product is packaged in a shelf-stable 12 kilogram pail and an 18 kilogram cube.

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Roberts Health Spread Roberts Health Spread is a salt-free but tasty spread specially formulated for consumers who require a sodium-free diet. It can be used on toast and other areas of light cooking, has 30 per cent less fat than margarine and a low caloric content. This product is not recommended for deepfrying because it is a reduced fat formulation. Roberts Health Spread contains no cholesterol, no trans-fat and, of course, no salt. Roberts Health Spread is available in 220 gram and 445 gram refrigerated tubs at retail.

Roberts Sunflower Spread

Roberts Garlic Spread

Roberts Sunflower Spread spreads straight from the fridge perfectly on toast and rolls. This versatile spread contains zero trans-fat or cholesterol and is also great for light frying and ideally formulated to incorporate into baked goods such as cakes, pies and cookies. This product is also available in a low-calorie version. Roberts Sunflower Spread is available in 220 gram, 445 gram and one kilogram refrigerated tubs as well as in 240 gram packets at retail and in a refrigerated 12 kilogram pail for commercial use.

Roberts Garlic Spread boasts an unmistakable flavour with its real bits of garlic and parsley that will turn up the taste of any savoury dish. It is the perfect product for making garlic bread and can be easily incorporated into your cooking.

This reduced fat product contains no cholesterol or trans-fat. Grab Roberts Garlic Spread from the supermarket’s refrigerated section today. Roberts Garlic Spread is available in 220 gram and 445 gram refrigerated tubs at retail and in a refrigerated 12 kilogram pail for commercial use.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Know Our Products

Roberts Dove Spread

Roberts Velvo Kris Shortening

Roberts Glow Spread Margarine

Roberts Dove Spread is made primarily for export and is a tasty cooking blend that adds great flavour to gravies and stews. It is also reduced fat. What’s more is that it blends easily with Roberts Velvo Kris Shortening to make delectable pastries and other baked goods. Roberts Dove Spread is available in shelf-stable 220 gram and 445 gram tubs at retail and in a shelf-stable 12 kilogram pail for commercial use.

Roberts Velvo Kris Shortening is an all-purpose shortening formulated for baking all types of breads and pastries. This product is also great for light frying and gives fried foods a beautiful golden brown appearance. It is also cholesterol free. Roberts Velvo Kris Shortening is available in 250 gram refrigerated packets and shelf-stable 500 gram and 1.36 kilogram tubs at retail. For commercial use, this product is packaged in a shelf-stable 10 kilogram pail and a 20 kilogram cube.

Roberts Glow Spread Margarine is an all-purpose margarine used primarily for baking that can be used in a variety of recipes from cakes, coconut breads, cookies, cupcakes, icing and more. This margarine can also be blended seamlessly with Roberts Velvo Kris Shortening to make delightful pastries. Roberts Glow Spread Margarine contains no cholesterol and bakes perfectly every time.

Roberts Glow Spread Margarine is available in 250 gram refrigerated packets and shelf-stable 445 gram and 1.81 kilogram tubs at retail.

For commercial use, this product is packaged in a shelf-stable 12 kilogram pail and an 18 kilogram cube.

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Know Our Products

THE SAME FANTASTIC OILS IN

BRAND NEW PACKAGING

Exclusively Commercial Shortening and Margarine Products Roberts Baker’s Special Margarine Specially formulated high-yield margarine designed for bakeries.

Ideal for making bread, roti skins and more, Roberts Baker’s Special Margarine contains only one per cent salt. It has no flavour thereby giving the baker greater flexibility in preparing any type of dough. This product is packaged in a shelf-stable 18 kilogram cube.

Roberts Butter Glow Margarine

Roberts Soybean Cooking Oils

Roberts Cooking Oils are made using soybeans from which the oil is extracted and refined before bottling. Our soybean oils are heart healthy as they are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can improve cardiovascular health, including heart disease prevention and the lowering of blood pressure and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.

These oils are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E – an antioxidant that stops cell damage that may lead to conditions like heart disease and cancer. They are cholesterol free, contain zero grams of trans-fat per serving and have virtually no flavour or aroma thus letting the full flavour of foods prepared with them stand out.

The high smoke point at 465ºF (240.6˚C) makes soybean oils excellent for frying foods quickly and easily. Not only are they great for frying but ideal too for baking and drizzling on salads. The oils are packaged in 500 millilitre, one litre, two litre and 3.79 litre bottles for retail also 18 litre bottles and one tonne tanks for commercial customers.

Specially formulated high-yield margarine designed for bakeries.

It gives baked goods a delicious buttery flavour for an economical price. This product is packaged in a shelf-stable 18 kilogram cube.

Roberts Eagle Bakery Shortening All-purpose shortening that can be used in most types of breads and pastries. When making puff pastry, a blend in the ratio of two parts Roberts Eagle Bakery Shortening to one part Roberts Glow Spread Margarine can be used. This product is packaged in a shelf-stable 20 kilogram cube.

Roberts Puff Pastry Margarine Roll-in margarine is ideally suited for preparing all types of pastries. This product is packaged in a shelf-stable 18 kilogram cube.

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ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

www.erichassellandson.com info@erichassellandson.com

Visit www.ncf.bb

Marketing Propelling

The Company Forward Shari Green THE MARKETING FUNCTION IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ROBERTS FAMILY OF COMPANIES – ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED, PINNACLE FEEDS LTD AND VITAMIN PET FOODS LTD. Marketing represents the face of the companies as we interact with our valued customers on a daily basis. We obtain feedback from our customers to further develop our portfolio with a view to continuously improve our product and service offerings at all levels.

As a company in existence for 70 years, Roberts Manufacturing has a wide range of products with very established brands, each of which bears a high level of brand equity. We have built a solid reputation for delivering products of the highest quality. Many of our products are now in the mature phase of the product life cycle and the onus is on the marketing team to continually refresh the image of our portfolio in an effort to maintain our relevance in the market. This includes updating the packaging of our products – an exercise we have recently concluded for our brands of soybean cooking oil. In the coming months, you will see our new, exciting packaging for Roberts, Buyer’s Choice and Sunrise soybean oils (see page 34).

The marketing team forms part of our internal product development team as we work to continuously improve the nutritional value of all products. In 2009, we commenced the transition of our margarines to spreads with Sunflower and Mello Kreem with a reduction in fat content. This is consistent with the purpose of our parent company, Neal & Massy Group, to be a “Force For Good – Creating Value, Transforming Life”.

We see it as our responsibility to produce products that aid in our nation’s fight against chronic, non-communicable diseases. This strategic initiative has led to the development of new products like Roberts Health Spread designed especially for people with sodiumrestricted diets. We have also transitioned our products to the point where a serving of our margarines, spreads and cooking oils contains no cholesterol or trans-fat. This is an ongoing programme as we seek to bring our cholesterol-free shortenings in line with our other transfat-free products.

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As market leaders in the categories in which we compete, it is important that we continually renew our message to appeal to the changing demographic of consumers. It is in this vein that we have conceptualised our new tagline – For The Love Of Cooking! – and created a Facebook page at Caribbean Loves Cooking which embraces our kaleidoscope of cultures depicted in Caribbean cuisine.

We have recognised the importance of listening to our customers and involving them in the process of researching and developing new and innovative products. For example, on our Facebook page, we recently launched a well received application to engage our customers in

Our competitive advantage lies not in economies of scale but rather in our focus of producing high-quality goods and offering reliable service to our customers. suggesting ideas for new spread flavours. We at Roberts hope to continually inspire the love of cooking in our region and have seen it fit to partner with Chef Peter Edey through the national Junior Duelling Challenge competition in Barbados and the Caribbean Junior Duelling Challenge contest, bringing students together from across the region with food.

Our competitive advantage lies not in economies of scale but rather in our focus of producing high-quality goods and offering reliable service to our customers, who can testify to the excellence of our unique products. However, we cannot ignore the threat of increased competition from imported substitutes in our categories. Therefore we have strategically adjusted our prices to combat these dangers to our dominant market position.

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There are opportunities in our existing export markets for expansion and we are actively working to capitalise on these with our local distribution partners in each territory. Our products are currently represented as far north as the United States and Canada and as far south as Guyana.

We are constantly on the lookout for ways to expand our distribution reach and partner with associations such as the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association and the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation on export trade missions and product expositions in new geographical areas.

Part of our strategy for growth includes the production of private label spreads, margarines and oils. Outside of Barbados, our private label portfolio includes Grace Prima Margarine for GraceKennedy Ltd and LASCO Margarine for LASCO Foods in Jamaica, Country House and Sun Meadow margarines and spreads for Little Woods Foods in Trinidad and Gloja’s Soybean Oil for Gloja’s Trading Ltd in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Dog food products produced by Vitamin Pet Foods are well distributed in Barbados and we hope to replicate this success throughout the region in the years to come. At Pinnacle Feeds, we remain committed to producing safe animal feed with the ultimate goal of having safe food available for the population of Barbados. Thank you for supporting our products.

Consistency

Pleases Bakers 1 The Barbadian public has long been enriched with the fine foods that have come out of Purity Bakeries for almost as long as Roberts’ 70 years in operation. The two companies, well versed in their respective fields for many decades, have been symbiotically enhancing the flavour palates of the Barbados public with their finely tuned products.

Purity Bakeries started up in the 1930s and it has been using Roberts’ products for as long as anyone can remember. General Manager, Andy Hope, recalled that in his 16 years with Purity, the bakery had always used Roberts’ margarines and shortenings.

“Roberts is very consistent. In the baking industry that’s one less thing to worry about,” said Hope. “They’re a reliable supplier and they are very ethical people to do business with. Some wonder why one would say that but it counts a lot in today’s world.”

Tucked away in Baxters Road, St. Michael is a small operation that seems quiet and unassuming from the exterior but step through the doors and you will see and smell the lovely goods that are produced using many Roberts’ products by the bakers at Bryan’s Bakery. Spending more than the short time to place an order and receive your delectable treat, Bryan’s Bakery shows to be a buzzing operation that has been utilising Roberts’ margarines and shortenings for its beautiful cakes and pastries for many years.

Francine Quimby is the mastermind behind this delightful shop’s attractive desserts. The business was started by her parents Julius and Dorothy Bryan, and her son is now a part of the family’s business too. Passers-by and order pickups abound at this little bakery that has been operating at its current location since 1991 and has been using margarines and shortenings from Roberts in its delectable desserts for years.

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“[Marketing Representative] Denis Maynard is very good to work with. Roberts is efficient and reliable and I get good results with what I use. If Denis has something new, he will send a sample and ask my opinion,” said Quimby on the bakery’s relationship with Roberts. Going further, she said, “Margarine plays a big part in my cakes and, as you can see, they are gorgeous!”

Many Barbadians know about Baker’s Mart, which has been in operation for many years. But few have ever walked behind the scenes to find the towering racks plentifully stocked with fluffy treats whose aroma wafts through the entire building. Anderson Nicholls, the proprietor of Baker’s Mart, has been using Roberts’ products for 30 years and their quality and consistency are precisely what keeps his business coming back to Roberts.

From the shortenings and margarines to the soybean oil produced

by Roberts, all are products that go into creating the golden deliciousness that is produced daily by Baker’s Mart. Nicholls has been maintaining a healthy relationship with Roberts across more than just the baking sphere as he used to be involved in farming and purchased animal feeds from Pinnacle. Now Baker’s Mart purchases goods from Roberts once a week for use at both of its outlets. From the margarine in its cakes to Roberts Sunflower Spread in its specialty breads, Baker’s Mart has been showcasing the value of its goods with Roberts’ ingredients.

“Over the years, their care and relationship with the customer has improved 100 per cent,” said Nicholls. “Roberts has a good product, don’t fool yourself; Puff Pastry, Glow Spread, Mello Kreem and its other margarines can compare with anywhere in the world.”

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Roberts Manufacturing’s margarines and shortenings have been featured ingredients in Purity Bakeries’ products for decades.

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Puff Pastry Margarine supplied by Roberts Maufacturing combine with savoury meat filling to produce the tasty meat rolls at Bryan’s Bakery .

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Roberts’ margarines are key ingredients in many a tasty pastry.

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Horseshoes in the making at Baker’s Mart.

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Baker’s Mart relies on the consistency of Roberts’ Puff Pastry margarine to produce the perfect horseshoes every time.

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Little Woods Foods –

A Long-Time Partner of Roberts EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF BARBADOS MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS ARE SHIPPED OUT OF THE ISLAND, ENRICHING OUR ECONOMY AND SPREADING THE WORD OF VALUED BARBADIAN GOODS. Roberts Manufacturing has been a large exporter of goods to the Caribbean for many years. One importer that benefits from this relationship is Little Woods Foods Company Ltd in Trinidad.

Since 1991, Little Woods Foods has been doing business with Roberts, distributing its private brands Country House and Sun Meadow in the Trinidad market. Every week containers of retail packaged and bulk margarines are sent to Trinidad for the consumer market and the baking industry.

It shows the value of product and displays the ingenuity that keeps them afloat in a dynamic market. Little Woods Foods would like to commend both past and present employees and the various directors who have steered this ship and contributed to the success that is Roberts.”

“Seventy years is a mammoth of a milestone in a company’s history. It shows the value of product and displays the ingenuity that keeps them afloat in a dynamic market.”

Managing Director, Gerry Harding, whose relationship with the Barbadian company spans more than 20 years, said he was very pleased with the services and products of Roberts.

“Roberts’ consistency is what keeps customers purchasing its products,” said Harding, who has been doing business with the 70-year-old company through five generations of chairmen and four managing directors, and enjoyed very cordial relationships with them.

“We started our negotiations in July of 1991 and by September our first container of bakery products arrived. In November 1991, our first shipment of packaged margarine was in the supermarkets. We are the largest importer of Roberts in the Caribbean,” said Harding.

He continued: “I’ve been to their 50th anniversary celebration and now it is good to see them through to their 70th. We continue to have a very good relationship.

“Little Woods Foods has had to compete with two Trinidad manufacturers and some importers, but we continue to give to our customers that extra taste and quality that they so richly deserve.

Seventy years is a mammoth of a milestone in a company’s history.

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Gerry Harding, Director, Little Woods Foods Company Ltd.

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Roberts

A Cheerful Giver AS AN INSTITUTION THAT TAKES ITS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY, ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED HAS OVER THE YEARS PROVIDED VALUED SUPPORT TO MANY A WORTHY CAUSE.

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From dog shows, equestrian events and other sporting activities to the popular Agrofest and Foreday Morning Jump Up at Crop Over, Roberts has established itself as an active benefactor of community initiatives.

Ever seeking out opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of its constituents, some ten-plus years ago Roberts Manufacturing adopted the Thelma Vaughn Children’s Home and has since then attended to some of the children’s and the home’s pressing needs.

April 17, 2014, turned out to be one such occasion as Senior Marketing Representative, Shari Green, and Administrative Assistant, Diana Greenidge, presented a brand-new Whirlpool sixburner stove to the home. Adding flavour to the presentation was the addition of bottles of Sunrise Soybean Oil and tubs of Mello Kreem Spread.

“We take this opportunity to give back to those within our community,” Green said. “We see this home as a very deserving constituent. The work that you do for these children is vitally important and we implore you to continue doing all that you do with love and dedication every day. There are many needs in our community and we at Roberts vow to do our utmost wherever we can to help as many as we can.”

Matron of the home, Janice Smitten, thankfully received the generous gift; she said that it would replace an older stove that had stopped working. Smitten, who has been matron of the home for the past ten years, said Roberts was already a benefactor of the home when she joined the staff, and that the company had helped the home in several ways.

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From left: handler, O’Neale Holder, with the Best In Show bull mastiff, judge, Michael Quinney, and Roberts Manufacturing representative, Denis Maynard, after the All Breeds Show sponsored by Vitamin Pet Foods Ltd.

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Part of the massive from the Roberts Manufacturing Truck escorted by members of the Task Force.

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Matron of the Thelma Vaughn Home, Janice Smitten (left), receiving the Whirlpool stove from Senior Marketing Representative, Shari Green, and Administrative Assistant, Diana Greenidge (right).

Delighting in the moment are Cameron Marshall and Pedro Phillips.

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Passion

Feeds Success HIS ENDURING PASSION IS COOKING AND, AS A BARBADIAN, HIS FOCUS IS STEADFASTLY TRAINED ON BAJAN CUISINE. As a boy, Peter Edey knew he wanted to be a chef. It was a burning desire he had, but it was neither nurtured at school nor at home.

He was not the best student at school, rather he fought being the worst. But when he gained admittance to the Barbados Hotel School, the transformation came. Edey’s star shone and he graduated at the top of the class.

His journey would see him working at top luxury hotels, on cruise ships and at luxury resorts in the United States, Canada, France and Britain. In 1995, he attained the Grand Diplome from the culinary college Ritz-Escoffier Ecole de Gastronomie, Paris, to become one of a few Barbadian internationally qualified executive chefs. He later became a certified culinary educator, enabling him to train, certify and accredit aspiring chefs.

He lectured at the Hospitality Division of the Barbados Community College and was president of the Barbados Culinary Federation. He was treasurer of the Caribbean Culinary Federation, and a regional and international consultant for agencies such as the Canadian Training Awards Projects, Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados Tourism Authority, Roberts Manufacturing and ADM Barbados Mills. He was also former manager of the very successful Barbados Culinary team.

Inspired by the need to fill a void in the industry nine years ago, Edey approached Roberts Manufacturing Co. Limited with an idea.

It was an idea born of necessity, an idea that involved creating among schoolchildren an interest in the culinary arts as a primary career choice rather than entering it by default. He had previously secured Roberts’ support for his Duelling Chefs programme, which became a hit television series. That show featured adults, but Edey believed focusing the initiative on the schools would help to cultivate the interest among the youth, feed the industry with developing talent and take Barbadian cooking to the next level.

He is full of praise for the team at Roberts, whom he said saw the vision and not only helped to bring it to the point at which it stands today, but continues to foster the development of the young entrants to Barbados’ culinary sector. Roberts not only

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provides financial support, it supplies all the margarines, spreads, shortenings and oils used in the programme.

“I get full support from Roberts in every area – monetary, products, information . . . . Roberts is the backbone of this programme,” Edey said. “And I can tell you clearly, we could never have done this programme without Roberts. Everything that I get from Roberts goes into this programme. This is theirs.”

The Junior Duelling Chefs initiative started as a programme within Barbados’ secondary schools, but evolved to include tertiary institutions such as the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic since it was opened to participants from ages 13 to 18. It then expanded to include students from the region, where the winner of the Barbados Junior Duelling Challenge represents this country in the Caribbean Junior Duelling Challenge. Edey and his amazing team have hosted contestants from countries to which Roberts exports its beloved cooking products, including St Vincent, St Lucia, Guyana, Dominica and Grenada.

Thanks to Roberts’ continued support, the winners of the Junior Duelling Chefs competition gain the opportunity to attend a culinary conference in Florida. Underscoring the educational value of the experience, Edey said it opened students’ eyes to the range of possibilities the industry offered.

“We take the winners to the Taste of the Caribbean competition – a competition where all the biggest chefs in the Caribbean compete for their country. Within that conference, you get training, butchery, cheese and milk seminars, . . . food safety seminars . . . .

So I said let me go and expose these youngsters to this at this age because then they could have a different view of what being a chef could be. They would see then that a chef is not only a person who can cook well and make food taste good, but there are so many opportunities open to you when you become a chef.”

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

Distributor Listing Global Wholesale Building #2 Bay 5 Ditraco Mall St Thomas US Virgin Islands 00802 (320) 714-1310 Mangrove Bakery East End Tortola British Virgin Islands (284) 495-2418 Sunrise Bakery Prucelle Estate Roadtown Tortola British Virgin Islands (284) 494-3344 A. S. Bryden & Sons (Antigua) Ltd. Corner Fort & Anchorage Roads St. John’s Antigua & Barbuda (268) 462-0381

Bryden Stokes Ltd. Barbarees Hill St Michael Barbados (246) 431-2600 SBI Distribution Inc. Spring Garden Highway St Michael Barbados (246) 424-9950 O. D. Brisbane & Sons (Dominica) Ltd. P. O. Box 145 Roseau Dominica (767) 449-2460 Geddes Grant Guyana Ltd. A Division of Trading & Distrbution Inc. R6 Ruimveldt Georgetown Guyana (011592) 272-031

Goodwill Agencies All Saints Road St John’s Antigua & Barbuda (268) 462-4793

Bryden & Minors Ltd. P. O. Box 14 Lagoon Road St George’s Grenada (473) 440-1325

Lake’s World P.O. Box 76 The Quarter Anguilla (264) 497-2240

Consolidated Foods Choc Castries St Lucia (758) 457-2000

James Hughes The Quarter Anguilla (264) 497-6359

Peter & Co. Ltd. Cul-De-Sac Castries St Lucia (758) 457-7000

O. D. Brisbane & Sons (Trading) Ltd. C.A.P Southwell Industrial Park P.O. Box 240 Basseterre St Kitts Nevis (869) 465-2330 Coreas Hazells Inc. P.O. Box 122 Porters Wharf Building Bay Street, Kingstown St Vincent & the Grenadines (784) 456-1201 Alstons Marketing Company Limited Uriah Bulter Highway Endeavour Road Chaguanas Trinidad & Tobago (868) 671- 2713 RAM’s Emdee Enterprises Ltd. Salem Main Road Salem Montserrat (664) 491-4507 B & S Marketing Inc. 4417 Glenwood Road Brooklyn, NY USA 11203-6527 (718) 434-4706 Regent Distribution Importers Showroom 6770-34 Devand Drive Mississauga L5T 2G3 Canada (519) 571-4626

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

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CONGRATULATIONS

to Roberts Manufacturing

on 70 years of

Manufacturing Excellence.

A leader in industrial gas, merchandise, equipment and service!

Industrial Gases • Welding Equipment & Supplies • Air Compressors & Tools • Fire Safety • Autobody Equipment • Pumps • Pool, Pond & Water Equipment • Safety Equipment & Shoes • Electrical & Hand Tools • Chemicals & Lubricants • Medical Equipment ͻ ŌĞƌͲ^ĂůĞƐ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ Θ /ŶƐƚĂůůĂƟŽŶƐ LOCATED OPP. THE POST OFFICE, CHEAPSIDE, BRIDGETOWN Tel: 436-6788/9

Email: sales@caribsupply.com www.caribsupply.com 48

ROBERTS MANUFACTURING CO. LIMITED • 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE

We are celebrating 70 years thanks to you!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS FOR 2013!

Perfect Attendance Awardees: Corey Brathwaite, Sylvester, Burke, Ena Gooding, John Gardiner, Terrel Niles, David Foster, Francis Dottin, Carlyle Jones, Michael Pierce, Hallam Cheltenham, Gilli Jonteaux, Terrence Porte, Melvin Worrell, Margaret Skinner, Carlos Alleyne, Jennifer Murphy, Verstine Sargeant, Charles Bowen, Barry Callendar, Stephen Boyce, Charles Crichlow, Hubert Weekes, Michael Clarke, Martin Johnson, Tony Spencer, Arthur Franklyn, Vanrick Padmore and Jason Sambrano.

Long Service Awardees: 40 years – Hallam Cheltenham; 35 years – Francis Dottin; 25 years – Nigel Alleyne, Stephen Boyce, Courtney Hunte, Martin Johnson; 20 years – Terrol Alleyne, Charles Brewster, Ebert Fields, Arthur Franklyn, Randolph Franklyn, Carlyle Jones, V. Ernelle Lord, John Taylor; 15 years – Christopher Brathwaite, Roger Holligan, Omar Layne, Andre Lynch, Charles Merritt, Eustace Weekes, Gurceyne Williams; 10 years – Adrian Holligan, Gilli Jonteaux.

Quality Awardees: Carlos Alleyne, John Gardiner, Ronald Yearwood, Charles Crichow, Shirley Squires-Payne, Nadine Benn-Greaves, Christopher Brathwaite, Rawle Lynch.

Special congratulations to our Employee of the Year from the Feed Plant, Charles Crichlow!