- FileKevin O'Brien Chang, the managing director of Fontana.
Andrew Green, Staff Reporter
AT A time when some question the wisdom of being in business in Jamaica, Fontana Pharmacy is expanding.
Opening the doors of its first branch on November 30, 1968 at Manchester Shopping Centre in Mandeville, Fontana Pharmacy did the same for its fourth outlet in December 2001. And last Thursday, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) recognised its achievement by presenting the company with one of two Job Creation Awards handed out at a ceremony held at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.
"The new pharmacy in Montego Bay is one of the largest in Jamaica," said Kevin O'Brien Chang, the managing director, in an interview following the awards presentation. It employs 30 people, bringing employment within the Fontana group to over 100.
The pharmacy at Bogue in Montego Bay is Fontana's second in that city, Mr. Chang said. The first was opened eight years ago at the Montego Bay Shopping Centre. This was followed two years later by a third branch at the SuperPlus Centre in Mandeville.
Branches are established, "whenever a good opportunity comes up," Mr. Chang said. The Bogue location was chosen because its new Fairview Shopping Centre home was at a good location, well planned, and "we liked the concept."
Located in a different area of Montego Bay from the first store, it taps a new market, Mr. Chang said. Adding the new branch was made easier by the existence of the earlier branch, which allowed for an assessment for the market demand.
There was talk in business circles about three years ago that Fontana would be taking an option on a store at the Millennium Centre, a giant shopping complex planned for Spanish Town. That real estate development has been slow to get off the ground however.
"Spanish Town is a good location," Mr. Chang said, when asked whether a new pharmacy was being planned for Jamaica's old capital. "I wouldn't mind going there."
Richard Chen, co-chairman of the PSOJ Job Creation Awards committee which manages the selection of awardees, had different view.
"It is nice to know they have expanded the business, going into Montego Bay," Mr. Chen said. And, "knowing Brian (Mr. Chang), I am sure he is eyeing Kingston."
Growing up in Mandeville, Mr. Chen said the Fontana Pharmacy there, "was where all the goodies were."
Fontana's mission statement says it aims to offer the widest variety of goods at low prices in a pleasant atmosphere, with easy parking and above all, warm, friendly and efficient service. It became a household word for people across the island for its products and service, but also for its successful corporate sponsorship programme.
The company was founded by Mr. Chang's parents, Bobby and Angela Chang who remain its chief executive officers. Anne Chang is the marketing director and Ray Therrien Chang is its technical director
"It is good to know families are still in charge," of businesses such as Fontana, Mr. Chen said. They have been consistent in upgrading their business and prove that success is achievable.
"Entrepreneurship is not just the ability to take an idea and turn it into a business," Mr. Chen said. "It also includes taking an existing business, even a mature business, and making more of it."
Along with Fontana Pharmacy, Restaurants of Jamaica, operators of the KFC franchise in Jamaica, also received an award for job creation at the PSOJ function.
