By Al Edwards, Business Co-ordinatorJAMAICAN SEASONING and condiments enjoy a good reputation the world over and Tweedside Processors is looking to export the country's finest and so make a name for itself.
The company began life in 1983 selling perishable foods to Canada under the name Marnipet Export Company. That venture proved both unpredictable and unprofitable and so its founder, Warren Prestwidge, decided to switch into non-perishable goods and so turned to exporting ackee.
With a capital start-up of $200,000 the business did well and in 1986 he bought a property in Tweedside Clarendon to process the ackee for the export market. He acquired the property from John Cooke for $260,000. The company called Tweedside Processors prospered for a few years and was able to survive the high interest rate regime of the late eighties.
In 1990, the company got into the manufacturing of jerk seasoning. Speaking with the Financial Gleaner, Mr. Prestwidge said: "It took us some time to offer jerk seasoning but we were focused upon producing a line of Jamaican products for both the home and export market. We had a good customer in Island Grill supplying them with jerk seasoning for its unique brand of Jamaican cuisine. Before Island Grill, Thalia Lyn ran Supreme Chicken which used an American based seasoning. Then Mrs. Lyn switched to my product and business started to boom for us."
"We then decided to increase our line of products and brought in Mrs. Jennifer Lyne to develop a range of new products. We also received technical help from USAID and Lando Lakes. Dr. Durward Smith was instrumental in helping us develop and produce a pineapple mango sauce which has won The Observer's culinary award".
The company is fine tuning this sauce and will put it on the market before the end of this year.
In 1999/2000 Tweedside's turnover stood at $42 million with ackee accounting for most of that. The jerk seasoning accounted for 9 per cent. Tweedside keeps ackee in stock all year round and reinvests its profits in stock though Mr. Prestwidge said that the last two years have proved testing for the business.
"We are relocating and building a new factory from scratch to be located in Clarendon. It will cost between $25-30 million. It will be Hazard Analysis Critical Country Point (HACCP) compliant so that we can begin to export ackee to the United States."
The EXIM bank has provided a $10 million credit facility as Tweedside looks to expand its operations. Already it produces Pineapple Mango Sauce, Tweedside Ackee, Mild Mango Sauce, Banana Sauce, Jerk Seasoning, Jerk Bar-B-Que, Vegetarian Red Pea Soup, Dried Chicken Seasoning, Dried Fish Seasoning and Dried Jerk Seasoning.
EXPORTS TO
The company exports to the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. The United States has been very vigilant in determining just who, and in what quantities, ackee is exported into that country. Only four factories have been approved by the FDA and now have direct entry into the United States. Tweedside is looking to become the fifth and is accelerating development of its new factory set on 5 acres in Clarendon.
Tweedside is looking to enter new markets, namely, Australia, India and Japan
"The Japanese market is a bit tough to crack but JAMPRO has told us of the interest there in jerk seasoning and we are hoping we can supply that market," said Tweedside's marketing manager, Rose-Marie Black.
The company also has plans to open a restaurant in Kingston where its products will be prominently displayed.
PROJECTING SALES
Tweedside is hoping for a good year and is projecting sales of $80 million for 2003. As of August sales are at $45 million. Looking to 2004, the company is expecting a 12 per cent increase on this year's sales.
Condiment sales worldwide are on the up and no doubt Tweedside will use this as a springboard for its operations. To this end the company has acquired a property in Cross Roads where it will produce juices including fruit punch, its Red Pea Vegetarian Soup and its sauces. It will be adding Mackerel in coconut run down and Pina Colada to its product line.
