MIAMI – Jamaican company BnRs Holdings secured the second place award for its BBQ Madness jerk sauce in the “Best New Salsa, Sauce and Condiment in the Americas” category at the 14th staging of the Americas Food & Beverage (AF&B) Show in Florida.
The accolade was presented to BnRs Holdings, one of several Jamaican companies taking part in the mission facilitated by JAMPRO, during the AF&B awards ceremony cocktail reception at the Miami Beach Convention Centre on October 25. BBQ Madness, which is bottled under the Pedro Plains Jamaica Jerk line, was adjudged the runner-up by an awards committee moderated by leading food and beverage experts, who are appointed as the judging panel representative of restaurants, media, supermarket chains, catering enterprises, grocery and gourmet stores.
“It’s a hugely gratifying feeling. Getting this award is the best endorsement of a product that one could ask for. It makes one feel that the hard work has paid off,” stated Bertram Banton, Managing Director of BnRs Holdings. He also heaped high praises on JAMPRO, the national investment and trade promotion agency, for the support that it has consistently provided for his business.
Bertram Banton
“JAMPRO had a lot to do with our success. The support of JAMPRO is highly invaluable,” he pointed out.
Berletta Henlon Forrester, JAMPRO’s Export Promotion Manager, commended BnRs for its outstanding accomplishment at the show. She noted that the company’s latest success comes on the heels of good showings at the 56th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York in June and the SIAL Food Show in Paris last week. Jamaica’s participation in both events was spearheaded by JAMPRO.
“We are very proud of the achievement of BnRs and its authentic Jamaican product, which once again demonstrates our quality and distinctiveness to the world,” stated Henlon Forrester.
Pedro Plains Jamaica Jerk is the brainchild of Bertram and Rana Banton, who have teamed up with Paul Lewis to develop the range of products. From his many work-related global travels, Bertram Banton realized that Jamaican flavours and spices had the power to appeal to palettes all over the world. The company’s growing line of impressive products includes Malicious Hot Pepper Sauce, Hurricane Scotch Bonnet Sauce, Chaos Jerk Seasoning, Auntie Katie Marinade, Passion Fruit Jerk Marinade and Original Jerk sauce.
The 14th Americas Food & Beverage Show, which was staged from October 26 to 27, is the largest two-way trade exhibition in the western hemisphere dedicated to food and beverage. The Jamaican Pavilion attracted tremendous attention, with many visitors hailing it the best pavilion in the show.
Among the other Jamaican companies that took part in the event were Lasco (soy-based, milk-powder nutritious beverages), Worthy Park Estate Limited (Jamaican rum), Grace Foods International (porridge, sauces, juices, banana and plantain chips), The Jerk Place and Restaurant Limited (Matie Sauce and jerk seasoning), Creation Foods (porridge, grains and organic products), Wisynco, (beverages and bottled waters), Sue Tru Caribbean Manufacturers (jerk seasonings, sauces and honey) and Coffee Solutions (Blue Mountain Coffee). JAMPRO also used the opportunity to mount an integrated Brand Jamaica display featuring a broader range of products.
