CPJ honours outstanding dedication and performance at awards ceremony

Held at the historic Good Hope Estate, over 500 team members and specially ­invited guests were treated to the same high-caliber hospitality food, ­service and ambiance that their customers provide at Jamaica’s best hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

CPJ is one of Jamaica’s most ­important entrepreneurial success stories. Founders, Mark Hart and Tom Tyler started the logistics and distribution business with one container of toilet paper in 1994. Now, CPJ is the largest institutional ­distributor in Jamaica, specialising in supplying essential goods to the hospitality industry, Jamaica’s key income driver. From dry goods, food and beverage products to wines, spirits, and more, CPJ plays a key role in supporting the island’s ­tourism product.

“Watching the company grow over the last 25 years has been a dream come true,” said.

CPJ’s founder and co-chairman, Tom Tyler. “We dreamt it then created the opportunities to achieve it, and with a ­dedicated staff behind us, we made it happen. It was ­important to share this milestone with our team and make it something we would look back on fondly when we ­celebrate our 50th anniversary.”

CPJ aimed to inspire ­employees and give them something that would make them feel proud and passionate about the service they provide. By far, the staff awards were the biggest highlight of the evening. Outstanding team members received awards for top performance over the past year, and the company ­recognised the dedicated service of those who reached 10, 15, and 20-year milestones.“Twenty-five years is a very significant milestone for the organisation. We wanted to honour our standout team ­members and set the stage for greater things to come,” stated founder and ­executive ­chairman Mark Hart. “We’re proud to have so many long-standing employees. It’s a ­testament to the sense of family in the company and the strong ­foundation we’ve built over the years.”

If CPJ’s Annual Awards and ­celebrations are any hint of what is to come for the organisation, then its team can expect many more years of business successes to celebrate. Recently recognised by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association for “Invaluable Service to the Hotel Industry,” CPJ’s ­commitment to supporting Jamaica’s tourism product shows no sign of stopping.

The future, according to its founders, is not just in Jamaica, but also the region. The company began operations in St Lucia four years ago, which they say is a stepping stone for other markets. No doubt, the track record of many long-­tenured staff members ­combined with fresh, incoming ­talent ­demonstrates that the company has the knowledge and expertise to carry it forward and meet its ambitions.