Jamaican food chief gets honorary doctorate

LONDON:

Birmingham businessman Wade Lyn CBE, CD, DL has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University (BCU) for his outstanding contribution to public life and his exceptional service to the UK’s second city.

Lyn, who was born in Jamaica, is the founder and managing director of Cleone Foods Limited, best known as the manufacturers of the ‘Island Delight’ range of Jamaican patties, and also the UK distributor for Juici Patties from Jamaica.

The honorary doctorate title, bestowed earlier this month, is in addition to the other accolades he has received over the years, including the CBE from the Queen in 2013, being appointed honorary consul for Jamaica in the West Midlands in 2013, awarded the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander (CD) from Jamaica in 2020 and, more recently, appointed deputy lieutenant of the West Midlands, representing the King.

Reacting to his latest honour, Lyn said, while it was a great accolade to receive it as an individual, he was more thankful for all the people who have supported him on his journey.

He said: “While one person gets awarded, I always say to my team - without you, I wouldn’t be able to get here. I hope it will showcase to young people what can be achieved in years to come. Everything is achievable, providing you do the hard work.”

Lyn, whose family hails from Chapelton in Clarendon, started Cleone Foods at a small base in Newtown in 1988 where he created Island Delight Jamaican patties, producing 5,000 weekly which were distributed to small retailers in Birmingham and London.

But, after moving to a larger base in Hockley, the company now produces 240,000 patties each week for major supermarket chains, including Sainsburys, Morrisons, Iceland, Asda and Co-op. They also stock wholesalers and small businesses in every major region of the country.

That’s more than 12 million patties a year, ranging in flavour from jerk chicken, curried lamb and chili beef to vegan and halal options - all baked in Hockley under the ‘Island Delight’ and ‘Juici’ branding.

Of the transformation, Lyn says he is very proud of the journey “we have been on”.

He was seven years old when he arrived in Birmingham in 1966 to live with relatives. After graduating from university with a bachelor of arts degree in education, he took a different path by working as a manager with a small food company in Wolverhampton.

The company produced Jamaican patties but, frustrated by their failure to see the potential of their products in the mainstream market, he decided to leave and set up Cleone Foods Limited.

He said: “We started with three staff, doing everything from the books and the pastry to developing the fillings and delivering across the West Midlands. Now we employ 80 staff and our products are in the biggest supermarkets in the country.”

He proudly cites his company’s long list of qualifications for hygiene and food standards. He also claims the chili labelling on food packaging to tell shoppers how spicy a product may be, was his invention.

“I have learned a lot in 30 years,” said Lyn, whose prowess and expertise earned him the role as a business ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, now King’s Trust.

“I like to listen to people – and I listen to everybody. I also like to surround myself with good people, who have the expertise and knowledge to help the business.”

That includes his daughter, Cleo, who Lyn regards as his natural successor.“I’m getting ready to hand the business over to her,” he said. “We’re not going to sell the company. The brand is good, and we are number one at what we do.”

But don’t expect Wade Lyn to sit around when he does step aside. “I look at everything as a blessing,” he said.

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try, and I express my sincere gratitude to my parents as they gave me the building blocks to life. It’s important to keep grabbing opportunities that come your way. And I want to continue inspiring other people, especially the younger generation.”