Moodies expand to Montego Bay
Published:Friday | August 27, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Moodies are deepening their footprint in the drug-dispensation business through expansion into Montego Bay but say they won't be exporting the company name so well known in Kingston.
The family that launched York Pharmacy in the 1970s now plans to build a new brand under the name of Avalon Pharmacy, which will operate from The Whitter Village shopping complex at Ironshore.
The investment was not disclosed but is expected to create 12-20 jobs.
Clay Moodie, son of Garth Moodie, said Avalon would open in 5,900 square feet of space by early September in the back-to-school period.
"We think that Montego Bay opens a lot of opportunity," he told the Financial Gleaner.
"Montego Bay is growing rapidly with a lot of commercial development and now is a good opportunity to branch out of Kingston."
With some 15 years' experience in the banking sector, Clay Moodie last year left the profession and joined the family business. But he noted that he learnt the business at the feet of his father while growing up.
He will be the managing director of Avalon.
The Whitter Village is a new complex developed by Joe and Angella Whitter.
Angella said so far, space has been taken up by a mix of businesses, including Italian, Chinese and Indian restaurants; a supermarket, electronic stores, and an office of the US Embassy, which offers visa services.
She said the 245,000-square foot complex was 65 per cent occupied ahead of its official October opening.
The complex, which began construction two years ago, is a US$35-million investment.
Angella said the shopping complex would offer security, parking and a beautiful ambience.
"It is a beautiful project, a breath of fresh air," she said.
Clay said, given the location of the Whitter complex, he anticipates strong customer traffic.
"We are ideally located in the tourism belt. The Whitter shopping village has a bright potential it has modern facilities, a positive that we can benefit from," he said.