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JMA AWARDS - Wray & Nephew is top manufacturer

Published:Friday | October 29, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Harry Harper, director of JHA Associates, accepts the Digicel Business ICT Award for investment in IT infrastructure, from Digicel Jamaica Chief Executive Officer Mark Linehan.
Emile Azan (left), managing director of Boss Furniture, accepts the Jamaica Manu-facturers' Association (JMA) President's Cup for Medium Exporter from Brian Pengelley, deputy president of JMA, at the JMA's 42nd Annual Awards Banquet and presentation ceremony at the Wyndham Kingston hotel, New Kingston on Wednesday. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Gary Ferguson (left), marketing representative of Caribbean Cement Company Limited, accepts the Prime Minister's Cup for large exporter from Karl Samuda at the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association Limited 42nd Annual Awards Banquet and presentation ceremony at the Wyndham Kingston hotel, New Kingston. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Anand James (left), managing director of Caribbean Flavours and Fragrances Limited, accepts the Ray Hadeed Award for 'Best Small and Medium Sized Enterprise' from Russell Hadeed.
J. Wray and Nephew Limited has won the 2010 top prize as Manufacturer of the Year, awarded by the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association. Posing with the trophy are (from left) Greta Bogues of Wray and Nephew; JMA president Omar Azan; Lisa Bell of EXIM Bank; Gary Hendrickson, chairman of EXIM Bank; and Governor General Sir Patrick Allen. The awards were made at the JMA's 42nd Awards Banquet, held at the Wyndham Kingston hotel, New Kingston, on Wednesday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
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J. Wray and Nephew Limited, Jamaica's premier rum distillers, has once again copped the Governor General's trophy as Manufacturer of the Year for 2009.

J. Wray and Nephew last won the award, presented by the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA), in 2007, but it lost out to Red Stripe in 2008.

"It has been a very challenging year for us but I think that the team has pulled together and we are very delighted that we were able to take back the trophy," said Greta Bogues, general manager of the Corporate Affairs Division, shortly after accepting the award from the company on Wednesday night.

Caribbean Cement Company was awarded the Prime Minister's Cup in the large exporter category for posting a record 482 per cent increase in exports in 2009.

"Hard work," said marketing representative Gary Ferguson, succinctly describing the company's feat, as he collected the award.

"We are very encouraged by this," he said. "We have gone into new markets and we have been helping to rebuild Haiti."

Boss Furniture, headed by JMA president Omar Azan, won the President's Cup in the medium exporter category after posting a 110 per cent gain in cross-border sales in 2009.

Spur Tree Spices copped the Jampro Cup for small exporter. Its exports rose 190 per cent in 2009.

"We are going after the big one next year. The potential is there," declared Spur Tree director Mohan Jagnarine.

"We have to export our way out of our problems. we have the potential, we don't have to borrow any money, we just need to produce and export."

The company manufac-tures and supplies large hotels with its jerk sauces and other seasonings.

Caribbean Flavours and Fra-grances Limited got the Ray Hadeed Award for Best Small and Medium Sized Enterprise.

"It is a tremendous feeling to win the Ray Hadeed trophy," said managing director Anand James.

"Remember, Ray Hadeed was one of the best manufacturers in this country ... . So we are really proud to be a recipient of this award," he said.

Other awardees were Red Stripe, which picked up the Robert Lightbourne Award for productivity; Cal's Manufacturing, which earned the Charles Henderson-Davis Award For Breakthrough Product of the Year with its Real Vibes Party Wine; Newport Fersan, which got the Eddie Hall Award for new manufacturer of the year; Nicorp Limited, the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Award For Competitiveness; Wray & Nephew got a second bite with the USAID Award For Best Environmental Management Programme; Smith & Stewart Distributors Limited got the Enablement Award, which is sponsored by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, for employing eight disabled persons.

P.A. Benjamin Manufacturing Company Limited also got the Nicola Gordon-Rowe Buy Jamaican Award; JHA Associates won the Digicel Business ICT Award; and Newport Fersan, which also got a second prize, the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited Award For Best Use of Energy and Resource Efficiency.

Special recognition awards went to Wray and Nephew for large manufacturer and JHA Associates for small manufacturer.

Designs by Marc copped the award for Community Development and HIV/AIDS Advocacy.

dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com