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GraceKennedy Opens US$5M Grace/La Fe Facility in New Jersey

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The GraceKennedy Group took another step towards realising its  vision of becoming a Global Consumer Group on Monday, October 7, when it officially opened its brand new Grace/La Fe facility in Woodbridge, New Jersey. The facility, which cost the company some US$5M, will drive increased operating facilities and reduce costs, while having the teams centrally located under one roof.

At the opening event, GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby noted the company’s 97 year history and its global aspirations. “To realise this vision of becoming a Global Consumer Group, we determined that we needed to have our own company in the US, because of the size and potential of this market. In doing our due diligence we recognized that there is a closeness and many similarities between the Jamaican and other Caribbean islands, and the Latin American cultures. Both have a unique spirit and passion that translates to every aspect of our lives. Family values are paramount and we share a real passion for good food. In fact, food is an integral part of all our celebrations. We were able to find a great match in the La Fe brand being a strong Hispanic brand and this journey started in 2013. Since then, both the Grace and La Fe brands have experienced significant growth year on year,” he said.

GK International Foods CEO, Mrs Andrea Coy, advised that the US$5M invested, facilitated the   construction of a custom-built 125,000 square foot facility, which she said, boasted a modern layout, and was fully compliant with all health and safety requirements. “This facility will enable us to better serve our loyal partners and customers, which is of paramount importance to us,” she added.

In stating his confidence that the investment would pay off, GraceKennedy Chairman, Professor Gordon Shirley noted how happy he was to see the team in their new, modern and efficient space. “We have the best and brightest young persons working to grow the Grace and La Fe brands, and I am confident we will see the returns on our investment, achieved through our most important investment – human capital,” he said.

The breakfast event saw some 70 guests in attendance, among them GraceKennedy Directors Gina Phillipps Black and Everton McDonald, Chief Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel, Mrs Gail Moss-Solomon, CHRO, Mrs Naomi Holness, CFO, Mr Andrew Messado and GraceKennedy International Foods Business CEO, Mrs Andrea Coy. GKUS CEO, Derrick Reckord served as the event’s emcee, with Jamaica’s Consul General to New York, Mrs Alison Roach-Wilson, bringing greetings.

Mr Wehby told the attendees that he firmly believed that GKUSA had the potential to be the number one or two Hispanic brand in the USA. “If we stay the course, increase our efficiencies and focus on innovation, together we can achieve this goal. This business is of critical importance to our vision of becoming a Global Consumer Group.  We have operated this company for over five years and since inception, I have said that our GraceKennedy USA operations, through our Grace and La Fe brands, will be a game changer for the GraceKennedy Group. Standing here today at the opening of this great facility, seeing the team sitting here before me, I feel that more strongly than ever. And I am very proud,” he said.

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The Global Business Leader Charity Golf Tournament – Jamaica November 2025

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The Global Business Leader Charity Golf Tournament is set to elevate the intersection of business and sport like never before. Golf has rapidly become a favorite pastime among executives, and this event marks the first of its kind in this unique format, debuting in Jamaica in November 2025, with plans to expand globally.

Bringing together top executives from around the world (with special focus on Africa, Asia, Europe and Caribbean), this prestigious tournament will see them compete across three world-class courses over five thrilling days, all vying for the coveted title of “Best Global Business Leader Golfer.” With global bragging rights on the line, this is more than just a game—it’s a chance for companies, employees, and fans to rally behind their business leaders in a high-stakes competition.

Get ready to witness business leadership meet competitive golf on a global stage in November 2025!

For More Information please email info@asterixtourism.com or contact

Roy Page for Player Registration, Accommodation,  charter flights and logistics – 876-781-7588

Peter Lindo for Competition execution and management – 876-8159700

Aldo Antonio Muir for Marketing, Promotions and Sponsorship -876-542-3719

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Unilever Initiates Talks To Potentially Sell Ice Cream Business

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Unilever has initiated talks with buyout firms to potentially sell its ice cream business, a move estimated to be worth up to $19.4 billion. This strategic decision aims to streamline Unilever’s operations and focus on its core business areas.

Unilever’s ice cream division, which includes renowned brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, and Wall’s, generated a turnover of €7.9 billion in 2023, representing about 13% of the company’s total sales. The separation will create a standalone ice cream business with significant global presence in both in-home and out-of-home segments.

The sale is driven by the distinct operational needs of the ice cream business, which differ from Unilever’s other segments. Ice cream has unique supply chain requirements, seasonal demand fluctuations, and higher capital intensity. By separating, Unilever can focus on its remaining core segments—Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, and Nutrition—aiming for mid-single-digit sales growth and improved margins post-separation​.

The potential buyers include private equity firms like Advent International, Blackstone, Cinven, and CVC Capital Partners, which have shown preliminary interest. The separation process will involve significant operational changes, including a major productivity program aimed at reducing costs by €800 million over the next three years, offsetting any dis-synergies from the separation. This plan also involves a restructuring that will impact approximately 7,500 predominantly office-based roles globally​​.

Overall, this move is expected to create a world-leading ice cream business with the flexibility to grow and innovate independently while enabling Unilever to become a more focused and higher-performing company.

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Consolidating Marketing Efforts into a Social-First Framework: A Data-Driven Approach

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In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, consolidating marketing efforts into a social-first framework has become essential for brands seeking to maximize the effectiveness of their marketing channels, content strategies, and influencer collaborations. This comprehensive approach leverages the power of social media to create a cohesive and data-driven marketing strategy that enhances engagement, reach, and ROI.

Understanding the Social-First Framework
A social-first framework prioritizes social media as the primary channel for marketing activities. This approach ensures that all marketing efforts are integrated and optimized for social media platforms, where consumers increasingly spend their time. By consolidating efforts into a social-first strategy, brands can streamline their marketing processes and make more informed decisions based on real-time data and consumer insights.

Benefits of a Social-First Framework

Unified Marketing Channels:
Consolidating marketing efforts into a social-first framework allows brands to create a unified strategy across multiple channels. This ensures consistency in messaging and branding, leading to a stronger and more cohesive brand presence.

Example: Coca-Cola effectively uses a social-first approach by maintaining consistent branding and messaging across all social media platforms, which reinforces their brand identity and enhances consumer recognition​​.

Enhanced Content Strategies:
A social-first framework enables brands to develop content strategies that are tailored to the preferences and behaviors of their social media audiences. By analyzing social media data, brands can create content that resonates more deeply with their target audience.

Example: Starbucks uses social media analytics to understand what types of content their audience engages with the most. This data-driven approach allows them to create highly relevant and engaging content, from seasonal promotions to user-generated content campaigns​.

Optimized Influencer Collaborations:
Integrating influencer marketing into a social-first framework ensures that influencer collaborations are aligned with overall marketing goals and strategies. Social media data can help identify the most effective influencers and measure the impact of their campaigns.

Example: Daniel Wellington’s influencer marketing strategy is deeply integrated into their social-first framework. By leveraging data to identify influencers who resonate with their target audience, they have successfully driven brand awareness and sales​​.

Implementing a Social-First Framework

Centralized Data Collection and Analysis:
To implement a social-first framework, brands need to centralize their data collection and analysis. This involves using tools that aggregate data from various social media platforms, providing a comprehensive view of consumer behavior and campaign performance.

Example: Sprout Social offers robust analytics tools that help brands gather and analyze social media data, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize their marketing strategies​​.

Content Creation and Distribution:
Content should be created with a social-first mindset, ensuring that it is optimized for the platforms where it will be shared. This includes creating visually appealing graphics, engaging videos, and interactive posts that are tailored to each platform’s unique features.

Example: GoPro’s social-first content strategy involves creating stunning visual content that showcases their products’ capabilities. By focusing on user-generated content and sharing it on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, GoPro effectively engages their audience and promotes their brand​ (Latest Insights)​.

Leveraging Real-Time Engagement:
Social media allows for real-time interaction with consumers, providing an opportunity to build stronger relationships and address customer needs promptly. Brands should use this capability to engage with their audience, respond to feedback, and foster a sense of community.

Example: Nike’s real-time engagement strategy involves actively responding to customer inquiries and comments on social media. This proactive approach not only improves customer satisfaction but also enhances the brand’s reputation as responsive and customer-focused​.

Conclusion
Consolidating marketing efforts into a social-first framework provides a comprehensive and data-driven approach that maximizes the potential of marketing channels, content strategies, and influencer collaborations. By prioritizing social media, brands can create more cohesive and effective marketing campaigns, engage with their audience in meaningful ways, and drive better business outcomes. Adopting a social-first strategy is essential for brands looking to thrive in the digital age and stay ahead of the competition.

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Elevating Traditional Marketing Efforts Through an Always-On, Social-First Lens

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In today’s digital age, traditional marketing efforts such as experiential marketing and customer service can be significantly enhanced through an always-on, social-first strategy. This approach not only increases engagement and reach but also creates a seamless brand experience for consumers. Here’s how brands can scale and elevate these efforts:

1. Transforming Experiential Marketing

Digital Amplification of Live Events:
Experiential marketing, which focuses on creating immersive brand experiences, can reach a broader audience by leveraging social media. Live streaming events, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive social media campaigns can extend the impact of physical events to a global audience.

Example: Red Bull’s Stratos Jump was not just an in-person event but a global phenomenon, thanks to its extensive live streaming and social media coverage. By sharing real-time updates and encouraging user-generated content, Red Bull created a massive online buzz that amplified the event’s reach and impact​​.

Creating Virtual Experiences:
Incorporating virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into experiential marketing allows brands to create immersive experiences that can be shared on social media. This not only engages users but also encourages them to share their experiences, further extending the brand’s reach.

Example: IKEA’s AR app, which allows customers to visualize furniture in their homes, was widely shared on social media. This social-first approach turned a functional tool into an engaging experience that users were excited to share with their networks​.

2. Enhancing Customer Service

Always-On Customer Support:
Social media provides a platform for brands to offer real-time customer support. By utilizing chatbots and AI, brands can ensure 24/7 availability, quickly addressing customer inquiries and issues. This always-on support enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Example: Nike uses Twitter to handle customer service inquiries efficiently. Their dedicated support account (@NikeSupport) provides real-time responses, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to customer care​.

Personalized Customer Interactions:
Brands can use social media to offer personalized customer service, leveraging data to tailor interactions. Personalized responses and proactive engagement based on past interactions make customers feel valued and understood.

Example: Spotify uses data-driven insights to personalize their interactions with users on social media. By addressing users by name and referencing their listening habits, Spotify creates a personalized experience that enhances customer satisfaction​.

3. Scaling Content Through User Engagement

User-Generated Content (UGC):
Encouraging customers to create and share content related to their brand experiences can significantly amplify marketing efforts. UGC not only provides authentic content but also increases engagement as users feel part of the brand community.

Example: GoPro excels at leveraging UGC by encouraging users to share videos and photos captured with their products. This content is then featured on GoPro’s social media channels, showcasing real user experiences and inspiring potential customers​.

Influencer Partnerships:
Collaborating with influencers can scale traditional marketing efforts by leveraging their established audiences. Influencers can create engaging content that resonates with their followers, extending the brand’s reach and authenticity.

Example: Daniel Wellington’s influencer marketing strategy involved sending free watches to influencers, who then shared their experiences on social media. This approach helped the brand achieve significant growth and recognition​​.

4. Integrating Data-Driven Insights

Real-Time Analytics:
Social media platforms offer robust analytics tools that provide insights into consumer behavior and campaign performance. Brands can use this data to refine their strategies, ensuring that marketing efforts are continuously optimized for better results.

Example: Starbucks uses social media analytics to track customer sentiment and engagement. By analyzing this data, they can adjust their campaigns in real-time, ensuring that their marketing efforts are always relevant and effective​​.

Feedback Loops:
Social media allows for immediate feedback from customers, which can be used to improve products, services, and marketing strategies. Creating a feedback loop where customer insights are regularly integrated into business decisions helps brands stay aligned with consumer needs.

Example: Sephora utilizes social media to gather customer feedback on new products. This feedback is then used to make adjustments and improvements, ensuring that the brand meets customer expectations​ (Sprout Social)​.

Conclusion
By adopting an always-on, social-first approach, brands can scale and elevate traditional marketing efforts such as experiential marketing and customer service. This strategy not only extends the reach and impact of these efforts but also creates a more engaging and personalized experience for consumers. Leveraging social media’s capabilities for real-time interaction, personalization, and data-driven insights ensures that marketing efforts remain relevant and effective in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

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Humanizing Brands Through Influencer Marketing: A Guide to Resonating with Social-First Audiences

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In today’s digital landscape, humanizing a brand is crucial for resonating with social-first audiences. Leveraging influencer marketing effectively can bridge the gap between brands and consumers, fostering authentic connections and enhancing brand loyalty. Here’s how brands can utilize influencer marketing to achieve these goals:

1. Authentic Storytelling
Influencers as Storytellers: Influencers are adept at weaving personal stories into their content, making them ideal partners for brands aiming to humanize their image. By sharing their genuine experiences with a product, influencers can create relatable and engaging narratives that resonate deeply with their followers.

Example: Nike collaborates with influencers who share their fitness journeys, personal challenges, and triumphs. These authentic stories not only promote Nike products but also inspire and connect with audiences on an emotional level​​.

2. Micro-Influencers for Relatability
The Power of Micro-Influencers: Micro-influencers, those with smaller but highly engaged followings, often come across as more relatable and trustworthy. Their recommendations feel like advice from a friend rather than a sales pitch, which can significantly humanize a brand.

Example: Beauty brands like Glossier leverage micro-influencers to showcase everyday use of their products. This strategy has helped Glossier build a community-driven brand image that feels personal and approachable​.

3. Interactive and Engaging Content
Engagement Through Interaction: Influencers can facilitate direct interaction between brands and consumers through Q&A sessions, live streams, and interactive stories. This type of content allows consumers to engage directly with the brand, fostering a sense of community and connection.

Example: Starbucks often collaborates with influencers to host live coffee-making sessions or behind-the-scenes tours of their stores. These interactive sessions allow followers to ask questions and engage in real-time, making the brand more accessible and human​.

4. Highlighting Brand Values and Social Causes
Championing Causes: Influencers who align with a brand’s values and social causes can help highlight these aspects authentically. This not only humanizes the brand but also builds trust and loyalty among consumers who share similar values.

Example: Patagonia partners with environmental influencers to promote its commitment to sustainability. These influencers share stories and content that highlight Patagonia’s environmental efforts, resonating with eco-conscious consumers​​.

5. Behind-the-Scenes Content
Transparency Through BTS: Behind-the-scenes content provided by influencers can offer a glimpse into the brand’s operations, culture, and people. This transparency can humanize the brand by showing the human effort and passion behind the products.

Example: Brands like Ben & Jerry’s use influencers to share behind-the-scenes content of their ice cream-making process, their fair trade practices, and employee stories. This approach helps consumers see the brand as a collection of real people and values, not just a corporate entity​.

6. User-Generated Content and Community Building
Empowering Consumers: Encouraging influencers to create and share user-generated content (UGC) can amplify the voices of everyday consumers, making the brand feel more inclusive and community-driven. UGC campaigns often lead to higher engagement and loyalty.

Example: Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign, where influencers and consumers shared personalized Coke bottles, created a massive amount of UGC. This not only promoted the product but also built a sense of community and personal connection around the brand​​.

Conclusion
Influencer marketing offers a dynamic and effective way to humanize brands and resonate with social-first audiences. By leveraging authentic storytelling, engaging content, and aligning with influencers who share their values, brands can foster deeper connections with consumers. This approach not only enhances brand perception but also drives loyalty and long-term engagement.

In a world where consumers crave authenticity and connection, influencer marketing stands out as a powerful tool for humanizing brands and making them more relatable to their audiences.

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