A supply chain leader’s take on how weak governance, poor integration, and reactive leadership cost Jamaica Broilers billions, and what Caribbean firms must do differently.
As a Jamaican-born supply chain executive working in the United States, I’ve seen firsthand how ambition without execution can quickly become a liability. That’s exactly what happened to Jamaica Broilers Group Limited. For nearly 70 years, JBG has been a symbol of Caribbean manufacturing excellence. However, in early 2025, the company announced its first quarterly loss in history, primarily driven by a $1.15 billion loss from its U.S. operations.
Recent news articles suggest that miscalculations in valuing inventory and biological assets contributed to financial losses. As a leader in operations, financial transformation, and supply chain audits, I can state:
This was not just a financial mistake. It was a strategic failure of systems, governance, and business leadership.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Based on regulatory filings and media reports from Our Today and the Jamaica Observer, here’s what went wrong:
- JBG admitted to using “unsubstantiated accounting valuation methodologies” affecting inventories and biological assets
- The company expects a material restatement of U.S. earnings
- It recorded a J$1.15 billion quarterly loss, compared to a J$1.3 billion profit the year before
- U.S. operating profit fell from J$2.98 billion to J$922 million over nine months
- The entire U.S. leadership team was removed, including Stephen Levy, the CEO’s brother
- External financial advisors were brought in, and reports were delayed twice before being released
This wasn’t an isolated oversight. It was a total breakdown in the systems that connect supply chain performance to financial truth.
Where the Strategy Failed
1. Operations and Finance Were Completely Disconnected
JBG’s misstatement of inventory and biological assets tells me one thing: Finance was not operating with real-time data from the supply chain. In an asset-heavy industry like poultry, valuation accuracy is directly tied to production yields, biological input tracking, and inventory turnover. If those systems are disconnected, your balance sheet is based on assumptions.
Insight: You can’t fix what you can’t see. Real-time inventory visibility is no longer optional, especially in a low-margin industry.
2. Governance Was Passive, Not Proactive
The issues in the U.S. operation were only uncovered during a quarterly review. This means that for months, the leadership based in Jamaica had no visibility into what was truly occurring. There were no warning signs, no escalation triggers, and no governance frameworks in place to identify these missteps earlier.
Insight: Foreign subsidiaries must be governed as extensions of the enterprise, not as independent silos. Operational governance is not a meeting, it is a system.
3. No Strategic Positioning in the U.S. Market
JBG tried to enter the U.S. poultry market as a mainstream player. No diaspora segmentation. No culturally driven SKUs. No unique value proposition. That meant they were competing directly with industry giants like Tyson Foods and Sanderson Farms, with no brand edge or pricing power.
Insight: In the U.S., don’t compete on commodity. Compete on culture, value, and customer alignment. JBG ignored the Caribbean diaspora, and with it, a major advantage.
4. Overexpansion Without Standardization
JBG operated two facilities in the United States, located in Iowa and South Carolina, without a unified operational model. The systems were not standardized, and the processes were not synchronized. The resulting consequences were significant.
- Ballooning operating expenses
- Fragmented performance metrics
- Reduced supply chain efficiency
Insight: Expansion is not growth unless it is built on a repeatable model. Two facilities without one process is not scale, it is confusion.
What They Still Haven’t Fixed
Despite public admissions and leadership changes, JBG has not yet addressed:
- Whether it will consolidate operations under a single facility
- How will it implement diaspora-driven branding and product segmentation
- What new controls are being put in place for real-time operational audits
- How will its ERP or financial reporting systems be upgraded
The response remains focused on personnel. But this was never just a people problem. It was a process problem.
My Recommendations for Caribbean Firms Entering the U.S.
As someone who has optimized supply chains, here is what I recommend:
1. Integrate ERP Systems Across All Operational Units
Ensure that inventory data, production yields, and cost accounting are aligned and communicate effectively with one another daily.
2. Establish Governance With Clear Escalation Protocols
Don’t wait for quarterly reports. Build monthly audits, early-warning triggers, and local compliance reviews into your operations.
3. Build With Culture at the Center
Diaspora markets are not just nostalgic, they are loyal. Own that connection with specialized SKUs and targeted marketing.
4. Standardize Before You Scale
Replicate only what works. Make sure your first location operates with precision before opening a second.
5. Tell the Truth Sooner
Market trust is built on clarity. Communicate failures transparently, and show the systems being built to prevent recurrence.
I’m not writing this to criticize JBG. I share this because I’ve witnessed this narrative repeatedly. This was a billion-dollar lesson, highlighting the need for Caribbean businesses to prioritize operational discipline over mere optimism when expanding into the U.S.
Financial breakdowns start as operational blind spots. Visibility isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation of trust.

Jermaine Robinson, MBA, CSCP
Strategic Supply Chain Leader | Global Logistics & Distribution Leader | Driving Operational Excellence & Digital Transformation
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of companies or clients for whom the author/s are currently working or have worked. Any content provided by the author/s is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.