Business View Caribbean | Volume 8, Issue 7

45 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 8, ISSUE 7 or when there is a natural disaster such as a hurricane.” Over the years the company has seen a few changes – the New Zealand Dairy Board eventually became Fonterra Co-Operative Group Limited, and in 1996, GraceKennedy purchased shares from all local dairy distributors creating a 50:50 joint venture between Fonterra and GraceKennedy. DIJL also expanded its product line to include a range that offers much more than just canned cheese. Today, the company manufactures milk powder, yogurt, and 10 kinds of cheeses through its six separate brands: Tastee Cheese, Crest, and Cheder, which all produce cheese; This Is Really Great!, which produces yogurt; Good2Grow, a kid’s line that offers yogurt and powdered shakes; and finally, Anchor, DIJL’s powdered milk line. They also recently inked a co-manufacturing deal with NESTLÉ to produce the company’s Everyday Milk Powder and are currently exploring additional products. DIJL, whose factory is located on Washington Boulevard in Kingston, plans to branch out to provide a more diverse line, including more cultured products. Currently, they are developing a sour cream, drinkable yogurt, and a cream cheese. “We want to be able to spread our risk, especially since a significant percentage of our sales is generated from canned cheese,” says Karis-Ann Rhoden-Gordon, DIJL’s Business Development Manager. “The company’s performance is heavily dependent on our cheese category, so as a result, we are diversifying our product portfolio to include a wider range of dairy offerings to meet our consumer needs. These three products, while they are currently sold locally under imported brands, are the first to be commercially produced in Jamaica. And based on our market research, these products present great opportunity for growth.” DA I RY INDUSTR I ES JAMA I CA L IMI TED Business Development Manager, Karis-Ann Rhoden-Gordon