Salada Foods Jamaica Limited has reaffirmed its status as a formidable player in the beverage industry, closing the fiscal year with impressive gross revenues of $1.48 billion, driven by robust domestic and export sales.
Operating profit rose by nine per cent to $227 million for the year ended September 2024, reflecting the company’s focus on improving efficiency through strategic investments and process enhancements.
“We are not just coffee experts. We are innovating across the beverage sector, delivering market-driven products that resonate with consumers,” said Tamii Brown, general manager of Salada Foods.
Salada’s ability to adapt to consumer demands has been pivotal to its success. The company’s latest innovation, the Golden Turmeric Latte, launched in 2024, has become the leading stock-keeping unit (SKU) by volume in Trinidad and Tobago.
This follows closely on the successes of Salada’s Flavoured 3-in-1 Coffees introduced in 2022 to meet consumers’ growing affinity for variety and their Ginger Turmeric Instant Teas, introduced in 2020 to meet evolving health and wellness needs.
“Consumers trust us to bring innovative, high-quality beverages to market,” noted Brown. “Our product portfolio demonstrates our ability to lead in the instant beverage industry while staying true to our Jamaican heritage.”
Salada is also leveraging its expertise in contract manufacturing to produce innovative beverage solutions for leading regional partners. For the fiscal year, the company collaborated with a Jamaican powerhouse, Chas. E. Ramson Limited, to manufacture a line of Drink Crystals, featuring Caribbean favourites such as Pineapple Ginger, Mango Ginger, and Ginger Lemonade under the popular household brand Kisko.
Though this venture is in its early stages, Salada sees significant potential in expanding its contract manufacturing capabilities.
In 2024, Salada implemented upgrades to its packaging rooms, enabling end-to-end manufacturing in line with international best practices. This innovation significantly improved operational throughput and contributed to the seven per cent gross margin improvement recorded during the year.
“Efficiency in operations is a key part of our strategy,” Brown explained. “As a 66-year-old company, it is important for us to complement our years of know-how and experience with technological innovation. These changes not only enhance productivity but also position us as a regional manufacturing partner of choice.”
Quality remains a cornerstone of Salada’s operations with the company receiving an ‘Excellent’ rating in its latest Safe Quality Food (SQF) audit, scoring 98 per cent, one point higher than the previous year. This achievement underscores Salada’s unwavering dedication to producing safe, high-quality beverages for consumers.
“As we expand our footprint, maintaining the highest standards of quality remains non-negotiable,” Brown emphasised.
Export sales increased by 11 per cent year-over-year, driven by the company’s gradual expansion in CARICOM markets such as Barbados, Antigua, and St Lucia. Domestically, the company saw an eight per cent increase in sales, attributed to the growing demand for Jamaica Mountain Peak-branded products and innovations like the Golden Turmeric Latte.
Salada continues to position itself as a partner for innovation across the region, welcoming collaborations with distributors to create private-label products. “We are open for business,” said Brown. “We invite regional distributors to partner with us to co-develop innovative products that meet the needs of today’s consumers.”
