On the heels of the opening of its new state-of-the-art air-chill processing plant in January, CB Group has even more to celebrate after being named the RJRGLEANER Honour Awards’ Platinum Award recipient for its achievements in 2024.

CB Group was recognised during the awards ceremony, aired last night, for its major investments aimed at moving Jamaica forward as a location pioneering eco-friendly industrial innovation, while enhancing national food security.

“This is an incredible honour, for sure. It has been a journey,” said Alicia Bogues, CB Group’s head of regional development, as she accepted the award.

Referencing an audiovisual feature highlighting, for the audience, CB Group’s efforts throughout 2024, Bogues added: “The video shows all the pretty [sides], but it doesn’t show all the hard work, especially with our team’s 1,300 [members] who show up every day.

“This is not an easy business, but we’re very proud of what we do. And every time you eat food, thank a farmer, thank somebody in agriculture.”

CB Group’s origins go back more than four decades, to 1981, when visionary businessman Karl Hendrickson of National Continental Corporation (NCC) acquired a defunct poultry operation, Caribbean Broilers Limited, which was at the time a modest hatchery in Old Harbour with a small, manual processing plant in Kingston.

Hendrickson spent the next decade transforming it into a fully vertically integrated agri-business through automation and supply chain optimisation.

In 2012, the company rebranded to CB Group, reflecting its expanding portfolio which has seen it become a national leader in agriculture, innovation, sustainability, and food security.

In 2024, CB Group unveiled The Nest – Jamaica’s first eco-industrial agri-park – on a 1,000-acre site in Hill Run, St Catherine. The Nest represents a J$15-billion investment, the largest in the country’s agricultural history.

At its core is the air-chill processing plant – the first in the Caribbean to use purified air, rather than water, to chill poultry. This improves meat quality and conserves 250 million litres of water annually, with all processing water treated and reused onsite.

Now operating on one shift, the plant processes 100,000 birds daily, with expansion plans to meet local and export demand. This supports CB Group’s goal of national poultry self-sufficiency and regional exports by 2035.

For its efforts over the past year, CB Group was also the Honour Award recipient in the business category.

They were joined by awardees in six other categories, as well as recipients of one Special Award and two Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The RJRGLEANER Honour Awards, now in its 45th year, celebrates national pride with leaders from various sectors across Jamaica that are highlighted for their outstanding achievements. This year’s event followed the themes of transformation, innovation, and impact.

45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

Anthony Smith, CEO of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, in showing appreciation for the honourees, as well as the legacy of the awards, said, “For 45 years, The Gleaner Company has proudly hosted this awards ceremony. Forty-five years of applauding excellence, spotlighting brilliance, and honouring those whose impact resonates beyond their immediate circle.”

Additionally, Smith encouraged attendees to reflect on the true meaning of excellence, quoting Will Durant’s interpretation of Aristotle.

“We are what we repeatedly do. So excellence then is not an act, but a habit.”

He added, “Yes, excellence isn’t a moment of achievement. It is a mindset, a commitment to going above and beyond time and time again.”

He further noted the continuing evolution of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, highlighting its leading presence across various platforms.

“Whether in physical formats or on digital platforms, we are committed to providing engaging, trusted, credible information and entertainment wherever and whenever our audience needs.”

Among the night’s other recipients were Kingston Creative for arts and culture; E-Learning Jamaica for education; Major General (retired) Antony Anderson, who last year completed his tenure as commissioner of police, in the public service category; and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica for science and technology.

They were joined by athletes Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who was this time around recognised not for her prowess on the track but her voluntary service; and Roje Stona, for sport.

Kingston Creative was lauded for its transformative efforts in revitalising downtown Kingston into a globally recognised art district through public murals, community engagement, and entrepreneurship.

E-Learning Jamaica received praise for bridging the digital divide by equipping thousands of students and educators with information communications technology resources islandwide and supporting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education.

Anderson, who recently took office as Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, was honoured for spearheading the modernisation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force through technology, human resource development, and quality management systems.

The Meteorological Service was awarded for its vital role in bolstering climate resilience through cutting-edge weather technology and real-time data systems.

Fraser-Pryce was celebrated for her wide-ranging philanthropic work in education, gender advocacy, and community development.

Stona made history as Jamaica’s first Olympic gold medallist in a throwing event. He also set a new Olympic record and secured the country’s only gold medal at the event.

Meanwhile, a special award in science and technology went to the Dolphin Head Local Forest Management Committee Co-operative, which has championed environmental conservation through community-led stewardship, ecotourism, and biodiversity protection in the Dolphin Head Forest Reserve.

One of the two Lifetime Achievement Awards was presented to Sir Willard White, the globally revered opera singer with a bass-baritone, who was honoured in the arts and culture category for his four-year contribution to global opera and the nurturing of Jamaican talent.

The other Special Award went to Fabulous Five Inc, musical legends in their own right, who were recognised in the entertainment category for more than five decades of musical excellence, cultural ambassadorship, and genre-defining contributions to reggae and soca, both locally and on the world stage.

Continuing to give words of encouragement, Smith said, “Excellence does not just raise a bar, but it shows us what is possible. It challenges us all to do better and to give more of ourselves in the things that really matter. To the awardees, I salute you. To the next generation, we hope that tonight encourages you to aim high, to stay true to your vision, and pursue excellence.”

‍

Source: Platinum for poultry | Lead Stories | Jamaica Gleaner