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If you grew up in the Caribbean, chances are you spent some of your childhood climbing trees to pick a mango, papaya, breadfruit, or coconut.

Our region is resplendent with fruit trees which give up their yield on a frequent basis to provide a natural bounty that has been utilised by Caribbean people for generations in our kitchens, and to the benefit of our hair and skin.

Now, people around the world are realising the potential of what mother nature generously provides for us, with consumers increasingly gravitating towards products labelled as ‘100% natural’, ‘pure’, and ‘simple’, and preferring food that is minimally processed and free of artificial colours, additives, flavours, and sweeteners.

Recent research from Reportlinker.com predicts the global natural food and drink market will be worth $263.1 billion (US) by 2028, rising at a compound annual growth rate of 10.8% from 2022-2028.

This exponential growth provides an opportunity for Caribbean brands that have been successfully operating in this space locally and regionally and have access to superfoods and other potent ingredients on their doorstep.

Five regional companies heading to SIAL Paris 2022 will be hoping their natural products can attract attendees looking for innovative, exciting, and unique food and drink offerings.

SIAL is billed as the world’s biggest food fair and brings together influential producers, importers, buyers, and retailers from the global food industry to network, connect, and debate. This major event is particularly key for businesses that want to expand their exports to Europe and beyond.

Guyana’s Only Coconuts brand is the definition of wholesome, healthy food.

The range includes flour, chips (baked not fried), virgin oil, refined oil, and desiccated coconut and all the coconuts used are handpicked by Guyanese farmers growing trees on the Essequibo Coast, along the Pomeroon River, and in parts of Berbice.

Only Coconuts products are processed at the company’s 45,000 square foot facility based at Marudi Creek, and every item is free from preservatives or artificial additives and packed with healthy fats and antioxidants.

Artisan bean to bar chocolate company, Cacoa Sainte Lucie, was founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Maria Jackson and is situated in Canaries on the west coast of St Lucia.

St Lucia has been associated with chocolate since the 1700s when the island exported its cacao beans to Europe where it was used to make some of the finest chocolate in the world.

Cacoa Sainte Lucie continues the tradition of using local, organic cocoa farmers to create its authentic handcrafted chocolate products such as bars, cocoa nibs, milk chocolate, truffles, and chocolate coated nuts.

Ms Jackson is a skilled chocolatier who is also passionate about enhancing her community by providing employment and passing on her passion for cacao.

Established in 1992, Coffee Roasters of Jamaica Limited (parent company ‘Country Traders’) is a family-run business which started out distributing other coffee brands before managing director, Mark Fletcher, decided to set up his own roastery and begin distributing his own blend.

Mark went to the Jamaican Coffee Industry Board to learn the fine art of coffee making and then set about establishing a talented team of coffee lovers to produce 100% authentic Jamaica Blue Mountain® coffee.

Shortly after Mark set up the business, his dad John, who has years of food manufacturing experience, came on board and together they have taken their coffee brand to another level.

Coffee Roasters of Jamaica currently supplies approximately 2,000 pounds of coffee every week to the local market and the Jamaican tourism industry, and its export strategy involves working with small and specialised distributors in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, and China.

Jamaica Blue Mountain® coffee accounts for “half of Country Traders’ business value,” according to the company website, but they also produce another blue mount blend and an authentic Jamaica blend, which is a combination of low mountain coffee and imported blends for distribution.

Coffee Roasters of Jamaica is one of just ten Jamaican roasters recognised and licensed by the Jamaican Coffee Industry Board. One of the reasons for its ongoing success is the close contact it has with its coffee farmers which ensures they produce the highest quality coffee beans.

Bahamian brand Native Organics LLC is on a mission to “help any individual seeking to maintain their overall health and skin” with its range of 100% natural, herbal dietary supplements.

The company was started in February 2015 by sole proprietor and founder Nelticka Moxey. The idea came out of her work as a palliative care nurse, when she would often hear patients and relatives expressing their preferred desire for a natural pathway to health, as opposed to chemically based medications with severe side effects.

Ms Moxey began research, testing, and developing a line of plant-based, organic vitamins and supplements from indigenous ingredients with proven health benefits such as moringa, turmeric, ginger, aloe vera, and sea moss.

Native Organics supplements can assist with a range of ailments including joint stiffness, allergies, immune health, and digestive problems. The supplements are suitable for vegans and contain no sugar, salt, preservatives, or additives.

Choko Lakay is a Haitian company run by businesswoman Jheline Avrilien.

Started in 2016, Choko Lakay specialises in crafting organic, fair-trade chocolate, and partners with associations of organic cocoa producers in northern Haiti to produce cocoa powder and other premium products including dark chocolate spread and chocolate cookies.

Despite the challenges of operating from Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, Choko Lakay’s stated vision is to “become one of the best manufacturing companies of cocoa products” and its mission is “to promote the sustainable development of the agro-industrial sector” in Haiti.

Caribbean people have an unmistakable gift for infusing spice, heat, and flavour into every occasion, and our island cuisine is no exception!

Hot sauce might be our ‘go-to’ condiment, but many producers across the region have also started introducing a wide variety of tropical ingredients into other types of sauces, dressings, seasonings, and marinades.

Five leading Caribbean food brands are excited to be sharing what they have to offer in the competitive sauce and condiment market at the world’s biggest food fair, ‘SIAL Paris 2022’.

Naledo Belize Ltd, Sishado from Suriname, Vincyfresh Ltd, Flauriel from St Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados’ Superb Blend, are all exhibiting at the major event from 15-19 October with the support of the Caribbean Export Development Agency and the European Union.

SIAL Paris 2022 brings together thousands of producers, importers, buyers, and retailers to network and connect. This prestigious platform will offer these Caribbean agro-processors the ideal chance to show how their products can satisfy the public’s growing interest in Caribbean-inspired flavours, while also ticking the healthy living box.

According to Statista, the global sauces and condiments market is currently worth $227.90bn (US) and is expected to grow annually by 5.78% from 2022-2027. A key factor behind this growth is the consumers’ desire for more tasty, nutritious food.

Naledo Belize is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the upward trajectory for natural sauces and condiments as the world’s first producer of wildcrafted, whole-root turmeric.

The company’s flagship product, ‘Truly Tumeric’, has won countless awards, along with admiration and recognition for its proven health benefits, coupled with the versatility of the product which enhances any meal.

Naledo is managed by mother and daughter team Umeeda and Nareena Switlo. They started the business in 2016 and have focused on keeping their product line as simple as possible, with the contents list containing only whole root turmeric, cold pressed coconut oil, fresh lime juice, and sea salt. The black pepper version incorporates pepper that is cultivated in Belizean forests.

In addition, Naledo is run as a social enterprise that works directly with over 300 small-scale growers based in Toledo, Belize to ensure they are paid a fair price. The company is also a certified B Corporation which means it has met strict social and environmental standards in relation to performance, accountability, and transparency.

Naledo’s ‘Truly Turmeric’ paste is currently sold in over 1,000 retailers in Canada, America, UK, and Europe and online and attracts followers from all over the world who enjoy its deep flavour.

In Suriname, Sishado sauce is a household name renowned for its consistent quality and taste.

Produced by family-owned company, Gom Food Industries NV, Sishado was started in 1996 by mother and son Yvonne and Kenneth van Gom, who based their sauce on Yvonne’s homemade recipe, and initially started bottling the product out of a small shed.

Sishado soon proved popular among family, friends, and acquaintances and was then introduced to the Surinamese public in 1997.

Gom Food Industries quickly expanded within the local market before branching out with exports to the Netherlands, Aruba, and Curacao. Sishado also started exporting to Guyana in 2011, Antiqua in 2014 and French-Guyana in 2016 and has plans to move into more Caribbean and European markets.

Sishado sauces and marinades come in eight different varieties. They are gluten-free, suitable for vegetarians, and do not contain any artificial sweeteners.

Vincyfresh Ltd (a subsidiary of Winfresh Limited) prides itself on offering authentic, high-quality products “filled with the rich history of the Windward Islands”.

Managed by Vincentian entrepreneur Shelly-Ann Fraser, Vincyfresh produces small batch sauces, marinades, and jellies made from familiar island ingredients such as jalapeño pepper, mango, ginger, and passion fruit.

The brand works with farmers all over the region to transform their produce into condiments that give every dish a splash of Caribbean colour and taste. The Vincyfresh range goes particularly well with crackers, chips, and breadsticks.

The Flauriel food brand will also be on display at SIAL Paris 2022. Produced by Kittian entrepreneur Anastasha Elliott, Flauriel is a vegan and organic label which includes ketchup, jams, jellies, and salad dressings.

Every single product is methodically handmade by an all-female team who use traditional extraction and infusion techniques which have been passed down through generations.

The ingredients list is easy to understand and features various fruit and superfoods including coconut, sorrel, soursop, guava, hibiscus, and mango.

Jay Enterprise Inc is a Barbadian-based, family company offering a wide variety of traditional and gourmet condiments, sauces, wet and dried seasonings, and marinades, under the Superb Blend brand.

The Superb Blend range draws on a rich heritage of Caribbean recipes that have been handed down through five generations by the beloved matriarch of the family, Grandma Marjorie.

All Superb Blend products, which include spicy mango chutney, zesty onion relish, and tangy Carambola sauce, are made with the health-conscious consumer in mind and therefore contain less sugar than similar food items.

The Superb Blend offers customers “authenticity and convenience”, as well as a touch of nostalgia as the flavours take you back to Grandma’s kitchen, where the food was served with love, and always tasted good.

If you’ve ever sipped a rum while the sun goes down as you chill out at a beach bar or beside a hotel pool, you’ll know how good the beverage tastes poured over ice, and how well it evokes feelings of calm, warmth, and relaxation.

Originating in Barbados in the early 1600s, the spirit has played a pivotal role in the history and culture of the entire Caribbean region. But even the enslaved Africans who discovered it by fermenting sugarcane molasses could not have imagined the drink they called ‘kill-devil’ (which later became known as ‘rumbullion’ or ‘rumbustion’) would eventually be enjoyed around the world.

In fact, the global rum market was valued at $11.26 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from 2022 to 2028, mainly fuelled by the introduction of new flavours and the rising popularity of premium products.

Consumers demanding a unique and authentic rum experience will naturally be drawn to its ancestral home in the Caribbean, where producers have remained true to its tradition and heritage, while sensitively working to adapt the drink to ensure that its appeal continues to entice new generations.

At SIAL Paris 2022, three Caribbean distillers will be demonstrating their range of traditional and non-traditional rum products.

The St Lucia Distillers Group of Companies, Chicharum SRL and J&J Spirits, SRL are taking part in the world’s leading food fair from 15-19 October with the assistance of the Caribbean Export Development Agency and the European Union.

SIAL Paris gives these rum brands the chance to engage with 310,000 retailers, buyers, and importers from around the world who are looking for exceptional products that can capture and excite their customers’ imagination.

The St Lucia Distillers Group of Companies (SLD Group) has over 50 years’ experience with rum and was initially managed by the Barnard family who have been rum distillers for almost a century.

Located in the agriculturally rich town of Roseau, this boutique rum distillery uses copper stills to produce over 25 quality rums and rum products from premium rums and liqueurs to traditional pouring rums.

According to its website, the SLD Group is “not afraid to take risks and is always innovative,” which has led to it winning several awards, including the prestigious gold medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2012 for its flagship premium rum Admiral Rodney.

The SLD Group is also focused on corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability. Rainwater is harvested and treated for use in the blending of rums, steam turbines run the distiller plant, the boiler operates primarily on recovered waste oil, and effluent discharge from the distillery meets EU standards. The Group has also awarded secondary school scholarships for children in the local community and at least 30% of its workers are St Lucians.

‘Chicharon The World’s Cinnamon Rum’ is produced in the Dominican Republic by Chicharum SRL and is specifically targeted at millennials who are attracted to spiced or flavoured rums especially for mixing with cocktails.

Handcrafted with aged rum, cinnamon, and green chili extracts, ‘Chicharon The World’s Cinnamon Rum’ is a trendsetting, original product with a spicy kick and aromatic flair that takes rum to a different taste level. All the ingredients are natural and sourced locally.

The marketing of Chicharon is inspired by the company’s Spanish heritage and incorporates a connection to pork rinds or ‘Chicharrón’, a popular fried finger food recognised by the Latin community around the world, along with the Spanish word for rum – ron.

J&J Spirits, SRL is a pioneering family business based in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

This company manufactures a range of exotic rum-based products including their signature, ready-to-drink ‘Kalembú Mamajuana’. This traditional beverage was originally made by native Taino Indians who used it as a potent herbal medicine and is widely consumed throughout the Dominican Republic.

Blending dark rum with red wine, honey, tree bark, roots, and botanical herbs Mamajuana is believed to aid in digestion, circulation, and many other ailments.

J&J Spirits was one of the first companies to commercially produce Mamajuana and currently makes three varieties – the original Kalembú, Kalembú Café rum with coffee beans, and Kalembú Guavaberry rum.

J&J’s version of Mamajuana has been embraced by the global drinks market and is currently distributed in the United States, various Caribbean islands, Chile, Peru, Germany, and China.

Although rum is synonymous with the Caribbean, the region also has some award-winning wine producers, including Trinidad-based V’Toria Rhonda Vineyard & Winery which is also exhibiting at SIAL Paris 2022.

Started in 2012 by winemaker Nekeisha Charles, this brand crafts innovative, premium wines from exotic, tropical fruits blended with grape varietals.

V’Toria Rhonda Vineyard & Winery currently offers six non-vintage wines made with local ingredients; Love Affair with sorrel and Concord, True Passion from passion fruit and Sauvignon Blanc, Just Perception made from pomegranate and Zinfandel, Pure Diamond from rice and Riesling, Remember Me which is orange and Muscat, and Discover made from grapefruit and Merlot.

In January 2020, the winery established a passionfruit vineyard, the first one of its kind in the Caribbean, and Ms Charles has also diversified into making wine jelly and plans to add chocolate wine bars to her product list.

Ms Charles named her brand in honour of her grandmother, Victoria Richardson Harper, and her handwritten initials, extracted from an old letter which she signed ‘VR’, can be seen proudly printed on the label of every bottle offering them her personal stamp of approval!

Promoting fair trade and organic cocoa among farmers and transforming the image of Haitian cocoa worldwide. These are the ambitious but realistic objectives of the Fédération des Coopératives Cacaoyères du Nord (FECCANO – Northern Cocoa Cooperatives Federation), which has managed to position itself both on the local and community level and on the international market.  

It has been said that the inhabitants of the Northern parts of Haiti are a proud people, particularly owing to their contribution to the founding of their nation. The 4,000 cocoa farmers who are members of FECCANO can also be proud. Founded in 2001 by six cooperatives, the federation has become in its 20 years a leading player in the production of fermented cocoa in Haiti. It now brings together eight cooperatives, has developed a formal structure and is constantly improving its skills, knowledge and the quality of its cocoa. This growth is encouraged by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) through its programme to support the cocoa/chocolate value chain in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. 

Haitian cocoa has a remarkable intrinsic quality. Whether criollo, trinitario or forestero, its fruity aromas and its characteristics stem from the old varieties cultivated by the farmers, but also from a soil favorable to the production of a high-quality cocoa. The average annual production is currently estimated at 400 tons with an annual growth rate of about 20%. This is very little compared to the national volume estimated at 6,000 tons annually, and 60,000 tons in the Dominican Republic. 

Haitian cocoa farmers have long been dependent on intermediaries: traders, hucksters, speculators and exporters, working within a monopoly market, who have always offered very low prices. Since its establishment in 2001, FECCANO works directly with the cocoa farmers. This arrangement has led to the recovery of the added value of the product and increased producers’ income. “Back then, we used to cut down cocoa trees, but today we plant cocoa” boasts Guito Gilot, one of the founding members.

In the ‘Jardin créole’ as the Haitian vegetable garden is known, in the shade of the cocoa trees, farmers not only cultivate yams and plantains, but also cassava, beans, corn, chayote, etc. Fruit trees, especially citrus trees, associated with cocoa trees, feed the family, but also give the soil and the land a quality that will give each cocoa its particular flavor. This Creole garden, at the heart of the Haitian ecosystem, is at the root of the Haitian family survival. Even though it has slowed down the development of cocoa production, considered as secondary, it could however be its future thanks to the promotion of the whole chain and the particular taste associated with each type of soil. 

In 20 years, the cocoa exported has changed category. Through training, sharing of good practices, and better knowledge of their product, FECCANO has helped farmers, both male and female (40% of the members are women), who grew a few cocoa trees underneath mango trees, become exporters of beans certified according to organic and fairtrade standards. It is worth noting that it is the fermentation process, an essential step to release the “precursors” of aromas and to obtain a quality product, which has been a turning point, when for decades the cocoa in the area (and in the country) was not fermented and therefore sold at lower prices.  

Since 2008, with the technical assistance of a French NGO (AVSF) and the support of the Conseil Départemental des Hauts-de-Seine (France) (Departmental Council of Hauts-de-Seine), FECCANO has undertaken to mastering the fermentation process to enhance the value of its cocoa. It has gradually positioned itself as the pioneer of quality cocoa across the country, before becoming the national leader and building a global image. In 2011, FECCANO obtained the Ecocert certification. Two of the largest international chocolate companies, Ethiquable and Valrhona, have become its biggest buyers. In 2013, FECCANO obtained the SPP (Fair Trade) certification, and in 2013 and 2015, it obtained the Cocoa of Excellence prize awarded by the International Cocoa Awards. It grew to 7 member cooperatives in 2014, and then to 8 in 2018. Simultaneously to this growth, the Federation is working to change mentalities.

“We are committed to respecting the environment and are keen to incorporate practices relative to the conservation of biodiversity and food safety into our processes,” explains Jean Guillaume Célestin, executive director of the Federation. FECCANO plays a key role in raising awareness, providing guidance and personalized assistance to farmers. “It was not easy to convince farmers of the benefits of the cocoa tree “regeneration” program when it was put forward in 2015. We recommended introducing new seedlings on these 60 to 80-year-old plots and carrying out a diagnosis to implement the systematic pruning of the oldest trees. They were afraid that the plot would be less productive. I was afraid of it myself…” says Dejean Phanord, chairman of the board of directors. But it was proven to be the best approach.  

Today FECCANO wants to go further… And Caribbean Export supports it through a program financed by the trade and private sector support component of the bi-national HT-RD program under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) of the European Union.  In June 2021, the Agency organized a virtual training on quality management systems, certification management and cupping. The objective was to strengthen the knowledge of FECCANO staff in Haiti, to orient them towards competitiveness and enable the network’s cocoa to have a better image and to carve out a place for itself in the specialty cocoa market.  

Following this training, FECCANO intends to provide technical assistance and work on a strategy to improve the quality of their cocoa and direct it towards a higher value market.  A field visit will allow them to develop a concise, effective and appropriate strategy. These corrective and preventive actions should improve production and post-harvest processes, resulting in better quality and the possibility of reaching higher value markets. 

Early this year, Caribbean Export supported the creation of a website that will introduce FECCANO and its member cooperatives to customers and the general public, as well as the different services and products the federation provides. In February 2022, the Agency also organized meetings with other cocoa sector professionals. This project which aimed to exchange best practices was organized with the National Confederation of Dominican Cocoa Farmers, CONACADO (for its acronym in Spanish), with the aim of learning about their promotional strategies and marketing of Dominican cocoa, their production and processing techniques and organizational management mechanisms implemented in the Dominican Republic, the leading exporter of organic cocoa in the world. Following this, FECCANO has included the process of making chocolate from the bean to the bar in its future projects. “This is part of the challenges to be undertaken, along with our efforts to increase production and competitiveness, and therefore convince producers to plant more. But not only that… we need a real cocoa policy in Haiti, with institutional strategies on agriculture, and also on transportation. Most of the production areas are very isolated and fairly inaccessible,” explains JG Célestin.  

Changing the image of Haitian cocoa takes time, but the results are very promising. FECCANO has guided its members, accompanied the farmers, and stimulated a solidarity that has helped them achieve the vitality of an organized national producer. Of the 8 member cooperatives, all are certified fair trade (SPP), 4 are already certified organic and the other 4 are in the process of being certified. With a significant increase in exports (50% between 2020 and 2021) and support such as that offered by Caribbean Export which focused on the value chain, the dream of going from the bean to the chocolate bar could become reality. The 8 cooperatives now ensures the fermentation process is undertaken. The federation receives the beans ready for export and can test them in its laboratory. Thanks to the recent virtual capacity training on cupping, FECCANO is now able to evaluate its roasted product. It is only one step away from the bar! 

Turmeric has been in the top echelon of the ‘trending foods’ chart for the past five years and is still one of the most sought-after ingredients by health-conscious consumers.

The “golden spice” has been used for centuries in traditional and herbal medicine, as well as Indian and Asian cuisine, but its global popularity has risen in recent times because of its proven health benefits as a so-called ‘nutraceutical’.

Public interest in the spice’s ability to ease inflammation, improve liver function, relieve chronic pain, and aid in digestion, has led to it being sought-after as a supplement and in a range of food products.

Turmeric and its main active ingredient, curcumin, can now be found as an added ingredient in several items on supermarket shelves such as sauces, smoothies, soups, teas, salad dressings, and even packaged goods like cereal. It can also be used as part of a rub for meat or fish and its distinctive yellowy, orange colour adds vibrancy to cheese, mustard, and dried seasonings, without affecting the taste.

Turmeric’s emergence as a ‘food to watch’ started when Google Trends data recorded a 300% increase in searches for it between February 2012 and February 2016. This led to the spice being listed as the number one food trend in the search giant’s ‘Food Trends 2016: U.S’ report along with other foods which are also still garnering attention including jackfruit, cauliflower rice, and sourdough bread.

Since 2016, turmeric has been consistently mentioned in the ‘trending food’ conversation and that is not expected to end anytime soon. In fact, research by the CBI dated January 2022 found that “worldwide and also in Europe, the consumption of curcuma longa (aka turmeric) is forecast to increase by more than 10% per year in the next five years.”

The CBI added: “The trend of healthier diets is likely to remain the leading driver of food market developments in the next decades. This trend will positively impact demand for spices such as curcuma longa.”

Sourcing turmeric in its purest form is one way to make sure you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to demand. The spice is grown in various parts of the world, including the Caribbean, and is most potent when it is fresh and uncultivated.

Belizean-based company called Naledo has a head start in this regard as it was the world’s first manufacturer of wildcrafted, whole root ‘Truly Turmeric’ paste.

Founded by mother and daughter Umeeda and Nareena Switlo in 2016, Naledo is a social enterprise that works directly with over 300 small-scale growers based in Toledo, Belize to create a product that is sustainably produced from the forest to the table with minimal impact on the environment.

Naledo has won widespread recognition and awards for its 100% natural turmeric products, which also include fresh juices and even a skincare line. It has also earned admiration for its commitment to pay its farmers six times more than the fair-trade price for their produce.

The company will be taking part in the upcoming Speciality & Fine Food Fair from September 5th-6th 2022 at Olympia, London as part of the ‘Absolutely Caribbean’ pavilion comprising of small businesses supported by the Caribbean Export Development Agency and the European Union.

At the event, Naledo will showcase its flagship ‘Truly Turmeric’ product which comes in four sizes and two flavours – original and black pepper. The ingredients list for the original flavour is whole root turmeric, cold pressed coconut oil, fresh lime juice, and sea salt. Black pepper cultivated in Belizean forests is added to the black pepper range.

The variety of turmeric grown by Naledo’s team is called Allepey and it has the strongest colour and deepest flavour of all turmeric types. Allepey normally has around 5% curcuminoids but Naledo’s turmeric has 7.6% curcuminoids, according to the company’s website.

Naledo’s ‘Truly Turmeric’ paste is currently sold in over 1,000 retailers in Canada, America, UK, and Europe and online.

The taste, flavour, and story behind Naledo have made it stand out from the crowded turmeric market which has been further propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the global health crisis took hold in February and March 2020, Google Trends data has highlighted a 670% increase in worldwide searches for “food” and “immune system”. And the global nutraceuticals industry is predicted to be worth $722 billion (US) by 2027 with sales in the immune boosting foods and beverages segment expected to surpass $17 billion (US) by 2025. 

The public’s interest in turmeric and its health benefits is therefore not likely to wane anytime soon, so it seems likely that this ‘trend’ might turn into more than just a passing phase.

Natural products and ingredients were in high demand before the COVID-19 global health crisis, but the pandemic has added impetus to the market with consumers looking for healthy items that are also as pure as possible.

Research shows that the global natural food and drinks market was valued at $120 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $361 million by 2031, a compound average growth rate of 11.44% from 2022 to 2031.

The word ‘natural’ has several connotations, but according to a global study conducted by Ipsos in 2018, the three most common associations which consumers make when they see the term on labels are:

1.            Healthy.

2.            No artificial ingredients.

3.            100% from nature.

Consumers expect natural products to be good for them, minimally processed, and free of artificial colours, sweeteners, flavours, and additives.

Considering the continued push for healthy and natural products is likely to only get stronger, food distributors are always searching for partners who can supply food and drink that tastes and looks good and, as a bonus, are cultivated with an environmentally friendly approach.

In addition, if the supplier has an impactful story to go along with their offering, this element also enhances the marketability of the product, and convinces consumers that what they are eating or drinking is not only beneficial to them, but also of benefit to the people producing it.

In the Caribbean, local producers regularly use indigenous fruits, herbs, and spices in handmade skincare and haircare items, as well as food and drink.

Caribbean ‘superfoods’ are combined with handed down, generational recipes to make jellies, teas, sauces, and jams etc that are bursting with flavour and accompanied by a background and history that cannot be copied or replicated.

St Kitts-based company, Sugar Town Organics, is a shining example of a micro enterprise that combines the Caribbean’s natural bounty with sustainable practices and a powerful origin story.

Established by female entrepreneur Anastasha Elliott, the idea for the botanical business came about when her mother Myrtrice was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Mrytrice was told that she had just four months to live but she decided to fight the illness using a holistic approach. She transformed her eating and lifestyle habits and was declared cancer-free shortly afterwards.

Anastasha saw how her mother used the power of nature to help her recovery, and wanted to share what the family had learned, along with what generations before had already taught them through traditional recipes for soaps, shampoos, oils, sauces, and butters.

Flauriel was established under the ‘Sugar Town Organics’ umbrella as a vegan food brand which pays tribute to Caribbean agriculture and ancestorial practices.

Anastasha harvests a vast majority of the fruits in her products, along with medicinal herbs and spices, from a mini farm in the backyard of her home, and she also works with local, organic farmers in her country and across the region to source a wider variety of raw materials.

Anastasha’s degree in culinary arts enables her to formulate dairy-free and sodium-free jellies, wines, teas, jams, cheeses, sauces, and syrups which are nutrient dense and have a long shelf life. Some of the ingredients used in Flauriel’s products include coconut, hibiscus, mango, sorrel, soursop, avocado, guava, and ginger.

Every single product is methodically handcrafted by Anastasha and her small team using long-held extraction, blending, mixing, and infusion techniques.

Speaking about starting her brand, Anastasha said: “I looked at how, in the Caribbean, we use food to maintain our health, beauty and families, and to heal from disease. Our brands are therefore very food centric, and very Caribbean, of course with cultural influences that both affected the Caribbean and play a role in the geographical origin of my family.”

Flauriel’s full range of offerings will be available at the upcoming Speciality & Fine Food Fair from September 5th-6th 2022 at Olympia, London. Anastasha will be part of a group of the Absolutely Caribbean pavilion comprising of small business owners supported by the Caribbean Export Development Agency and the European Union.

The Fair showcases emerging and established brands within the artisan, fine food and drink industry and is a treasure trove for innovative and inspiring products as well as emerging trends.

Flauriel’s range will fit right in with over 700 other food and drink suppliers from around the world who are at the forefront of some of the world’s major food trends. But the background story of Anastasha’s company, along with Flauriel’s unique use of flavourful Caribbean-grown fruits, herbs, and spices, will make her products different from everyone else.