Business Forum

Chronic diseases are on the increase worldwide, however there is a global trend seeking to combat those illnesses through healthy choices.

Europeans, in particular, are becoming more health conscious and are focused on using natural products, ranging from food to make up.

In 2018 the European cosmetic market was valued at approximately 78.6 billion with the  natural cosmetics niche market accounting  for some five per cent of the total market. 

Europeans also enjoy sauces, condiments and seasonings and have for the past couple years imported the same from a number of Caribbean countries. Sauces, condiments and seasonings made in Caribbean countries and exported to Europe in 2018 are valued at US$ 8,149,000.

Anastasha Elliot, who hails from Saint Kitts and Nevis, has been eyeing both the European cosmetics and condiment markets with the intention of getting a piece of the pie. Her company, Sugar Town Organics, producers of natural food and cosmetics, will participate in the upcoming 4^th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, slated for September 26 to 28 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Organised by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the forum will bring together over 150 stakeholders and businesses from 15 CARIFORUM countries and Europe with the intention to build partnerships and to boost exports to the continent.

Anastasha’s journey to producing a range of healthy natural products for everyday use began when her mother was diagnosis with cervical cancer.  That pushed the family to look critically at the products they used and the food they consumed.

That forced us to take a look at our environment, our food source, what and how we ate, how we were living both the emotional and mental aspects and the products we used on our skin and hair, Anastasha recalled. 

As a result, a number of things happened:

1. The family adopted a holistic lifestyle, embracing indigenous herbs and fruits. 
2. Her mother beat cancer in four months.
3. Anastasha and her mother launched Sugar Town Organics, a natural agro-processing company in 2010.

Built on strong traditional knowledge in herbal care passed down through generations, the company combines science and cultural practices to the produce over 80 items for everyday use or consumption.  With Anastasha’s degree in culinary arts, along with diplomas in organic hair and skin care formulation, she ensures everything they create helps consumers to live healthier lives.

Sugar Town Organics produces natural food and cosmetics under two brands: Flauriel and Yaphene. Everything is made with raw, active, high performance ingredients sourced from indigenous botanical fruits, herbs and plants found in Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean. Raw material include hibiscus, fennel, nettle, coconut, ginger, neem, soursop, sorrel, sugar cane, sea weed, and tarragon.

For persons seeking the best in personal care products, Yaphene offers a wide variety of options that are powered by nature. Free from GMO, toxins, fillers, parfum, synthetic chemicals and artificial colours, the line includes shampoos, conditions, hair growth serums, oils, toothpaste, eye cream, facial cream, hair cream, and deodorant. Local spas and hotels use Yaphene products.

Under the Flauriel brand, the health-conscious person can choose from natural jams, salad dressings, pancake syrup, vinaigrettes, liqueurs and wine made from a variety of indigenous crops such as hibiscus, mango, coconut, sorrel, soursop, avocado, guava, ginger and more.

The mother-daughter company works with eleven local farmers and sources additional raw material from Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad.

Sugar Town Organics can be found in over eight stores in St. Kitts. The company is now focused on exporting its brands throughout the Caribbean and Europe.

Turmeric has many proven health benefits and is thought to assist in the prevention of heart disease, Alzheimers, high blood pressure, and cancer to name a few.  It is also a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and is high in iron and vitamin B6.

After seeing the turmeric being grown in Belize while on assignment there in 2014 for an International NGO, Umeeda Switlo fell in love with the Belizean turmeric.  It was huge and really orangey in colour, she enthused.  In that moment she had the idea to form a business venture using wild crafted, whole root turmeric grown by the farmers in Belize.

As a result, she started a company with her daughter Nareena and called it Naledo – a combination of the name Nareena and Toledo, the district in Belize where the turmeric is sourced.  This company produces Truly Turmeric, which has the distinction of being the world’s first wildcrafted whole root turmeric paste.  The company also created a social enterprise in Toledo that would support farmers, from whom the turmeric is sourced directly, employ youth, improve health and produce products sustainably.

Umeeda admits that this model of doing business was inspired by her mother Lella (known as Mamajee) who had instilled in her a strong sense of social responsibility and who, during time spent in the kitchen cooking together would always ask both she and her daughter Nareena what they could do to make the world a better place.

After developing Truly Turmeric in 2016, Naledo decided to gain exposure by launching the product at an industry trade show in Vancouver in May 2016.  With just a basic set up of 50 labelled jars and a few samples, they managed to attract the attention of a national distributor who believed in their social enterprise model and helped them to grow from zero stores in 2016 to 600 stores across Canada. Truly Turmeric can also be found in Belize, the Bahamas and some parts of the United States.

Keen to find new markets for the product and to share the health benefits of turmeric with other parts of the world, Naledo will be taking Truly Turmeric to Europe as part of the 4^th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum being held from September 26 to 28 in Frankfurt, Germany.  The forum is being organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Commission and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) .

Truly Turmeric paste is great for use in many dishes including marinades, smoothies, oatmeal, soups, stir fry, curries, eggs or just in plain water.  The paste can also be used to make a refreshing and rejuvenating face mask if desired.

More and more people are conscious not only about what they put into their bodies for good health but also what they put on to their skin.  Consumers are trying to get away from sulfates traditionally found in shampoos that have gained notoriety for being very harsh on the skin & scalps of persons with skin conditions such as: psoriasis, eczema or sensitive skin.  Skin conditions such as psoriasis affect 7.8 million adults in Europe and approximately 1-3% of adults in Europe suffer from eczema.  Also, many consumers are now seeking to avoid parabens a key component used to restrict bacterial growth in many popular international hair care lines which has been linked in recent times by many medical studies to the development of breast cancer.

Across the Caribbean you’ll find naturally made soaps, shampoo’s and personal care products that are devoid of such dangerous chemicals.  At the upcoming 4^th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum in Frankfurt, Germany a collection of some of the finest natural products from the Caribbean will be presented such as, Curealoe from Curacao; Caribbean Blue Naturals from Saint Lucia; BahamaSpa from the Bahamas and Sugar Town Organics from St. Kitts and Nevis.  Another such company which is quickly becoming a company to look out for is Herboo Corporation Ltd.

Herboo Corporation Ltd., a Jamaican company which produces a range of hair and skin products using locally grown plants, spices and herbs.  According to Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Javin Williams, the idea was birthed out of his personal experience with dandruff. A few years ago I had really bad dandruff and while I tried the popular brands they just would not work so in my frustration I went to my grandmother and she recommended some herbs to me like rosemary and peppermint and trust me when I tell you that when I used them, in less than two weeks my dandruff was gone.

After that experience he decided to utilize locally grown herbs and spices on a commercial scale as a way to help others treat their hair and skin.  He explained that coming from a poor background meant that he did not have the money needed to produce the products on the scale he wanted so his sister came to the rescue.

She took samples of the products to her university and asked for donations in exchange for a sample of the products.  The money collected was the seed money used to create products on a commercial sale which were then sold and the proceeds used to develop new products.  Javin also entered a number of business competitions and the proceeds from those also assisted.

In addition to local financial assistance, Javin also received support in a number of areas including the chemical composition of the product, investment advice and marketing.

The 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum is a 3-day event taking place from 26-28th September 2019.  Over 60 Caribbean suppliers across 4 industry sectors will be at the event organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency in collaboration with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) aims to improve trade between the Caribbean and Europe.

Whether it’s for medicinal or recreational use, tea is one of the most consumed hot beverages worldwide. In 2017 the global tea market was valued at almost US 50 billions dollars and it is expected to exceed US 73 billion dollars by 2024.

Certainly, European traders in the 16^th century knew they were onto something great when they introduced tea leaves from China to the continent. Only growing in popularity, tea remains not only a preferred beverage to sip but a wise investment choice in Europe.

The Caribbean Export Development Agency has created a unique opportunity for European buyers and distributers interested in natural teas from the Caribbean to be introduced to export ready tea brands at the upcoming 4^th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum.

Slated for September 26 to 28 at the Union Halle, Frankfurt, Germany the high profile event will be hosted by Caribbean Export in collaboration with the European Commission and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).

Over 150 Caribbean and European counterparts will get the unique opportunity to meet under one roof to discover tantalizing Caribbean products and services as well as network and build international partnerships. The purpose is to help companies from 15 CARIFORUM countries start or increase exports to Europe.

Caribbean Cure, the award-winning tea company from Trinidad and Tobago, is one of the natural ingredient companies seeking to get its tasty and earthy concoctions sold in Europe.

Brewing nothing but pure natural Caribbean goodness, owners Sophia Stone and Stacy Seeterram were inspired by tradition to produce five deliciously healthy infusions.

The brews pleased more than just the palates of family and friends. In fact, Caribbean Cure has been recognized as producers of world class teas.  In 2017 and 2018 the company won bronze for its Tropical Relaxation blend and its Island Breeze blend respectively at the Global Tea Championships hosted by the World Tea Expo in Colorado.

And if that wasn’t impressive enough, Caribbean Cure was shortlisted for a SIAL Paris 2018 Product Innovation award in the prestigious SIAL Innovation Contest, the world’s largest Food and Beverage Exhibition.

The secret is in the process. The tea leaves are slow dried to maximize nutrient content. Each blend offers a delicate balance formulated to create a memorable and unique experience in every cup, Stacy Seeterram explained.

Co-owner Sophia Stone added, I wanted to honour our long history in the Caribbean of using herbs and bush teas. Backed by science, my goal was to make these healing remedies more efficacious, convenient and attractive to today’s consumer.

Also headed to Frankfurt, Germany in September is Shavuot, a Jamaican brand of exotic teas made from local leaves, seeds and roots such as carassee, ginger, moringa and turmeric.

Owned by Richard Harris and his two sons, Joel and Jordan Harris, the trio decided to produce value added products from crops grown on the family’s farm. Shavuot, which means harvesting goodness, is sold in approximately 15 countries.  The family produces thousands of cases of tea each month, with 90 per cent being shipped overseas and the remainder sold in Jamaica.

For buyers interested in sourcing Caribbean teas, the 4^th CARIFORUM Business Forum is the only place to be from September 26 to 28.

Did you know that dark chocolate naturally releases a chemical in the brain to make you happy?

When Elizabeth Lady Montano was informed of this by Gillian Goddard, Co-Director of the ARC TT The Alliance of Rural Communities of Trinidad and Tobago, that light-bulb moment went off. Lady Montano had been struggling to find that perfect treat for patrons attending her son’s (International Soca artist Machel Montano) annual Machel Monday Carnival Concert. In 2014 her and her team had been on a quest to find the perfect snack to highlight the theme Happy Nation and as veganism and vegetarianism are lifestyle choices of the Montano’s, creating a vegan chocolate became the obvious choice!

Our brand ambassador Machel Montano is vegan, I am also vegan and most of our family is either vegan or vegetarian. We want to encourage healthy living hence those ingredients. There are no preservatives, no additives, no emulsifiers and no dairy of course. We wanted to keep it pure, healthy and attractive to taste and we have succeeded in doing that. We want to make people aware that you can eat healthy and still enjoy it, Lady Montano said.

Machel Montano Chocolate Ltd will be attending the upcoming 4^th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, which will be held in Union Halle, Frankfurt, Germany from September 26 to 28, 2019 in an effort to break into the European market.

Organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency in cooperation with the European Union and the German Development Agency (GIZ), the forum aims to improve trade and exports from the region to Europe, especially in high potential growth areas such as the agro-processed food and natural ingredient industries.

Machel Montano Chocolate Company Ltd produces 60 per cent dark chocolate bar using authentic fine flavoured Trinitario cocoa. The formula is quite simple containing only three ingredients: cocoa nibs, cocoa butter and Guyanese Demerara sugar and has a shelf life of one year. As a handmade product it’s currently ranked as the second best local chocolate in Trinidad, and it now has its eyes on expanding into Europe and the United States.

The Montano’s mission isn’t just to produce a fantastic tasting happiness inducing vegan chocolate, they also want to revitalize the Trinidadian cocoa industry. The company has sought to empower several local communities, which currently supply the cocoa.

Machel through his foundation is working with the Siparia community where he grew up to set up a factory. This is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility and we are working with WHYFARM to achieve that goal, disclosed Lady Montano, adding that the foundation was empowering residents through training and by equipping them with chocolate production tools.

What is Trinitario Cacoa?

Trinitario cacoa come from the Trinitario cacao trees which are a natural hybrid biological class resulting from cross-pollination. They were created in Trinidad after a hurricane in 1727 destroyed most of the Criollo cacao trees. The Trinidad cacao plantations were then replanted with Forastero resulting in the creation of a hybrid of Criollo and Forastero (source: https://www.caribbeanandco.com/caribbean-chocolate-brands/)

Over 60 Caribbean producers will be attending the Business Forum and other chocolate producers include Cocoa Saint Lucia and Coldbush Organics from Jamaica.

Well executed animations can enhance the viewing experience of both children and adults. Full Circle Animation Studio, from Trinidad and Tobago is just one company in the Caribbean that is excelling in its production of animations and whose body of work is being noticed internationally.

Full Circle has the distinction of being the first animation studio in the Caribbean to work with an international production company for a full season of a television show with a major network. They were contracted by Big Jump Entertainment in Ottawa, Canada to produce the animation for season three of “Animals”, an HBO TV series featuring performances from celebrities like Wanda Sykes, Raven-Symoné, RuPaul, Aziz Ansari and Usher among others.

As a result, creators in the company worked tirelessly between December 2017 and May 2018 to perfect the animation for the show.

“This show had a very unique and distinctive style of design and animation. It looks simple and minimalist but it required us to transmit a lot of emotion through the characters using very limited animation movement. Going in, we had underestimated how challenging that could be, while keeping the provocative edge that really defines the style of the show. In that regard, it was a new technical experience for us” said Managing Director Jason Lindsay.

Mr. Lindsay also noted that the experience benefitted his team tremendously. “For a young animation industry like ours here in Trinidad, the main long-term benefit of an opportunity like this is the investment in our human resource. The experience and technical/creative insight gained from our animators working with an experienced production studio like Big Jump Entertainment is invaluable. The entire team benefited from it tremendously,” he stated.

Full Circle has also worked on smaller productions which were broadcast on The Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Universal Studios, DreamWorks TV and RAI as well as on projects in the Caribbean.

The company has also collaborated with other companies in the Caribbean on regional and international projects. “On our very first outsourcing job, we collaborated with animation studios in Barbados and Jamaica. Since then, it’s not uncommon for us to work with animation studios in St. Lucia, Barbados and Jamaica for international outsourcing clients. We’ve collaborated on projects with Malfinis Productions in St. Lucia, Alycone Animation and Skyres in Jamaica and Westoonz and BIMAP in Barbados.

“We’ve also developed working relationships with a network of recording studios, casting directors and voice actors in Grenada, Belize, Suriname, Dominica, and Guyana for projects based on Caribbean content like the CARICOM mini-series Pepperpot Valley,” the Managing Director explained.

Now focused on expansion and growth, Full Circle is looking to offer its services on the European market. To that end they will participate in the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum being held in Frankfurt, Germany by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Commission and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).

This will be an opportunity for them to explore business options available on the European market and to give Europeans some highlights of their vast repertoire.

The Business Forum is a high-profile event which seeks to develop and build international partnerships through business to business meetings, networking and business consultations.