Published 17 December 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Carib Brewery thanks Government for years of continued support
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, December 17, 2018 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Mr Mark Wilkin, Managing Director of Carib Brewery (St. Kitts and Nevis) Ltd, on the occasion of the company’s historic production of a million cases of product in a single year, is thanking Government for the support it has given the Buckley’s Site-based company over the years.
Established in St. Kitts and Nevis in 1960, the company produced its first brew Carib Beer in 1961 which was its only product until the introduction of Giant Malt in 1963. Today Carib Brewery’s product portfolio has grown to 18 products, with Carib Lager still as its flagship brand.
“The statistics show that since year 2000, Carib Brewery’s production has more than doubled going from over 400,000 cases in 2001 to 1,000,000 cases today,” said Mr Wilkin. He made the remarks on Friday December 14 at the brewery plant where Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, and Minister of Industry and Commerce, the Hon Lindsay Grant, were present to witness the historic achievement.
On the milestone’s achievement, Mr Wilkin recognised the contribution made by the company’s first Chairman Mr William Kelsick OBE who served for 46 years from 1960 to 2006. Mr Kelsick’s commitment, dedication, and invaluable service to the Brewery, to Manufacturing and Commerce in St. Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean were outstanding.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Carib Brewery, he thanked the management and staff for their loyalty and hard work over the 58 years of its operation in St. Kitts and Nevis. He noted that it is the employees who have made the historic occasion possible and he acknowledged their sterling contribution to the company.
“Carib Brewery also extends hearty thanks to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis who has seen and recognised the importance of manufacturing to our economy and has supported us from inception and over the years,” said Mr Wilkin. “Thanks also to our valued customers and consumers who have shown tremendous support for the range of products that we have offered over our 58-year journey and we continue to look forward to many more fruitful and rewarding years together.”
According to Mr Wilkin, the company’s gratitude was summed up in the chosen slogan for the occasion, ‘One Million cases Brew – One Million thanks to you’, which had been selected from a competition among staff. The winner was the company’s janitress Ms Mary Rogers, who was officially recognised and rewarded by the company in the presence of Prime Minister Harris and Minister Grant.
During the tour of the plant on Friday December 14, Mr Wilkin took the visitors who also included Deputy Speaker Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Ambassador Jonel Powell, Governor’s Deputy Mr Michael Morton, Carib Brewery Director Mr Anthony Kelsick, the Hon Konris Maynard, and officials from the St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union, to the bottling line where a number of cases of Carib Beer were coming through. He requested Prime Minister Timothy Harris and Minister of Industry and Commerce Lindsay Grant to take the millionth case, which they did.
In the Meantime Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Commerce the Hon Lindsay Grant congratulated Carib Brewery St. Kitts and Nevis Limited for a fantastic job over the last 58 years doing yeoman service to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. He noted that the company had a well organised and well developed staff that supported the brewery in making its brand “an unbelievable brand in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“This year in particular is a tremendous year for St. Kitts and Nevis,” noted the Hon Grant. “We are making many firsts, have many records and so I think we can only go from strength to strength. I believe our strength is in unity – we get together, we collaborate, we cooperate and make the best of the scarce resources that we have.”
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: Slogan winner Ms Mary Rogers (centre) congratulated by from right, Senator Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Prime Minister Harris, Minister Lindsay Grant, and Mr Mark Wilkin.
2: Mr Mark Wilkin, 3rd right, as he conducted a tour of the brewery plant to among others, Prime Minister Harris (4th right), Hon Byron-Nisbett (5th right) and Minister Grant (6th right).
3: Mr Mark Wilkin (3rd left) and Prime Minister Harris (4th left) and the rest of the touring team at the Carib Brewery (St. Kitts and Nevis) Ltd on Friday December 14.
