By McPherse Thompson, Staff Reporter
Burrell
THE well-known Captain's Bakery has invested US$3.3 million (about $152 million) in a joint venture outfit that will see the operation of a drive-through bakery and grill restaurant along the famous seven-mile beach in the Cayman Islands.
The bakery and restaurant is scheduled to be opened next Thursday, February 7, under the watchful eyes of some of Jamaica's business leaders, representatives of both of Jamaica's major political parties, as well as political and business officials from the Cayman Islands, according to managing director of Captain's Bakery, Captain Horace Burrell.
According to reports, Captain's Bakery could be chartering an Air Jamaica plane to take the officials to the Cayman Islands for the grand opening.
Speaking with the Financial Gleaner earlier this week from Miami, Florida, where he is attending a leg of the Gold Cup Football tournament, Captain Burrell, who is also president of the Jamaica Football Federation, said the bakery and grill was a new concept and one that would provide seating accommodation inside as well as outside the establishment.
He said the company had decided to capitalise on the large Jamaican customer base in that island, as well as tourists, including many from the four or so cruise ships that dock there daily and whom Captain Burrell felt would "find favour with our products."
In addition to using Jamaican products such as spices from Walkerswood, flour from the Jamaica Flour Mills, and other raw materials from Industrial Sales (Seprod) and Grace, Kennedy and Company in the overseas-based business, Captain Burrell said they would be transferring 10 of their Jamaican staff from the various local branches to Cayman. "They have already secured work permits and they are expected to form the nucleus of the Cayman staff," Captain Burrell said. "We believe that they will be able to contribute to the Jamaican economy through their remittances," he added.
VARIOUS PRODUCTS
Among the products that will be offered in the Cayman establishment, said Captain Burrell, are the hardough bread famous among Jamaicans, birthday cakes, patties, meat loaves, bullas, bagels, donuts, buns, jerked chicken and pork, pizzas, as well as the world famous Blue Mountain Coffee.
Captain Burrell said the company would also seek to capitalise on the party-going customer base and will therefore close the business later than others. "I have seen a good market for a facility like mine to be available to tourists after closing of the clubs," he said. The bakery and grill will therefore be opened until 1:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays, until 3 a.m. on Fridays, and until 12:30 a.m. on Saturdays. "After 12 (midnight) there's a big market for the jerk and other products that we will be offering," Captain Burrell added.
The business is slated to be officially opened by Cayman's Leader of Government Business (Chief Minister), Mckeeva Bush, who is also Minister of Tourism.
Captain Burrell, who has been exploring expanding overseas for some time now, said the location of the business along the seven-mile beach in Cayman was central to tourists as well as the large Jamaican community. "Jamaicans, in particular, are looking forward to the products that we have to offer," he said.
"It has always been my intention to expand beyond the shores of Jamaica," said Captain Burrell, a former president of the Jamaica Bakers Association. "Right now I'm looking at the United States and two other Caribbean islands - Antigua and Trinidad - as well as the United Kingdom," he said.
Opening of an overseas branch of the Captain's Bakery will somewhat impact traders in Jamaica, many of whom used to buy bread and other products from the local stores and resold them in the Cayman Islands.
Although a newcomer to the Cayman Islands, the Captain's Bakery, based on its design and with its neon lighting, is said to be among the brightest and most attractive food establishments on the seven-mile strip.
