Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
BABA Limited employees on the bottling line. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
WHEN ENTREPRENEUR, William Wilberforce ?Baba Roots? Webb started a small bottling and distribution company in Darliston, Westmoreland, few could imagine how far he would reach or the battles he would have to fight.
Launched seven years ago, Basic Administration for the Benefit of Africans (BABA) Limited has faced with numerous challenges over the years, the greatest being the emergence of Baba Roots counterfeiters. They had been taking advantage of the credibility built up by the well-known Jamaican organic drink 'Baba Roots' which he developed.
"We have been going through a lot of changes because of the counterfeiting but we are making every effort to curtail it ," Mr. Webb said. Security measures at the factory have been increased to maintain control of the company's stock.
The result of these efforts is that business is expected to improve substantially this year.
BABA Limited started out with seven workers in a small storefront facility. It has grown to become the single highest employer its community.
"We have grown up to over a hundred members of staff," Mr. Webb said, noting that his company also employs part time and student holiday workers.
The company started exporting its product to the United States last year and will be further expanding its capacity from February of this year.
"We are building a new state of the art facility on the Urbank Estate in Darliston. It is under construction now and it is expected to be completed by the end of February 2006."
Mr. Webb said that the new facility will have a main production building with approximately 25,000 square feet and will produce several new items such as tea bags and 'nutraceutical' products (vitamin supplements).
In light of an expected increase in production capacity, Mr. Webb predicts that the company's staff complement will double.
"We have learned, from our negative experiences, how to protect our interests, (and) I think that as long as we can put in place all the new technologies that we need, the business will do well this year," he said.
