Canco Ltd. earns top NCB Nation Builder Award
19 Nov 2012
This year's coveted top spot as the NCB Nation Builder Award winner has been swept by Canco Limited, traders and owners of the Linstead Market Jamaica brand of products. A regional winner in its category, Canco took home the prize over Mystic Mountain, which also received a regional award in the same category. The annual awards program celebrates small and medium-sized businesses which demonstrate outstanding entrepreneurial performance and strong community involvement and impact. NCB also recognizes the work of Jamaica's community builders and encourages individuals and organizations which engage in volunteerism aimed at improving the lives of fellow Jamaicans. National award winners were selected from the regional winners announced in September. "It is a pleasure to see strong businesses compete so robustly," said Bernadette Barrow, Assistant General Manager, SME. "At NCB we are proud to be a part of what makes these businesses sound operators. We recognize the important role that our SMEs play in the strengthening of the Jamaican economy and tonight's winners, in all categories have displayed the best in practice this year, of business performance and community impact." In its 26 years of operations, Canco Limited has grown to become a leading producer and exporter of canned ackees and callaloo worldwide. Having expanded in 2005, in order to introduce new products to the local and international markets, in 2006, the company changed its trading brand from Country Choice to become Linstead Market Jamaica to offer its new products to include canned soups seasoned coconut milk, jams and chutney, while simultaneously expanding its local distribution arm. Chairman, Norman McDonald accepted the award on behalf of company. Other national award winners for the evening were Innovation Awardee Kingsley Palmer Farms; Essex Valley Communities and Associates for the Start-up Award; Denese Palmer of Southside Distributors took home the Woman in Business Award; and St. Patrick's Foundation walked away with the Impact Award for its service to inner-city communities. The NCB Nation Builder Awards programme is supported by partners: The Gleaner Company, LIME, Fujitsu Caribbean, The Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, The Jamaica Business Development Corporation, The HEART Trust/NTA, RJR Communications Group, The UWI Department of Management Studies and The Lion's Club of New Kingston.
