Thu | Oct 31, 2024

Pandemic sparks Kevin Smith’s entrepreneurial journey

Published:Thursday | August 22, 2024 | 12:09 AM
From left: Terrence Richards, programmes coordinator at the Social Development Commission; Andrew Riley; and Kevin Smith, first-place winner for Portmore, receives the symbolic cheque from CB Foods Commercial Manager Nicole Hall.
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From left: Terrence Richards, programmes coordinator at the Social Development Commission; Andrew Riley; and Kevin Smith, first-place winner for Portmore, receives the symbolic cheque from CB Foods Commercial Manager Nicole Hall.

PAN chicken vendor Kevin Smith finished in first place for Portmore, when he participated in a PAN 2024 workshop held at the St Jago High School in Spanish Town.

Among 32 finalists competing in PAN 2024, he is grateful for the lessons learnt during the workshop.

“I’m really grateful for what CB Foods did. It’s a great reminder of how important food safety and personal hygiene are in our business – they can really make or break you. Street Food sometimes gets a bad reputation, and it’s important that customers feel safe when they purchase from us. I’m happy to be here, being a part of building a stronger PAN community.”

Smith shared that winning the competition would transform his life. “Winning would mean the world to me because it would give me the chance to become an ambassador for CB. I want to help others understand the real business of PAN and bring PAN chicken to new heights in Jamaica,” Smith explained.

Smith shared that he has observed the PAN competition over the years, and he even had friends who participated and became winners.

His journey in food began during his high school years at Spanish Town High, where he studied food and nutrition.

“I tried other stuff after high school, but it didn’t work out. It wasn’t my passion. I studied at Chung’s Catering and then took up a job at I95, a restaurant on Constant Spring Road. Then I moved on to Fusions Food and then Ribbiz in Barbican,” Smith disclosed.

After leaving Ribbiz at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith began doing pan chicken, which evolved into his opening Kevin’s Kitchen on White Church Street in Spanish Town.

“I left Ribbiz to start my own business and become my own boss. I just wanted to do my own thing, and since I started, it has been good, even though I’ve had my ups and downs,” Smith shared.

Smith, who sells PAN chicken at several parties and events across the Corporate Area, including Let Loose and Funfest, has plans to expand his business if he wins one of the cash prizes at the PAN 2024 grand finals.

“I want to expand my business and help other PAN chicken vendors to grow their businesses. Right now, I am training and teaching about six persons to be professional pan vendors, and they are all from Spanish Town,” said Smith.