CB pumps $30m into restaurant revival

Seeking to “galvanise” the revival of eateries across Jamaica, chicken wholesaler CB Group yesterday pledged $30 million in marketing and financial support to 2,300 restaurants and cookshops.

Distribution of funds will take place from June 1 to July 31 and is expected to help businesses reopen and re-employ thousands of direct and indirect employees who have lost their jobs as a result of fallout from COVID-19 restrictions.

The Recover Together initiative includes the issuance of contracts to loyal clients to cook more than 25,000 meals to be distributed to essential front-line workers such as doctors, nurses, security forces, media, as well as transportation workers who have remained busy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“The two-pronged initiative comes from a place of gratitude and always wanting to make a difference,” Chief Operating Officer Matthew Lyn said.

“We have our restaurants that are struggling to pay rent and pay employees. These are our customers who have been there for us over the years, and now we have a chance to thank them for their loyalty.”

Taking into consideration that the food services industry is one of the hardest hit economically, CB will be offering to its customers flexible credit terms and product discounts of 10-20 per cent to ease financial burdens.

MARKETING SUPPORT

Marketing support is also being offered to help restaurants and cookshops re-engage the dining public.

“With an estimated 50,000 employed in the industry, we understand how vital our restaurants are to the economy and the crucial role they play in the sustainability of so many spin-off industries like farming, attractions, and tourism,” Lyn said.

“When a quarter of our customers said they could not reopen without support and another 65 per cent said they could use a jumpstart, we knew we had to step up,” Lyn said.

CB supplies approximately 13,000 cookshops and close to 2,000 quick-service and traditional dining restaurants.

Alicia Bogues, head of marketing and regional development for CB, stressed that the chicken giant has been affected by the slowdown in commerce.

“There is not one business that has not been adversely affected during this time, and we are no different. We see this as our way to make a difference to help largely our customer base to get businesses back on their feet,” she said.