Seven entities have been selected for the 2016 National Bakery's 'Bold Ones: New Champions of Manufacturing.'
Chairman of Continental Baking Company, Gary 'Butch' Hendrickson, last week announced the new selections and they will receive a wide range of benefits under National's innovative programme to support manufacturing.
"In profiling our 2016 National Bakery Bold Ones, they, like their predecessors, will be empowered to create more jobs, develop their export potential so they can earn foreign exchange for the country, and become examples of the productivity that will eventually lead to prosperity," said Hendrickson as he announced the elected entities.
He implored the selected entities to be more ethical in all their endeavours, including governance and respect for the rule of law.
"It is now as good a time as any to raise the standard of public etiquette in our country," declared Hendrickson.
National Bakery identified the seven new entrepreneurs after an extensive search led by its director of operations, Steven Sykes.
"In this the 2016 renewal of the National Bakery 'Bold Ones: New Champions of Manufacturing', we once again searched the island for candidates," said Sykes.
"This year proved to be more challenging than previous years. However, we eventually identified a shortlist of new businesses, not more than seven years old, employing at least five persons, and using indigenous materials to manufacture quality products.
"And not only were they tax-compliant, they all had a compelling story to tell," added Sykes.
Over the next six months, the companies will receive multimedia promotional packages and extensive publicity.
For the first time, the Bold Ones programme will be televised through a partnership with Business Access TV and National Bakery. The Bold Ones will, in addition, over the next two years, have their advertisements carried on the National trucks that traverse the island.
"In this tough environment, the 'Bold Ones' have shown their mettle, as setting up a business requires so much patience and paperwork in this country," said Hendrickson.
"This group of Bold Ones have stepped up to create enterprises, provide employment, and, yes, pay their taxes. Moreover, they have endeavoured to use as many indigenous materials as possible."
This is the fourth time that National Bakery will be endorsing and marketing courageous Jamaican visionaries in the biennial programme launched in 2010, bringing their sponsorship of a total of 34 companies to approximately $120 million.