Lincoln's - Nature's goodness from the soil

Clarendon is home to world-famous deposits of bauxite and is a local reservoir of significant yields in pimento, sugar cane and ginger. But few have really taken note of the wealth of possibilities that exist in the parish. Gordon Lincoln, through his Lincoln's brand of products, is a notable exception.

Emerging from a small jerk centre that sold chicken and pork to visitors and locals alike, the business was anchored by a complementary sauce that was created to generate sales. It worked, as persons travelling to and from Chapelton in Clarendon relished his ability to capture the real essence and taste ofbrand Jamaica.

For Lincoln, a 58-year-old returned resident, husband and father of six, brand Jamaica means all natural, colouring-free, without preservatives and, most important, flavourful.

"No matter how many foreign products may be on the shelves and how developed we become, our people will always appreciate food items that are made at home, using things their grandparents have told them about, with the least amount of alteration to natural properties. It helps when it is especially tasty and the mix of ingredients is uncommon. My role is to make that available."

REAL PROWESS

Lincoln's line of products is extensive and completes a number of culinary endeavours. His brand has birthed distinctive ketchup flavours. Then there are ginger, curry powder, scallion and thyme, dried Scotch bonnet pepper, wet jerk sauce and other seasonings; a range of teas such as soursop, guinea hen root and ball moss; green banana and arrowroot porridge; and cassava flour.

The real prowess of brand Lincoln's is reserved for his unique ketchup blends. To date, he has created two flavours - ginger-beetroot as well as turmeric - creating a buzz in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector. This ingenuity has earned Gordon recognition through his recent win of the 2016 Innovation Award under the National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited's Nation Builder Award Programme. In 2014, Lincoln's was one of the brands judged as a Champion in National Bakery's Bold Ones manufacturing competition. As part of being named a Champion manufacturer, the Lincoln's brand and range of products are displayed on the sides of National Bakery's delivery trucks.

PREPARING TO EXPAND

The company is preparing to expand its reach to overseas markets and has already begun shipping small samples to various outlets in the diaspora.

A graduate of Loughborough University of England, Gordon applied his training to building special-purpose machines that would be used for processing his carefully selected materials. For a while, when his journey as an entrepreneur began, Gordon was effectively a toolmaker without tools. But he sought strength in the reason for his move into business, generating capital by drawing on skill and passion.

"Lincoln's was born out of a long love affair with cooking and experimenting. As I played with ingredients and created tastes that haven't yet been experienced, I found the courage to move ahead, equip myself by my own means, as much as I could, until circumstances changed," he shared.

These traits have served him well, taking him steps closer to becoming a profitable enterprise. The producer of all natural and strictly Jamaican products is moving full speed ahead towards branding that is synonymous with delicious and affordable sauces and seasonings.

Members of the Summerfield community, where Gordon resides, and customers who have tasted items in the Lincoln's suite of products have taken a strong liking.

"Customers adore my products. They trust it and have come to depend on me for useful, healthy products," he expressed.

But that is not the only impact that this businessman wishes to have. Gordon employs local labour, sources ingredients from small farmers, and has organised a work-experience programme to target high school-aged males.

Gordon is confident that his dedication to selling what is best about Jamaica will propel his company to higher heights, taking Brand Jamaica along for the ride.