As part of this year’s Food and Rum Festival, there is a Food and Beverage Accelerator initiative, aimed at offering locals the opportunity to have their products taken to the next level.
The initiative spearheaded by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) received over 50 applications, and from that number, a select panel chose 36 persons. Phase one of the accelerator programme saw business owners present their products at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Christ Church, last week.
BTMI’s Chief Product Development Manager, Marsha Alleyne while speaking to the successfully shortlisted applicants, pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport has as one of its goals to create a sustainable product that features community tourism where locals are involved not just in the hospitality sector.
“At the BTMI we want to do tourism differently, so in our thrust to actually think differently about tourism, and do tourism differently, we have actually come up with the whole notion of doing an accelerator programme, a holistic accelerated programme of which the food and beverage portion of it is just one sub-sector…
“And why we’re doing this? We really want to ensure that our Barbadian businesses have as many opportunities as possible to take you to the next level and to ensure that you can actually get to a point where you can scale and eventually export your project,” Ms. Alleyne stated.
The Food and Beverage Accelerator Programme judging panel includes Ms. Alleyne; BTMI’s Board Director, Sadé Jemmott; Export Barbados Marketing Strategist, Warren Christopher Barker; Founder/Creative Director, TEN Habitat, Selwyn Cambridge; Hilton Barbados Resort Senior Chef, Marvin Applewhaite and Mixologist, Thaddeus Sealy.
After the three-minute business presentation, judges sampled natural juices, baked goods, gluten-free products, cured meats, hot sauces, BBQ sauces, fruit popsicles, pesto, cooking oils, rum punches, local fruit wines, cocktails, liqueurs and pre-packaged meals. This was followed by a question and answer segment about the business and its product.
Emerging from the judging session, 15 small businesses have been chosen to take part in phase two of the initiative, which involves going through an eight-week intense training programme by experts to refine and further develop their food or beverage business model.
It will also allow them to explore unique market opportunities; benefit from mentorship and industry guidance; participate in a special market access event at the Food and Rum Festival, and get their products ready for export markets.
The 15 businesses are: Irie Winez, Casanova Liquid Artistry, Coconut Baby/ Plant Lyfe, J & P Farms Ltd., Relentless Nostalgia, Auntie Phyllis Bajan BBQ Sauce, Utopia Blends, Happy Treats, Liquid Desires, Shalom Condiments, SmartMeats, The Golden Spoon, Momo’s Coco Loco, Jungle Juice West Indies (2020) and Hillside Group Inc.