Dr Fred Kennedy, chairman of the GraceKennedy Foundation, gave a thought-provoking lecture yesterday (October 20) during the GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF) 34th annual lecture, titled ‘A Century of Excellence, GraceKennedy’s Recipe for Success’, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

Kennedy, the grandson of one of GraceKennedy’s founders, Luis Fred Kennedy, in his lecture vividly discussed the period of the company’s history when it was a family-owned business in the early days.

During his presentation, he shared with the audience that he is working towards publishing a book which encapsulates the history of GraceKennedy from 1922 to present.

The biography is titled FIRSTBORN, The Life of Luis Fred Kennedy 1908-1982.

“About three or four years ago it occurred to me that I should do something to honour my father’s name for the centennial. I thought maybe I should write a Gleaner column, but I was told ‘no, he deserves more than that’,” Kennedy revealed.

He said the book is dedicated to his brother, Francis ‘Paco’ Kennedy, who he described as “a true GraceKennedy guy”.

Kennedy announced that all the proceeds will be donated to the GraceKennedy Foundation.

“That money will be used to fully fund a scholarship to the Caribbean Maritime University in the name of Mr Kennedy,” he shared.

The book retraces the history of Jamaica, the history of the company and is interwoven with the history of the Kennedy family.

Kennedy said he learnt a lot and discovered many things by being a part of the GraceKennedy Group.

Readers can look forward to learning about the names behind the business, those who helped to build the business and, of course, what it takes for a company to survive for 100 years.  

Even though there are several copies now out, the book will officially become available in four to six weeks.

 Kennedy urged individuals to buy the book as sales will contribute to a worthy cause.

Douglas Orane, the former chairman and CEO of GraceKennedy, with all his years of experience, revealed that he also wrote a book that has been on the market.

Orane informed the audience that all the funds from his book go to the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation.

Having given 200 speeches during his career at GraceKennedy, on the advice of his close friend and successor, Don Wehby, he wrote the book entitled The Business of Nation Building: Excerpts from the Selected Speeches of Douglas Orane.