Caribbean Flavours and Fragrances Limited (CFF) is ready to expand its regional export footprint following a successful showing at the 2025 Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) held in Trinidad and Tobago from July 23 to 27.

The company has reported strong buyer interest in its wide range of flavours and fragrances for the food, beverage, household, and personal care products, and is now in active follow-up discussions with several prospective partners.

“We were able to make connections with potential buyers, distributors, and retailers from various CARICOM states, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and Barbados,” explained Janique McKenzie, senior business Development Officer at CFF.

“There was also very strong interest from Latin America, especially Central American countries. We’re currently having follow-up conversations, and we are optimistic that these discussions will translate into concrete export sales in the months ahead,” she added

CFF eyes regional growth

This marks the third time CFF has participated in TIC, the Caribbean’s largest annual business-to-business trade show hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA). Known for attracting diverse profiles of local, regional, and international buyers, the five-day event serves as a strategic platform for firms looking to enter new markets, forge distribution agreements, and showcase product innovation.

McKenzie said that the company’s goal in participating this year was to broaden its market presence within CARICOM and to reduce reliance on the domestic Jamaican market by leveraging regional trade agreements.

“We want to increase export sales and capitalise on the preferential trade arrangements available within CARICOM. This is a strategic part of CFF’s larger growth plan to become a more influential player in the regional flavours and fragrances market,” she said.

CFF on show

CFF’s booth featured a diverse product portfolio. A strong focus was placed on its food ingredient line, including PANODAN 205, DIMODAN HS 150, and POWERBAKE 4936, which were showcased in baking applications. Visitors also interacted with the company’s protein solutions TrupoTex and SuproTex for meat-based products, and Supro Nuggets and Trupro Nuggets suited for bars and granola formulation.

Additionally, the company featured a selection of flavourings for beverages such as orange, pineapple, ginger beer, fruit punch, lemon lime, pineapple, and cola champagne. In addition to flavour innovations, CFF also featured a variety of essences designed for household and personal care products.

“Because of our diverse product range, we didn’t only connect with food and beverage manufacturers, but also businesses in the cosmetic and household product sectors,” noted Allison Phipps, business development officer at CFF.

“With this level of interest, we are now in the process of developing customised proposals tailored to the specific needs of each client.”

Reflecting on the experience, McKenzie remarked, “TIC 2025 has been one of the most rewarding trade shows we’ve participated in outside of Jamaica. The level of engagement, quality of buyers, and diversity of markets represented truly surpassed our expectations.”

She affirmed the company’s intention to return next year, noting that “the opportunities to connect with serious buyers and strengthen our presence in regional markets make this event an essential part of our export development strategy”.