Caribbean conglomerate GraceKennedy Group, which was founded in Kingston, Jamaica, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. 

Its Group CEO, Don Wehby, spoke at a church service held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown Kingston.

Below is his full address:

“Thank you for joining us here today as we celebrate, and give thanks for, this monumental milestone in the history of GraceKennedy, our 100th Anniversary.

I take a moment to also acknowledge and extend my sincere appreciation to Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica, whose remarks will be delivered by Custos Fuller later in the service. I also acknowledge and extend my sincere appreciation to Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, whose remarks will be delivered virtually.

Without a doubt, under normal circumstances, we would have gathered in fellowship, as a GK Family, to commemorate this momentous occasion; but in keeping with the local restrictions on gatherings associated with COVID-19, this, unfortunately, could not be possible. GK Family, it is my sincere hope that we will see an improvement in the status of the pandemic over the next few months, and that we will be able to gather in-person to celebrate GK100 before the end of the year. 

As always, my thoughts and prayers are with our GK family who have been directly affected by the virus or who have lost loved ones to this devastating disease. We have lost so much to this pandemic, and we must do everything in our power to bring it to an end. 

In such uncertain times, it is so easy to lose sight of our many blessings. And so, on this, GraceKennedy’s 100th anniversary, above all, we give thanks. 

We give thanks to God for his grace and favour, which has guided our Company since 1922, and which has allowed us the opportunity to celebrate GK100. 

GK Family, as I stand here, I feel overwhelmingly blessed to be leading this great company on this special occasion. GraceKennedy’s 100th anniversary is a milestone that not only the GK Family is proud of, but it is also an accomplishment of national significance, to be celebrated by Jamaicans all around the world.

From our little island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, a small Jamaican trading establishment has transformed into a global consumer group, which serves millions of customers, employs thousands, and is loved the world over. 

And so, tomorrow, on Valentine’s Day, February 14, it is fitting that we celebrate a century of GraceKennedy’s love story with Jamaica, and the world. 

Since 1922, GraceKennedy has played a prominent role in the lives of Jamaicans across the globe. Whether it be on our kitchen shelves, when sending money to loved ones across the miles, or by helping to protect some of the things we value; GraceKennedy has been there, every step of the way for our GK family, for over one hundred years. Our group is now involved in banking, insurance, supermarkets, money services – including remittance businesses in eleven countries – in addition to our food manufacturing and distribution companies, which now serve markets all around the world.

As we mark this monumental milestone for the GraceKennedy Group, we pause to reflect on how far we have come, and all the lessons learnt along the way. 

Jamaica’s first National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey famously once wrote that “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture, is like a tree without roots.”

Hanging in the boardroom of one of our offices on Harbour Street is a copy of GraceKennedy’s very first balance sheet. It lists, among other things, a dray and a mule as one of its assets, 15,000 pounds in revenue, and an impressive profit of 800 pounds. Today, after 100 years in business, GraceKennedy records revenues of over US$800 million per annum, and in 2020 GraceKennedy recorded its best financial performance in history. We now have over 50 subsidiaries, with operations spanning not only Jamaica, but also many other Caribbean islands, much of North and Central America, the United Kingdom, and several European countries. 

What a far way we have come, and how blessed we have been to achieve this kind of growth and longevity. 

Throughout the years I have often been asked: what is the secret to GraceKennedy’s success? For me, the answer is simple – as GraceKennedy has grown and expanded across the world, we have always, without fail, remained guided by the core values which were established by our founding fathers back in 1922 – honesty, integrity and trust. And also, above all, in everything we do, at GraceKennedy we stay true to our we care mantra, in the best interest of our team members, our customers and the communities we serve around the world. 

These are the secrets to GraceKennedy’s success; these are the values, which are embedded in our DNA. 

GK100 is a true testament to these core values, and the strategic direction and vision set by our founding fathers: Dr John Grace, Fred Kennedy, and James Moss-Solomon Senior, as well as our pioneering leaders of the past, Luis Fred Kennedy, S. Carlton Alexander, Rafael Diaz, and Douglas Orane. 

I also want to take a moment to recognise the gentleman who was my first boss when I joined GK in 1995 – Peter Moss-Solomon.

I am pleased to welcome many of our former directors of GraceKennedy and members of our founding families to today’s service, whether you are participating in person or watching online. I know that those who are no longer with us in body, are here today with us in spirit, filled with pride to see GK celebrate 100 years. 

And so today, as well as giving thanks for our many achievements over the decades, we give thanks for our GK Family who have helped write the story of GraceKennedy. A story which is bound by faith, hope and resilience. One which is so intricately intertwined with the story of Jamaica, and Jamaicans across the world. 

Our chosen theme for GK100 is…Our Story is Your Story. Celebrating the past. Shaping the Future. 

GraceKennedy’s story is the story of our customers – at home in Jamaica, and in the Diaspora, our partners in business, our shareholders, and the communities we serve around the world. 

But perhaps, most of all, it is the story of our amazing GK team – both past and present. 

Today, some of our longest-serving GK team members from across the Group are here in person with us: Angella Powell-Gayle, Dr Curtis Sweeney, Karen Walker [and] Marcia Doyley.

I also want to recognise: Patrick Chen, Rita Ling and Derrick Reckord from our international team who have each served this company for 35 years or more. 

It fills me with such gratitude and pride, to celebrate GK’s 100th anniversary today with you, and all our GK team members and retirees who have joined us, whether online, or the small number who have gathered in person here, at this beautiful and historic, Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown Kingston, Jamaica…the place where our GK story began. 

I began working at GK on October 5, 1995. I am humbled, that as a young professional, I was given the opportunity to serve this great organisation. My years at GraceKennedy have been some of the very best years of my life. 

GraceKennedy is a family, and I consider each and every GK team member a part of my family. It is a place where many, like me, have built careers and raised families. Together we have comforted each other in difficult times, celebrated our successes and fulfilled our dreams. Together, we have persevered, through the ups and the downs, with dedication and commitment, serving our customers at the highest standard, and showing the communities we serve how much we care. 

During this, our 100th year in business, I take the opportunity to reaffirm GraceKennedy’s commitment to continue showing how much we care, as we work with all our stakeholders to shape a better future together. 

Today, we are pleased to welcome Dr Fred Kennedy, chairman of the GK Foundation and the grandson of one of our founding fathers, Fred William Kennedy. 

I am also pleased to see that one of our GK Foundation scholars has been able to participate in today’s Service of Thanksgiving – our 2021 GraceKennedy Jamaica scholar, Nathan Walker. 

I also welcome Jeffrey Moss-Solomon, son of the late Jimmy Moss-Solomon, who was the Chairman of our Grace & Staff Foundation until the time of his sudden passing earlier this year. In my capacity as Deputy Chair of Grace & Staff, I take this opportunity to express our deepest sympathies once again to the entire Moss-Solomon family on behalf of Grace & Staff and GraceKennedy. Jimmy served his country and fellow Jamaicans with love and generosity. He has left big shoes to fill, but through the important work of our foundations we will continue to honour his memory and build on his enduring legacy. 

As we continue to build on GraceKennedy’s countless achievements and advance our vision for the future, we remain inspired by the timeless words of our late great chairman Carlton Alexander – What is good for Jamaica, is good for GraceKennedy – which embodies our We Care mantra. 

GraceKennedy is committed to playing our part in achieving our national objective, Jamaica’s Vision 2030, which is to make Jamaica “the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.”

We look forward to 2030 and beyond, and I pray for God’s richest blessings on our exceptional GK Team, past, present, and future, who by their hard work and dedication help to shape this great Company. I also express gratitude for the many men and women who have served on the board of directors of GraceKennedy over the decades, including our current chairman, Professor Gordon Shirley. Thank you all, for your bold leadership, invaluable guidance, and unending support. 

With the well-being of the communities we serve at the centre of all that we do, we continue to give God thanks for our many blessings and ask for his guidance as we prepare for the road ahead.

The future of GraceKennedy is bright. The Best is Yet to Come. 

God bless this company, God bless our GK Family, and God bless Jamaica, land we love.”