GraceKennedy continues to make good moves for Jamaica’s youth through its strong commitment to grassroots sport.

As part of this effort, Grace supported the 2026 All-Star Jamaica Youth football event, hosted by Football Society at the American International School of Kingston (AISK), with Grace Mighty Malt. The one-day showcase, held on Wednesday (February 18), brought together Jamaica’s most promising U12 footballers from top-performing prep and primary school teams, providing a platform for skill development, mentorship and exposure.

Designed as an elite exhibition of emerging talent, the event forms ‘A’ and ‘B’ all-star squads in both prep and primary divisions, allowing some of the country’s best young players, selected based on season performance, to compete at a higher level while gaining increased visibility and structured developmental experience.

Grace Mighty Malt supported the event through a combination of cash and in-kind sponsorship, reinforcing the brand’s focus on grassroots sport as a vehicle for youth empowerment.

Kristina Hill, brand manager of beverages at Grace Foods and Services, said the partnership reflects the brand’s broader purpose beyond a single event. “Grassroots sport plays a critical role in shaping young people, building discipline, teamwork and confidence while creating real opportunities for growth. Through Grace and its ‘Good Moves’ philosophy, our investment in youth football goes beyond competition, supporting pathways that help young athletes develop on and off the field. Events like the All-Star showcase allow Grace Mighty Malt to contribute meaningfully to that journey.”

The all-star event, now in its third staging, is part of a growing ecosystem of youth football initiatives supported by GraceKennedy through its Grace Mighty Malt product.

The brand has served as title sponsor of the Victory Cup, the Caribbean’s largest youth football tournament, for the past two years, helping to fund coaching support, mentorship and competitive platforms that give young athletes visibility and progression opportunities.

On the field, the 2026 All-Star showcase delivered closely contested matches. In match one, the ‘prep B’ team secured a narrow 3-2 victory over the ‘primary B’ squad in an energetic opener. The second fixture saw the ‘primary A’ team edge out the ‘prep A’ side 2-1 in a competitive contest that highlighted the depth of emerging talent across both divisions.

Leighton Davis, creator of the all-star tournament, said partnerships with private sector brands are critical to sustaining youth programmes. “The all-star showcase was created to recognise and elevate Jamaica’s best young footballers. Support from partners like GraceKennedy strengthens our ability to provide high-quality experiences for these athletes and continue building meaningful pathways for youth development through football.”

With scores of athletes, coaches and spectators in attendance, the 2026 all-star showcase underscored the growing importance of structured grassroots investment in Jamaica’s sporting future.