Since coming third in CB Foods PAN Chicken Finals last year, Hassane Gordon, a woman of all trades, is praising the annual competition for allowing her profits “to more than triple” in months. 

Since placing third at PAN Finals in 2024, St Mary’s own Hassane Gordon has seen her business transform with profits “more than tripling” in just months. The 49-year-old, known for her irresistible PAN chicken, first gained recognition through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s Pan Chicken Cooking Challenge in 2023. But it was the CB Foods PAN Finals that gave her the platform she needed to take her side hustle to the next level.

“My life has been transferred rapidly to better growth. I get more orders for the catering service; people request my PAN chicken more. Anytime I go out with my PAN chicken, my chicken sell off completely. I have gotten more clients, and more people have called me to do PAN chicken at events,” Gordon, 49 years of age, who is also a dressmaker, a caterer, an agroprocessor, sauce, jam, wine and pudding maker, explained while beaming with joy. 

When Gordon entered PAN last year, she was going through a difficult period. Winning $50,000 at the parish level gave her the boost she needed. “I used it to buy a water tank, a table for my pan, and even to pay a driver to take me and my load from St. Mary to St. Elizabeth for the Finals,” she explained.

The hard work paid off. At PAN Finals, Gordon walked away with third place and a prize package that included $500,000 cash from CB Foods, $50,000 from JN Money, a $30,000 voucher from National Bakery, and a one-year supply of CB Chicken. She invested every dollar into her small business, and within a year, her profits had tripled.

“The level weh mi did deh, PAN elevate me. Coming third was more than a highlight; it proved I could do this. Word spread fast, and now I get booked for family events, luncheons, and more catering jobs,” she said.

Gordon, a mother of three with six grandchildren, is no stranger to hard work. She’s a dressmaker, caterer, and agro-processor who makes sauces, jams, wines, and puddings. Seven years ago, she started selling PAN chicken on the streets of Port Maria, determined to provide for her family. Today, thanks to PAN, her passion has grown into a thriving business

“Hassane brings an energy and determination that’s unforgettable. From fully engaging in the workshops to dancing, cheering on others, and still staying laser-focused on her goal, she embodies the spirit of PAN. At CB Foods and across CB Group, our mission is to make a difference, and Hassane proves how this platform can turn passion into opportunity. With the support of our partners, vendors like her are building sustainable businesses, elevating their craft, and changing their lives for good.” Nicole Hall, Senior Commercial Marketing Manager at CB Foods, said it’s stories like Gordon’s that show why CB Foods continues to power PAN.

The PAN 2025 Grand Finals take place on Sunday, August 31 at Jamaica College, where 30 PAN Chicken finalists and six PAN Pork competitors will battle for over $1 million in prizes.