Multi-service organisation, Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited Group (MMS), and “manufacturer and distributor of chemical raw materials,” Paramount Jamaica, have entered into a strategic partnership aimed to “grow both businesses.”

This was jointly announced by the CEO of MMS Ltd. Group Don Gittens and CEO of Paramount Jamaica, Hugh Graham at the JMEA Expo on Friday, April 4 at the National Arena in Kingston.

According to Don Gittens, MMS recently signed an agreement that will enable Paramount and Manpower to “move together in a strategic partnership” in which Paramount will supply chemicals for the facilities management arm of MMS Group and specially manufactured products, including “Powersol” that will be distributed under the MMS label, as well as provide warehousing and logistical support for the organisation.

Gittens said that through this alliance, “Manpower will have its own labels in the marketplace,” and given the size and range of contracts that MMS now manages, this will help “to utilize the economies of scale to enable us to buy products at a reasonable price as well as increase efficiency by having a ready stream of available products.” He said MMS, “has been growing exponentially and this partnership will allow us to be more competitive and satisfy our customers more efficiently. The two companies can also grow together through partnership.”

This was endorsed by General Manager of Facilities Management Services at MMS, Ahijah Brown, who said with Manpower’s continued growth, the organisation needs “reliable and efficient chemical supplies.” He said that a part of Paramount’s mandate is also to “provide more eco-friendly supplies as MMS is aware of the necessity to reduce its carbon footprint.” He explained that the partnership will also help MMS to “create the best solutions for each sector as it caters to the specific needs of the marketplace. This partnership has come at a great time.”  

Also speaking at the event, CEO of Paramount Hugh Graham said, “As a manufacturer of cleaning and sanitation products, we couldn’t have a better partnership than partnering with Manpower. I believe our partnership … will represent the direction that we want to go in to have the kind of relationship that enhances growth.”  He recognised the contribution of MMS Ltd. Group Chairman M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe to the initial discussions and noted that, “if she can say yes to working with Paramount, this must say something for us.” He said the partnership “is not taken lightly because there are many people out there, many options not just in Jamaica but in the Caribbean, but I think that while it has been long in coming, this is the right choice. Paramount is the best placed manufacturer in Jamaica to support Manpower.”

Graham also noted the increased capacity that will result from the partnership, especially in cases where there is the added demand for products as there was, for example, during the height of the Covid pandemic. “The demand from Manpower will also help Paramount to grow,” he said.

Chief Operations Officer at Paramount Jamaica, Everton Younger also hailed the partnership as “a perfect fit for our strategic plan.” He added, “We want to be primarily manufacturers. Currently, the split of our business doesn’t indicate that we have big manufacturing ambitions. This partnership will help us to demonstrate that. We see ourselves as manufacturers first with a distribution arm in the mix to support that…but that’s where we want to go, and this marriage is perfect for us, and I think over time we will be able to demonstrate this.”

Don Gittens also announced that as part of MMS’ growth strategy, the organisation intends to increase the locations where its products can be acquired with the opening of additional Clean Store® facilities in Kingston and Portmore. He also outlined plans to add Property Management and Waste Management to the list of services that MMS now provides.