Mother’s Food Group officially launched its latest Mother’s Café in Drax Hall, St Ann, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, becoming yet another business to establish a footprint in the burgeoning town lying between the tourism mecca of Ocho Rios and the parish capital of St Ann’s Bay.

Described as “a reimagination of the dining experience, blending elegance, functionality, and comfort” the new restaurant is the second of its kind after the opening of the premier location at the University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew last year.

Mother’s Café combines the best of the Group’s brand portfolio, serving up a mix of products from the Devon House Bakery, Pimentos and Mother’s menus.

“The Mother’s Café is a concept that allows everybody to enjoy the flavour of all the brands under the Mother’s Food Group – that’s Mother’s, Devon House Bakery and Pimentos – and we have also created a new arm called M Catering,” Sheldon Seymour, managing director, told patrons gathered for the grand opening.

He added that M Catering, which services events and provides lunches to corporates, has fostered the growth of Mother’s into a network of food services operations under one group.

The new addition of the Mother’s Café in Drax Hall reflects the company’s growth strategy, the managing director explained, ensuring that its customers have an “authentic Jamaican experience every step of the way”.

“So the fact is, this Mother’s Food Group is changing the way we look at food and changing the way we go about business,” Seymour continued.

Spanning 4,500 square feet, the Mother’s Café in Drax Hall, which has a drive-through, is one of the largest restaurants in the Mother’s Group on Jamaica’s north coast. With “thoughtfully curated aesthetics”, the facility boasts expanded seating and a layout “combining elegance with functionality”.

The new Mother’s Café brings the company to 26 restaurants, up from 18 when Roots Financial acquired the business in 2023.

“This is more than just our largest store; it’s a reflection of where we’re headed as a brand,” Seymour is quoted in a release from the food services entity.

“This launch represents Mother’s Food Group’s commitment to innovation, quality, and growth. Mother’s Café reflects the company’s 100 per cent Jamaican ownership and heritage while embracing modern dining trends and product innovation. It’s a vision of the brand’s future, combining tradition with cutting-edge culinary experiences,” he emphasised.

He revealed further that the company will be opening another Mother’s Café at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, this year.

A preview of the Mother’s growth plan

During his remarks at the event, Mother’s Food Group Chairman Michael Ranglin reiterated that the restaurant’s opening is “an early example” of the work being executed under the company’s growth plan.

“To achieve the growth that we want, we have to have more stores of this nature as well as the other stores that we have to gradually develop the way that they exist to serve more and more customers with the range of products that we have,” he told the gathering.

Ranglin added that Mother’s is committed to taking advantage of team members’ positive attributes to increase its customer base in Jamaica. Ranglin added that “service, innovation and customer engagement through a highly motivated team” are paramount to achieving the company’s goals.

Commenting on the choice of location, he noted, “What better place than Drax Hall to be right now with its growing customer base comprising people that live and work in the area, people that use the North Coast corridor and, of course, visitors to Jamaica. The opportunity to showcase Jamaican foods to a wider group exists in several key areas in Jamaica, like Drax Hall, and we have our work cut out for us.”

On this note, the chairman asked patrons to offer their feedback by supporting and commenting on the company’s offering, both in terms of its physical locations and products from its traditional Mother’s stores, Devon House and Mother’s bakeries, and Pimentos.