June Gottgens is adamant on playing her part in revitalizing Jamaica’s cocoa and coconut industries.
And after two years of research, the entrepreneur decided to launch her very own coconut chocolate spread — a product she reckons can significantly assist in the growth of Jamaica’s economy.
“We have to reach a stage where we recognize producing and consuming Jamaican products not just as a slogan but really embracing it as a part of our being. We need to start supporting ourselves,” she told the Jamaica Observer.
Under the brand UMIUM, Gottgens coconut chocolate spread is now available in roughly 30 supermarkets islandwide, with plans to establish relations with another eight companies.
Having no distributor, Gottgens has herself, along with a small team of volunteers, to praise for the progress of the four-month-old company.
“For one reason or another we decided not to contract a distributor, and to get into those supermarkets without one is quite remarkable,” she stated. “To get the supermarket to even entertain you is a challenge.”
June Gottgens
But despite her challenges, Gottgens has remained focused and is now looking to expand her product line. Currently, UMIUM is distributed in a net weight of 300 grams. However, the entrepreneur plans to target a wider market with a 75-gram chocolate pack and is also exploring two new products with the manufacturing of almond chocolate spread and coconut syrup by the end of the year.
“We are thinking of going small because then you’ll be able to pack it in the lunch kit for children and trips,” Gottgens told the Business Observer. “Whilst we would love to stay high end, we would be accessible right across the board, so we are considering now to have it packaged in a particular way so it’s affordable to almost all Jamaicans.”
The coconut chocolate spread contains 1300 units of antioxidants per serving with only 4.5 grams of sugar, Gottgens says. The product is being manufactured in Kingston and is produced with locally sourced materials. UMIUM is also being sponsored by the National Baing Company which provides Krunchaz crackers as part of sample tastings.
Read the full story at jamaicaobserver.com
