Kirani James Boulevard, St. Georges, Grenada, March 7, 2023: Youth athletics in Grenada has once again received a boost as Grenada’s largest private corporation, Geo. F. Huggins & Company (Grenada) Limited. has pledged over $24,000 in support of the 2023 Private Primary Schools Athletic Championship.

In a handover ceremony held at the Huggins boardroom at its head office on Kirani James Boulevard, Chief Executive Officer, Anya Chow Chung, presented the cheque to Chairman of the Grenada Private Primary Schools’ Association, Kester Elcock.

In her remarks, Mrs. Chow Chung mentioned her company’s long association with the event and pledged her continued support. She remarked, “We have proudly sponsored this event for the past 15 years, including ten years under the banner of our Ribena brand and, more recently, as the Fruta Kool Kidz Private Primary School Sports. It has been a joy and a privilege to watch the event grow from year to year. As a mother of young athletes, I fully understand the need for fora like these, that not only give our kids the opportunity to nurture and showcase their athletic abilities, but also teach them important life lessons such as teambuilding and good sportsmanship. I am equally proud to have the honour to lead a 100% Grenadian owned company where we are able to retain our profits locally and reinvest into the people and communities that have supported us over the past 100 plus years, through our chosen focus pillars of sports, culture, and education.”

The Chairman of the Grenada Private Primary Schools’ Association, Kester Elcock, expressed profound gratitude to Huggins for its continued support over the years. He indicated that ten schools will compete this year in the hope of dethroning seven-time champions, St. Mary’s Junior School. Mr. Elcock said, “it is the first time going into the final event that there is a near tie between the top schools and so patrons can look forward to a keenly contested championship and we are looking forward to the possibility of more records being broken”.

Mr. Alvin Clouden, Executive Officer of the National Sports Council also addressed attendees and praised the organizers and sponsors. He pledged the Council’s full support to ensure the success of the championship.

It was the consensus of all that no effort should be spared in ensuring that our nation’s private primary schools are represented in “lane 8” of our National Primary Schools Championships, as soon as possible. 

Huggins thanks Suntory and SM Jaleel, producers of Ribena and Fruta Kool Kidz respectively, for their years of sponsorship and wishes all competing schools a successful event.

Grenada – May 5, 2023 – Amerijet International Airlines, and their GSA Swift Air Cargo Handlers recently hosted a ceremony to show appreciation to its valued customers. The event, which was held at Pier 57, (Grenada) was attended by Amerijet’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Eric Wilson, Amerijet’s Director of Carrier Network and International Sales Development Layda Castello Garcia, and Amerijet’s Senior Consultant for Caribbean Operations, Ricardo Henrique.

Grenada’s Minister of State with responsibility for Agriculture and Lands, Fisheries, and Cooperatives, Senator the Hon. Adrian A. Thomas was also in attendance. The minister expressed his gratitude to Amerijet for their contribution to the economy with their two weekly flights between Miami and Grenada. (One flight was recently added to support the fish and fruit season.) The minister participated in discussions with Amerijet’s executives as well as Grenada’s top exporters and importers. In highlighting the growth of Amerijet, Eric Wilson said “There has been a rapid period of growth in the company, which finished 2022 with 23 aircraft. Providing service to the Caribbean region, including Grenada, has greatly aided in this growth.” 

Sales and Marketing Representative for Swift Air Cargo Handlers, Shirleyann Alexander expressed appreciation to the customers; “Amerijet International Airlines is more than just an airline; the culture of our company and the relationships we foster with our customers, has resulted in our success.”

General Manager of Swift Air Cargo Handlers; Agent for Amerijet International Airlines, Sheldon Alexander, thanked the customers for their continued partnership and commitment to the company while acknowledging the challenges they had to overcome due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the customer appreciation event. Amerijet’s CCO, Eric Wilson had A joint meeting withPermanent Secretary with Responsibility for Infrastructure, Public Utilities and Civil Aviation, Sylvia Bennett Thomas as well as General Manager of Swift Air Cargo Handlers, Sheldon Alexander, Civil Aviation Officer, Marlon Carter, General Manager (Ag.) of Maurice Bishop Intl. Airport, Cristina Joseph and Assistant Manager Airport Security, Emon Charles. The discussion centered on how Amerijet can continue to support the growth of its customers’ businesses and strengthen its partnerships with the government of Grenada.

More About Amerijet:

With almost 50 years of experience in the air cargo industry, Amerijet operates its dedicated fleet of freighters from its primary hub at the Miami International Airport to destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America and Europe. Amerijet’s portfolio of worldwide scheduled, long‐term and short‐term ACMI and CMI charter services provide seamless and transparent transportation solutions for customers shipping time-sensitive, valuable, hazardous material, temperature-controlled, and other commodity types. More information about Amerijet can be accessed at www.amerijet.com

Mr. Charles A. R. George is the proud recipient of the 2021 Spice Isle Award.

The Spice Isle Award is awarded to any person who has rendered truly emulative service in any field of human endeavour or for other humane action.

The award was conferred to Mr. George on Tuesday February 16, by Governor General, Dame Cecile La Grenade, for his contribution to Sports and Community Service. Mr. Charles George serves as a director and Deputy Chairman of the board of Geo. F. Huggins and Co. (G’da) Ltd. 

The name “Charlie” George, as he is affectionately called, resonates throughout our tri-island state for his involvement in and contribution to sports, serving as the President of the Grenada Amateur Athletic Association for 20 years and as the 1^st VP of the Grenada Olympic Committee for eight years during which time he was instrumental in the formation of the Grenada Paralympic Committee.

“Charlie” served as chair of many Track and Field meets including Whitsuntide Games, CARIFTA, Central American and Caribbean Games and several National Championships.

His love for country extended beyond sports as he served as Deputy Chair and member of the National Carnival and Cultural Development Committee for several years. He was also a founding member of the Mt. Gay Development Community committee, a village where he now resides.

Having been a member of the Cadet Corps at his alma mater, the Grenada Boys Secondary School, Mr. George was instrumental in reviving the Cadet Corps in Grenada, and served as its Commandant from 2009 to 2015 and still holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The Board of Directors, Management and Staff of George F. Huggins and Company Grenada Limited, congratulate Mr. Charles A. R. George on his national award.

Another bold step in the advancement of Digital technology has been made in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union as George F. Huggins & Company (Grenada) Limited became the first company in history to carry out a financial transaction using the ECCB’s Digital EC Dollars or “DCash”.

Under the watchful gaze of shoppers, Chief Executive Officer of Huggins, Mrs. Anya Chow Chung, completed the historic digital transaction at the company’s Foodland Supermarket on Kirani James Boulevard on Friday, 12^th February effectively becoming the first person in the Union and in Grenada ever to use the new digital currency.  Huggins is part of a wider pilot program spearheaded by the ECCB to begin the roll-out of its DCash program in Grenada and several other Eastern Caribbean territories.  The DCash Pilot is a key initiative of the ECCB’s transformational agenda as articulated in their 2017-2021 Strategic Plan.

Chow Chung said, “Digital history has been made today at Foodland and I am extremely proud to represent George F. Huggins & Company (Grenada) Limited and to have had the privilege to ‘cut the ribbon’ as it were in the use of this emerging digital technology in Grenada and the wider ECCU region.  This is indeed a proud moment for our country!  DCash will give our customers another option to access their cash quickly and easily through their mobile devices and eventually to conveniently shop at our outlets and stores around Grenada.  This is especially timely, as we all search for ways to conduct business safely during this pandemic.  By reducing the need to physically handle cash, DCash will provide customers with another layer of safety as we all learn to live in the ‘new normal’ created by the global COVID-19 pandemic.”

Governor of the ECCB, Timothy J. Antoine said “This transaction is a major milestone in our mission to place DCash in the hands of the people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). I congratulate George F. Huggins & Company (Grenada) Limited on making history.  We are now on the cusp of the public launch of DCash. Get ready.”

With over 500 employees, and 17 distinct business operations across Grenada, Huggins is the largest locally owned company on the island and has been proudly serving Grenadians for over 100 years.

In marking the historic digital moment, Mrs. Chow Chung recognised Foodland Store Manager, Ms. Genita Pysadee, Cashier, Mr. Trent Graham and Customer Service Representative, Mr. Junior George who all helped to make the first use of digital EC dollars in Grenada a smooth, efficient and successful process.

Announces new agency relationship with Caribtrans

17 November 2020, St. George’s, Grenada:  Geo. F. Huggins and Company (Grenada) Limited is pleased to give customers additional ways to ship and receive goods into Grenada as the newly announced agent for Caribtrans.  Effective November 16^th Huggins became the official branded agent for the shipping and consolidation company which has served the Caribbean since 1985.

Sheldon Alexander, Divisional Manager – Huggins Services said, “Caribtrans customers can expect excellent weekly shipping services for their Air and Ocean[ACC1]  freight needs coupled with the well-known Huggins brand of friendly and efficient family-style service.  Caribtrans’ service to Grenada is supported by a highly experienced staff, 138,000 Sq. Ft. of warehouse storage in Miami, a proprietary operating system and a North-America wide receiving terminal system which includes Jacksonville, Toronto, New York, Atlanta, California, and Miami among other features.”

For more information on Caribtrans and other Huggins shipping services please visit their offices at Huggins Shipping Division on the Carenage, or call them directly at 440-2032 or email at shipping@hugginsgrenada.com. Caribtrans’ ocean service to Grenada is a seven-day transit that currently arrives in Grenada every Thursday.

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On July 20, 2020, one of Grenada’s oldest and largest, 100% locally owned companies, Geo. F. Huggins & Company (Grenada) Limited (GFH) marked 100 years of operation.

Now operating 17 distinct lines of business in Grenada, Huggins has grown into a household name.  With over 500 employees it is one of the largest local employers on island.  Although the company had unveiled an array of lavish plans at the start of the year to mark the centennial, themed ‘A Century of Service’, the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic meant that like every other company, large and small, they had to scale back their plans.

To mark the significant milestone, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Anya Chow Chung embarked on an island-wide motorcade with her management team to personally thank each employee for their dedicated service to Huggins.  At every stop, she shared words of encouragement, and asked employees to raise a toast to another 100 years of success.  While they could not have the grand festivities, they had originally planned due to new physical distancing rules and COVID protocols, she still was able to celebrate the occasion and to pay special tribute to some of her staff who had helped to build the Huggins brand over the years.  Chow Chung recognized long-serving employees with crystal trophies and other tokens from the company.  Specially honored, Mr. Michael Victor, was awarded for his 50-year contribution to the company as part of the Distribution division.  Other employees who achieved milestone celebrations during this year were awarded for their tenures which ranged from 25 to 45 years in the company. 

The company also hosted an online panel discussion which included the President of the Grenada Olympic Committee and Director of Huggins, Royston F. La Hee, MBE and businessman and former Company Director, Mr. Kent Joseph.  Also featured on the panel was distinguished historian, author and Head of Site of the University of the West Indies – Grenada campus, Dr. Nicole Phillip-Dowe, who gave an in-depth historical analysis of how Grenada’s economic environment transitioned over the last 100 years and critical economic role played by Huggins. Mrs. Chow Chung, rounded out the guests on the panel and gave insightful glimpses into the development of the Huggins brand and ethos over the century. She thanked the panelists, and the many others like them, for their contribution to the overall growth and stability of the company. She also took a moment to thank and reflect on the role Mr. G.A. “Richard” Menezes, who was her predecessor and CEO for over 50 years, played in instilling into the company some of its foundational tenets of honesty in business, trustworthiness and the concept of treating employees as family.

“There aren’t enough words to thank Mr. G. A. Menezes and his wife Mrs. Menezes for their enduring contribution to the success of this company.  They were trailblazers through very turbulent times in this country’s history and they stood steadfastly for what was right and best for this company, and we are reaping the rewards of that initial vision and dedication”, said Chow Chung.  “I can only say to them, to this esteemed panel, and to the entire team at Huggins a heartfelt Thank You!”

She went on to discuss her current plans to carefully preserve the legacy she has been given, while at the same time charting a course that will enable the company to remain viable in a new digital age and deeply embedded in the communities across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique for another 100 years and beyond.