Richard Pandohie and Nicholas Hospedales appointed Chairman and CEO
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – July 9, 2024. Caribbean Producers (Jamaica) Limited (JSE:CPJ)
(“CPJ”) today announced that A.S. Bryden & Sons Holdings Limited (JSE:ASBH) (“ASBH”) has
acquired a 44.8% strategic stake in CPJ.
Nicholas Hospedales will be appointed Chief Executive Officer of CPJ. Mr. Hospedales is a senior
executive at ASBH, having previously led its food and grocery, premium beverage and
operations units over the last decade. Prior to his roles at ASBH, Mr. Hospedales held various
regional leadership roles at Nestle.
Richard Pandohie, the Chief Executive Officer of ASBH will be appointed Chairman of CPJ. Tom
Tyler, CPJ’s Co-Founder will be appointed Deputy Chairman of CPJ and will serve as a consultant
to the Company focused on customer and supplier relationships and business development
opportunities. Mark Hart and Candace Hart will remain the Directors of CPJ.
In addition to Mr. Pandohie and Mr. Hospedales, ASBH directors Nicholas Scott, Michael
Conyers and David Franco will be appointed new directors of CPJ replacing Christopher Berry,
Konrad Berry, Camille Shields, Frank O’Dowd and Mark Hall who will resign.
“Over the last 30 years, CPJ has become the preeminent distributor of food and beverage
products to hotels and resorts in Jamaica and beyond because of the talent and dedication of
our team and the support of our loyal suppliers and customers. AS Bryden shares our values and
our culture and has a track record of building and supporting high-performing management
teams. I look forward to working closely with AS Bryden and supporting Nicholas and Richard in
the next stage of CPJ’s journey.” said Mark Hart, CPJ’s Co-Founder and outgoing Chairman and
interim CEO.
“Working together CPJ and ASBH will grow significantly and expand their geographic footprint
throughout the region. I’m excited to be associated with the collaboration of these two
important Caribbean companies.” said Richard Pandohie, ASBH’s CEO and incoming Chairman
of CPJ.
Nicholas Hospedales, CPJ’s incoming CEO, commented, “CPJ is an exceptional business run by
outstanding people. I am privileged to have the opportunity to lead its talented team. I look
forward to joining forces to serve our employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders.”
Caribbean Products (Jamaica) Limited– CPJ
Caribbean Producers (Jamaica) Limited (CPJ) is a leading distributor of global food and beverage
brands in Jamaica and St. Lucia. Founded in 1994, CPJ is headquartered in Montego Bay and
specializes in providing a wide range of food, beverages, and non-food products mainly to the
hospitality industry. They supply items such as meats, seafood, dairy, wines, and spirits, as well
as offering logistics and supply chain solutions. CPJ operates “CPJ Market” retail stores in
Jamaica and St. Lucia. The company is also listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
AS Bryden & Sons Holdings Limited
AS Bryden & Sons Holdings, commonly known as the Bryden Group, is a prominent distributor
based in Trinidad and Tobago with operations in Guyana and Barbados. Established in 1923, the
company has grown to become a leading distributor of food, premium beverages, consumer
products, pharmaceuticals and industrial supplies in the Caribbean region. The Bryden Group is
known for its strong partnerships with international brands and its commitment to quality and
service in the markets it serves.
The Bryden Group operates several subsidiaries and affiliates including AS Bryden Trinidad and
Tobago, Bryden Pi, F.T. Farfan, BPI Guyana, ICON Guyana, Micon Marketing, Armstrong
Healthcare and Stansfeld Scott (Barbados).
