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INNOVATORS<br />
hlphoto/shutterstock.com<br />
cream in <strong>Trinidad</strong> and <strong>Tobago</strong>. “Having<br />
an understanding of the distribution<br />
side means that we can go to market<br />
with ice cream products a lot faster,<br />
because we have the infrastructure of<br />
cold storage, trucks, and a knowledge<br />
base of frozen products.”<br />
Creamery Novelties is<br />
established<br />
A few years ago, businessman Paul<br />
Gabriel approached the HADCO Group<br />
about distributing a local ice cream<br />
he wanted to produce. He had already<br />
completed a lot of research and<br />
development on the manufacturing<br />
process for a new brand. After much<br />
discussion, a 50 per cent partnership<br />
was born, Creamery Novelties.<br />
Located on the e TecK Diamond<br />
Vale Industrial Estate, the new plant<br />
consists of two buildings, of 10,000<br />
square feet each. One will house<br />
the ice cream, and the other the ice<br />
cream cones. Production starts in<br />
May, creating 25 new jobs at startup.<br />
The plant machinery was sourced<br />
from China, while the manufacturing<br />
process is uniquely designed to have<br />
very few touch points, from mixing<br />
to freezing, in keeping with a wellcontrolled<br />
sanitary environment. “A<br />
lot of work has gone into researching<br />
the equipment, and we have started<br />
creating recipes for the various<br />
flavours,” Hadad says.<br />
Taste testing and research and<br />
development were done locally,<br />
working with the Caribbean Industrial<br />
Research Institute, CARIRI. Product<br />
development, including packaging<br />
and design, was also sourced locally.<br />
“In addition, we will be collaborating<br />
with Caribbean CGA with respect to<br />
ingredient sourcing,” Hadad explains.<br />
The ice cream is initially in the<br />
basic flavours of chocolate, vanilla<br />
and coconut, with more endemic<br />
local flavours to be added as the<br />
product is rolled out. The firm will<br />
focus on bringing novelty products<br />
to the market such as an ice cream<br />
lolly called Creamee, as well as an<br />
old favourite, Choc Ice. Another<br />
innovative item will be a “Dairy<br />
Dainty”, which is five cubes of<br />
chocolate-coated ice cream in a box.<br />
This distinctive product was originally<br />
manufactured in <strong>Trinidad</strong> and <strong>Tobago</strong><br />
by Paul Gabriel’s family more than 30<br />
years ago.<br />
The future of HADCO<br />
In the short term, HADCO is keen<br />
to see how the product performs in<br />
the <strong>Trinidad</strong> and <strong>Tobago</strong> market, and<br />
to understand consumer behaviour.<br />
“We want to start exporting as soon<br />
as possible, and will engage our<br />
distributor network across our 12<br />
export markets,” John Hadad says.<br />
“We feel positive that the product will<br />
sell very well throughout Caricom,<br />
and also in a few Central American<br />
markets.<br />
“Creamery Novelties targets the<br />
general consumer and affordability<br />
– we want to produce a good quality<br />
product at the right price. With our<br />
focus around novelties and flavours,<br />
the Group can become a dominant<br />
ice cream manufacturing force in the<br />
region within five years.<br />
“HADCO is owned by a<br />
Trinbagonian family, with Trinbagonian<br />
employees, and we want to continue<br />
to exist here, to grow our employee<br />
base and to grow our business. And<br />
we believe that the only way to do<br />
this would be to further diversify into<br />
manufacturing, in order to become<br />
self-sufficient with respect to foreign<br />
exchange earnings.”<br />
16<br />
<strong>Trinidad</strong><br />
and <strong>Tobago</strong> Chamber<br />
of Industry and Commerce<br />
www.chamber.org.tt/contact-magazine