#Kingston, April 8, 2019 – Jamaica – Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, has lauding Restaurants of Jamaica (RoJ) for contributing to economic growth. Her praise comes against the background of the entity’s opening of its 37th Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant, in Harbour View, which is located in the constituency.
“I must commend the team for
their commitment to quality restaurant operations in Jamaica. I am encouraged
to have more businesses in the constituency [as this] provides more employment.
The number of locations you have expanded to throughout Jamaica has
significantly contributed to what we find important… growing Jamaica,” Mrs.
Holness said.
She was delivering brief remarks
at the branch’s official opening on Saturday, April 6. Mrs. Holness, who noted that the KFC
franchise’s long history in Jamaica started 44 years ago with the first
restaurant’s establishment at 70 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, commended the
company for maintaining its “finger lickin’ good” quality.
“They have done so while
responding positively to the numerous projects and goodwill, and have aided in
the betterment of our country,” she said.
Managing Director of RoJ, Mark
Myers, said the organisation also plans to further expand its Pizza Hut
franchise. He pointed out that the
company continues to increase its support for local farmers by using their
produce in each new restaurant opened.
“This investment marks our
steadfast belief in Jamaica as an excellent place to do business. We continue
to be in growth mode as we expand our business and locations to create more
employment opportunities and build deeper ties to the communities we serve,” he
said.
The opening of KFC Harbour View
represents an investment of approximately $200 million, and brings the total
number of restaurants operated by RoJ to 48.
Its opening has created 55 new
jobs for individuals from the surrounding communities, which brings the total
number of persons employed across the RoJ group to over 2,000.
The Harbour View location is the
second of four KFC restaurants being opened as part of the company’s Vision
2020 expansion plans, following the Falmouth branch’s opening last December.
Ground has already been broken
for the third restaurant, which will be located in May Pen, Clarendon. In addition to serving customers from Harbour
View and surrounding communities, Mr.
Myers anticipates that the new restaurant will also appeal to overseas
travellers, given its proximity to the Norman Manley International Airport.
Contact: Rochelle Williams
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness (second left), officially opens the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Harbour View branch, on Saturday (April 6). Sharing the occasion are: Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (second right), and (from left) Restaurants of Jamaica (RoJ) Managing Director, Mark Myers, and Marketing Director, Tina Matalon (right).
Yhomo Hutchinson Photo