Bahamas News
Solomon’s Downtown grand opening ‘a big deal’ for Grand Bahama
By Lededra Marche
BIS
#Freeport, The Bahamas, December 2, 2022 – Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey said AML Foods Solomon’s Downtown grand opening in Grand Bahama on Thursday, December 1, 2022 is a big deal and epitomizes the reawakening of the downtown district.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a big deal for Grand Bahama Island and for Pineridge. It is a big deal because we all recognize that the relocation of Solomon’s to the downtown area will have a tremendous impact on businesses in downtown and surrounding areas,” she said.
Minister Moxey was bringing remarks at the Grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of AML Foods Limited’s 20,000-square foot downtown location in the newly named Winn Building.
“We all know that this is not an opening. What it really signifies is the long-awaited rebirth of Downtown,” Minister Moxey said. “This moment brings downtown alive, as I have outlined in my 10-point agenda for Pineridge, because I’m sure many of you know by now that this is Pineridge.
“This food store has been and still is the lifeline for downtown.”
Minister Moxey, who is also the Member of Parliament for Pineridge, pointed out that the building, which housed the former Winn Dixie Food Store, is the great connector as the nucleus of the island’s commerce centre and catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Freeport.
“It connects nearby communities who were accustomed to walking to the grocery store. It connects those from east end to west end who hopped on the bus, did their shopping and returned home. It was the engine for commerce in this area, and I dare say, it fed the transportation system; the buses, the taxis and the surrounding shops,” she said.
“The residents in Grand Bahama have been long awaiting this day. We have been counting down the months, days, hours and minutes to this wonderful grand opening.”
Exactly four weeks ago, Minister Moxey was at that same venue to attend the renaming ceremony of the downtown building by the Milo B. Butler and Sons Investment Limited Company, following the transformation of the 32,000 square-foot building to the retail and office space.
The Minister for Grand Bahama declared that with the Solomon’s Downtown opening and the projects on the table, Grand Bahama is back and she commended AML Foods Limited for their devotion to the island and the people of Grand Bahama.
AML Foods Chairman Franklyn Butler thanked Minister Moxey, the executives of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the Board of AML Foods and the Butler Family for helping to make the vision a reality.
Having been in Grand Bahama for the last 25 years, Butler said there is no question that AML Foods is committed to the people of Freeport for the next 25 years and beyond.
In 2021, AML renovated its Solomon’s Lucaya to the tune of $1million and have earmarked $500,000 in investment for Cost Right Freeport in 2023.
Additionally, Butler said, AML added 60 new hires for the Solomon’s Downtown store, which now takes the employee count in Grand Bahama to 250.
“The opening of this downtown Solomon’s has been a three-year journey which has resulted from the damage of Hurricane Dorian to our former Queen’s Highway location,” he said.
Butler further revealed that all of the management for the new store is home-grown talent within the AML Food system and AML has invested in excess of $4million in its downtown store, with 90 per cent being expended on project teams and businesses in Grand Bahama.
The opening was capped off with the sounds of cheers from eager waiting shoppers and the pulsating sounds of Junkanoo as residents moved to the beat as they shopped.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Header: Scores of customers waited on the outside of the new Solomon’s Downtown Thursday, December 1, 2022 while the official grand opening ceremony was underway to be one of the first to see the new store and take advantage of the deals.
1st insert: Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, was on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony during the grand opening of AML Foods Solomon’s Downtown location in Grand Bahama on Thursday, December 1, 2022, much to the delight of eager waiting shoppers. From left are AML CEO Gavin Watchorn, left, Minister Moxey, and AML And AML Foods Chairman Franklyn Butler.
2nd Insert: A number of residents on Grand Bahama made their way down to the new Solomon’s Downtown location on Thursday, December 1, 2022 to have a first-hand look of the new space and shop.
(BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.
The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap
from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.
With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.
Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.
Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.
Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!
After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.
The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before
their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.
At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.
Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.
Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.
The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed
their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.
As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole,
with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’. Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.
Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.
Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the
listening booth.
Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.
For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification
attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.
Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.
The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members. Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.
Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine. To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking
in the comfort of the chic lounge. In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.
The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.
Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.
To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.
