APRIL 7thth, 2015 VOL 32 | NO. 62

Send articles, photos and other information for the publication to news@thebhlgroup.com or contact the P.R. Department at Ext. 6705. We are eager to share what’s happening within the BHL Group. For regular updates & staff information, visit: http://now.thebhlgroup.com

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PLEASE PLACE ON ALL COMPANY NOTICE BOARDS

Thebhlgroup.com has gone “under the knife”

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THE   BHL   WEBSITE   has  undergone   a   drastic  transformation   and   is   sporting   a  new  look.            What   commenced   with   minor  adjustments   to   update   the   almost  14   year   old   website’s   content,  blossomed   into   a   comprehensive  redevelopment   project,   which   saw  an   upgrade   not   only   to   the  appearance   of   the   site   and   content  but  in  its  functionality.            Digital  Content  Coordinator,  Reva  Graham   cited   an   audit   conducted  by   the   PR   Department   as   the  rationale  for  the  undertaking.              “The   audit   yielded   valuable  information   in   terms   of   how   users  were   engaging  with   the  site   and   its  strengths   but   also   highlighted   a  number   of   inadequacies   which   we  have   rectified   with   the   site’s  redevelopment.   BHL   has   done   a  stellar   job   in   maintaining   the  previous   site’s   content   but   it   had  reached   its   full   potential   and   its  efficiency   started   to   wane.   It   was  imperative   that   it   be   modified   to  create   something   that   could  adequately   service   the   group   for  many  years  to  come.”          Visitors   to   the   site   are   now   met  with   a  more  modern   design,  which  creates   a   clean   and   aesthetically  

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pleasing  appearance.   Despite   its   makeover  however,   the   site   is   even   more  robust   and   there   has   also   been   a  greater   emphasis   on   current  trends,  Search  Engine  Optimization,  navigation,   performance   and   the  overall  user  experience.            “User   experience   has   been  improved   in   part   through  streamlined   navigation,   faster   load  times  and  the  introduction  of  more  interactive   elements.”   Ms.   Graham  noted,   while   specially   referencing  the  Beverage  Portfolio  pages  which  serve   as   a  digital   catalogue,   as   one  example   of   a   feature   designed   to  bolster  user  engagement.            The   website   can   be   accessed   via  www.thebhlgroup.com.    

From   Left:   A   view   of   the  mobile   version   of  the   website   and   desktop   view   of   the  Beverage  Portfolio  main  page.      The  homepage  of  the  new  BHL  website.    

 Apr 7th, 2015 Vol 32| No. 62

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SEAWEED   SURPRISE  ANNOUNCED   as   FRUTEE’s  newest  flavour!          In   an   unprecedented   move  on   Wednesday,   April   1st,  Seaweed  Surprise  was  unveiled  on   the  FRUTEE  Facebook  page  as   the   second   expression   in  FRUTEE’s   ‘Mad   Flava’  campaign.          The   posts   which  accompanied   the   artwork   for  the   new   flavour,   noted   that   it  was   introduced   to   bolster   the  efforts   of   the   National  Conservation   Commission  (NCC)   and   the   Ministry   of  Transport   &   Works   (MTW)   in  removing   tonnes   of   sargassum  

FRUTEE’s newest Flava Goes Viral

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seaweed   from   Barbados’   north  and  east  shores.            Seaweed   Surprise,   which   was  described   as   having   a   striking  neon   green   colour   and   a   taste  profile   of   refreshing   sea   moss  with   bubbles,   became   quite   the  Internet  sensation  with  Facebook  fans   eagerly   enquiring   of   its  availability  in  stores.              By   midday,   the   post   had  created   quite   the   ‘buzz’,  garnering   attention   from   over  4000  people  with   the   number   of  likes   and   comments   increasing  during   the   course   of   the   day.  Some   of   the   comments   received  questioned   the   legitimacy   of   the  introduction   of   the   newest  

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innovation   given   its   launch   on  April   Fools   Day   while   one  commenter   noted   that   while   it  was   possibly   a   joke,   the   flavour  should   be   considered   since   “Yah  JUST   might   be   able   to   make   it  palatable  and  seasonal.”            Later   in   the   afternoon,   further  disclosure   came   regarding   the  seaweed   beverage,   confirming  what  some  had  earlier  speculated.  The   posts   regarding   the   newly  introduced  flavour  were  all  a  part  of  a  well-­‐designed  prank  executed  by  the  brand.            At   the  end  of   the  day,   the  posts  had   reached   18,105   people,  received   112   shares   and   112  likes,   testament   to   the   fact   that  FRUTEE’s   “newest   flavour”   had  indeed  gone  viral.      

Above:   The   artwork   which   featured  heavily  on  the  FRUTEE  Facebook  page.      

 Apr 7th, 2015 Vol 32| No. 62

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PINEHILL Offerings at NAPSAC

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IT   WASN’T   CALLED   PINEHILL  NAPSAC  for  nothing!          Children   from   primary   schools  across   Barbados   blazed   up   the  track   at   the   National   Stadium   for  the  annual  National  Primary  School  Athletic   Championships   (NAPSAC).  And  those  who  were  not  competing  brought   the   party   to   the   stands  while   cheering   on   their   favourite  athletes.          Charles   F.   Broome   snagged   the  girls’   title   from   last   year’s  champions  St.  Stephen’s  and  West  Terrace   Primary   defended   their  title   to   again   walk   away   with   the  Boys’  Championship.          PINEHILL’s   offerings   formed   a  big   part   of   the   festivities   and   all  across   the   Stadium   children   could  be   seen  with   either   a   juice  or  milk  from  our  buddy  pack  range.          Category   Manager   Henry  Yearwood   said   PINEHILL   will  continue   to   support   sports   at   the  junior  level.          “The   importance   of   supporting  our   athletes   at   this   level   is  tantamount   to   us   making   a  contribution   to   their   overall  development   and   I   think   that   they  understand   that   PINEHILL   has   a  vested   interest   in   them.   That   they  

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also  genuinely  enjoy  our  offerings  is  a  plus   and  NAPSAC  was   the  perfect  avenue  for  us  to  continue  to  connect  with   our   core  demographic.   It   goes  without  saying  that  we  will  continue  to   explore   avenues   to   connect  with  our  children.”          Chairman   of   the   NAPSAC  committee  Wayne  Robinson   in  his  opening   remarks   at   the   finals   on  Wednesday   referred   to   PINEHILL  milk   as   responsible   for  strengthening  the  bones  of  NAPSAC.  He   lauded   PINEHILL’s   commitment  as   key   to   the   success   these  championships  were  enjoying.          “PINEHILL   is   happy   to   play   its  role   in   being   an   active   contributor  in   the   proverbial   village   it   takes   to  raise  a  child.  The  PINEHILL  product  continues   to   offer   the   benefits   of  milk   and   provide   good   nutrition   to  the   nation’s   children   as   they  develop   in   the   varied   disciplines   in  track  and  field.”    

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Clockwise   from   Left:   A   young  spectator   enjoying   a   PINEHILL   juice  beverage.        Sports   Reporter   Ann-­‐Marie   Burke  interviewing   one   of   the   young  athletes.  

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The  boys  sprinting  down  the  homestretch  in  the  4x100  meters  relay.      The  PINEHILL  stop  clock  showing  one  of  the  winning  times.      One   young   patron   is   all   smiles   after  receiving  a  number  of  PINEHILL  products.      

 Apr 7th, 2015 Vol 32| No. 62

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BBC   KNOWS   how   to   celebrate   its  employees!          During   a   company-­‐wide   staff  meeting  on   Friday,   March   27th,   several   employees  were   recognized   for   their   hard   work,  dedication   and   long   service   to   the  company.          The  Asset  Care  Department  proved   that  they   are   a   force   to   be   reckoned  with   and  had   not   one   but   two   nominations   hailing  from  their  Department.  Anton  Atwell  and  Isaiah  White  received  high  praise  for  their  work   in   facilitating   the   upgrade   of   the  Anton-­‐Paar  system.            “The   AntonPaar   system   in   our   filling  area   which   is   critical   to   our   quality   was  failing   –   the   parts   were   obsolete   and   we  had   to   make   a   quick   decision,   said   Asset  Care   Manager,   Sardasai   Gangaram.  “Anton   and   Isaiah   were   tasked   with  upgrading  the  system  and  dedicated  many  long  hours  to  the  task.  “They  worked  hard  in  getting  us   to   the  point  where  when   the  engineer  arrived,   it  was  a  smooth  process.  Anton  and  Isaiah  must  be  congratulated  for  a  job  well  done.”          Antonala   Williams   of   the   Production  Department   joined   Anton   and   Isaiah   in  winners’  row  and  also  received  Employee  of  the  Month   for   January   for   her   work   on   the  recently   concluded   Sandals   project.   To  thunderous   applause,   Production   Manager  Ricardo   Alleyne   recounted   the   work   that  garnered  Antonala  the  nomination.            “During   the   period   of   January,   the  Production  Department  was  challenged  with  producing   juices   for   Sandals   for   the   first  time.   During   that   period   Antonala   worked  really  close  with  [Research  and  Development  Manager]  Paula  Rose  sometimes  throughout  the  night  and  into  the  morning  and  we  were  able   to   produce   the   flavours   for   Sandals.   At  present  we  have  done  2  production  runs  and  continue  to  improve  as  we  go  forward.          February   also   belonged   to   the   Production  Department  and  Ricardo  Clarke  showed  his  confidence   and   ability   when   he   bravely  volunteered  to  fix  the  Robopac  machine.            “Both   Production   and   Warehouse  personnel   would   have   been   aware   of   these  rolls   that   production   was   rejecting   because  they   were   too   long   and   not   fitting   on   the  Robopac   machine.   One   night   Ricardo   came  and  said   “Do  you  know  that   that  problem   is  easy  to  solve?  I  can   fix   it.”  So  said  so  done.  I  saw   him   in   the   Robopac   machine   making  some  adjustments  and  after  that  we  have  not  rejected  any  rolls  since  then.”  

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       Human   Resources   Officer,   Gracelyn  Barker   also   used   the   opportunity   to  formally   acknowledge   the   achievement   of  her   colleague   and   Office   Attendant,   Mary  Bryan.   Mary   received   her   certificate   in  Microsoft   Office   with   a   B   Grade   from   the  Barbados   Institute   of   Management   and  Productivity  (BIMAP).          BBC’s   long   serving   employees  were   also  awarded.   Process   Support   Specialist  Ricardo   Gilkes   and   Quality   Assurance  Technician  Marc  Haynes,  both  received  10  year   tenure   awards.   Amidst   much   shouts  and  screams  of  support,  all  of  the  awardees  were  then  saluted  in  a  moving  power  point  presentation   that   ended   with   a   fitting  tribute   to   Marc,   who   is   also   BBC’s  Employee  of  the  Year.    

BBC Awards Outstanding Employees

1.  Office  Attendant  Mary  Bryan   receiving  her  Certificate   in  Microsoft  Office   from  HRO  Gracelyn  Barker.    2.  Ruthlyn  Small  making  a  presentation  to  Marc  Haynes  for  his  10  years  of  service.    3.  Process   Support   Specialist   Ricardo   Alleyne   accepts   his   award   from   Senior   Production   Shift  Leader  (Ag.)  Ricardo  Alleyne.  4.  Ricardo   Clarke   was   all   smiles   accepting   his   certificate   from   Production   Shift   Leader   Lyndell  Applewhaite.    5.   Yvonne   Yearwood   accepted   the   certificate   for   EOM   on   behalf   of   Antonala  Williams.    6.   Asset   Care   Zone   Leader   Isaiah   White   accepts   his   certificate   from   Asset   Care  Manager  Sardasai  Gangaram  

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 Apr 7th, 2015 Vol 32| No. 62

CEO addresses BBC Staff

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BBC   STAFF   heard   from   Managing  Director   and   CEO,   Richard   Cozier  when  the   subsidiary  hosted   its  staff  meeting  on  Friday,  March  27th.          Our  CEO  covered  a  range  of  subjects  in   his   address   including   the   Group’s  performance  in  and  outside  of  its  local  operations  and  progress  related   to  the  standardization  of  palettes.          It   was   noted   that   the   Group  generated  a  combined  profit  from  local  operations   of   just   under   BBD$5.5  million   which   exceeded   the   budgeted  figure   of   BBD$4.7   million.   While  comparing   this   year’s   performance  with   last   year’s,   Mr.   Cozier   confirmed  that   the  performance  was  significantly  better.    STANDARDIZATION  OF  PALETTES  In   response   to   a   query   raised   on   the  standardization   of   palettes,   the   CEO  noted  that  the  entire  process  stemmed  from  an  effort   to  be  efficient  across  all  aspects   of   the   Group’s   operations.  Noting   that   each   of   the   three   plants  had   distinctly   different   palettes  which  presented   problems   for   our  distribution   entity,   Mr.   Cozier  informed   that   all   palettes   were   in   the  process   of   being   standardized   to   the  Pinehill   Dairy   palette.   In   conjunction  with   this,   it  was  also  noted   that  BHL’s  

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Board   of   Directors   had   approved   a  program  to  replace  the  aging  fleet  of  trucks   using   a   phased   three   year  approach.  An  order  for  15  trucks  had  already   been   processed   and   due   to  arrive   in   Barbados   in   August   and  available   for   the   trade   as   early   as  September  of  this  year.      FUTURE  Mr.  Cozier  also  shed  light  on  the  way  forward  for  the  Group.          “We   have   a   Group-­‐wide   cost  structure   with   some   300   million  dollars   or   thereabouts   invested  across   the   BHL   Group.   It   is   a  requirement   from   the   Board   of  Directors   and   our   shareholders   for  an   adequate   return   on   that.   An  adequate   return   is   around   10%   or  12.5%   and   so   down   the   road,   we  have  to  find  the  means  of  getting  our  profits   from   the   12   million   dollars  which  we  reported  last  year   to  more  like   25   or   30   million   dollars   within  the   next   year   or   two.   It   is   not  impossible   to   do   in   the   short   to  medium  term.”          Mr.   Cozier   further   shared   that  there   are   some   non-­‐performing  assets   within   the   Group   and   also  provided  an  update  on  the  sale  of  the  property   at   Wildey.   Noting   that  

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verbal   enquiries   had   been  forthcoming,   as   recently   as   within  the   week   prior   to   his   address,   he  shared  that  the  potential  buyers  had  engaged   architects   and   engineers   at  their   own   expense   but   had   not   yet  made   a   formal   offer   in   writing.   He  informed   that   the   Group   is  continually  seeking  ways  to  improve  the   returns   on   such   assets   or  alternatively   seek   ways   to   address  how   the  Group   could   divest   itself   of  such.   This,   he   noted,   also   related   to  overseas  investments.          Mr.   Cozier   ended   his   address   by  acknowledging   Barbados’  challenging   environment,   noting  however   that  key  stakeholders  were  beginning   to   project   growth.  Informing   that   pricing   of   beverages  will   continue   to   be   an   issue,   he  encouraged   those   present   not   to  compromise   on   the   quality   and  strength   of   the   Group’s   brands   and  the  service  that  is  provided.    

Above:   The   CEO   took   the   time   out   to  chat  with  the  BBC  staff  that  packed  the  training  room  and  listened  intently.    

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 Apr 7th, 2015 Vol 32| No. 62

 

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Heather is an Influential Woman

Above:   A   portion   of   the   4-­‐page   spread   featuring  Heather   Farrell-­‐Clarke   in   the   Spring   2015   issue   of  Shabeau  Magazine.    

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FORMER   QA   MANAGER   AT  PINEHILL,   HEATHER  FARRELL-­‐CLARKE   was  recently   featured   in  Shabeau   Magazine   as   their  “Influential  Woman.”          Now  Operations  Manager   at  Roberts   Manufacturing,   she  recounted   the   many  experiences   that   led   to   her  success.   Her   life’s   struggles  and   achievements   are  chronicled  in  the  lengthy  three  page   article   which   also  outlines  her  constant  quest  for  knowledge  and  love  for  family.  Her   unwavering   faith   is   also  dominant   throughout   the  article.          “There   is   a   song   we   sing   at  church   that   says   ‘Be   bold,   be  strong,   for  the  Lord  thy  God  is  with   thee.’  You  have   to  get  up  

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and  go  and  knock  on  doors  and  challenge   the   status   quo   and  grab   those   opportunities,  however   slight   they   might  seem  and  you  must  never  give  up…Keep  your  hands  clean  and  your   heart   pure   and   God   will  do  the  rest,”  she  said.          Her  time  at  PINEHILL  is  also  listed  as  a  defining  moment   in  her   life   including   her  promotion   to   Lab   Technician  and   then   later   Research   and  Development  Officer.   She   cites  these   along   with   her  educational   pursuits   as  rounding   out   her   professional  development.          You  can  catch  the  article  and  the   spring   2015   issue   of  Shabeau   Magazine   at  http://www.shabeaumagazine.com/Spring2015/.  

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MOVE  OVER  COMPETITION,  there   is  now  even  ‘MOOORE  PINEHILL  Milk”  on  supermarket  shelves  island-­‐wide.            Given   the   demands   of   the   market,   the   200ml   PINEHILL   flavoured  milks   were   forced   to   “grow   up”   and   have   been   replaced   by   a   larger  250ml,   convenient   to  carry  buddy  pak.    All  of   the   existing   flavours   are  available  in  the  larger  size  and  at  no  additional  cost.      Right:  A  size  comparison  between  the  200ml  Vanilla  Flavoured  Milk  and  the  new  250ml  version.