Caricom Bottling Company introduces vodka cooler

CARICOM Bottling Company Inc., a Guyanese business, launched its ‘West Indies Vodka Cooler’ with six tantalising flavours dubbed ‘cocktails in a bottle’ at Gravity Lounge on Regent and Camp Streets, Georgetown, last Friday night.Amidst much fanfare and glamour the product was well-received by invitees.
The multi-million-dollar investment, with the tagline ‘Call yah shots’, was a hit as many took the opportunity to sample the six flavours from six models, who did the introduction.
Caricom Bottling has already invested tens of millions of dollars to provide the much demanded ‘West Indies Spring Water’ and is a full line contract manufacturer of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages that will

soon be distributed in Guyana, the Caribbean and, eventually, worldwide.
The six flavours are pina colada, sea breeze, cosmopolitan, volcano lava, blue lagoon and kamakazi.
Chairman of the company, Dr. Joshua Safeek said they took about a year and a half to research the product before developing it and launching the six flavours on the same evening is history-making before it is locally produced and will soon be exported.
He told reporters that they have invested about a billion dollars to have a state-of-the-art bottling plant and, within a month’s time, they will be putting out a new beer and lemon and lime bitters (LLB).
Safeek added that they have already introduced their water and it is a result of the hard work of staff, over a period of time that they are successful and the products have hit the local market with a bang.

CREATING EMPLOYMENT
He said they take pride in their products and want to raise the bar, so they can compete both on the local and overseas markets and it is about leaving a legacy for Guyanese and, at the same time, creating employment.
Safeek said they have two plants, one on Broad Street, also in the city and the other will be constructed in Berbice, which is a US$25M project.
He said all their products are Guyana manufactured and bottled and the six vodka coolers are unique and specially mixed for that assured taste and is time-delayed, meaning that someone consuming the product will not be intoxicated right away but after a while it creeps up on you.
Speaking on the occasion, too, was Quality Assurance, Shaun Lall, who gave a detailed explanation of how they came up with the six exciting tastes made with all local ingredients and blended uniquely for the acquired taste.
He said they are certified by the Food and Drug Department and meet the standards required, as such their products are wholesome.
Lall said the vodka coolers were the brainchild of Safeek, who initiated the process of blending cocktails in a bottle.
Meanwhile, Coordinator of National Events/Administrator in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Tameca Sukhdeo-Singh, pointed out that Caricom Bottling Company is relatively new, having entered the beverage arena three years ago.
It introduced its bottled water and now, as part of its expansion programme, introduces its new line of Vodka Cooler.
She noted that the product will offer consumers more choices on the local beverage market.
She said the ministry welcomes competition in any market because consumers are always the ones who benefit. West Indies Vodka Cooler has passed its food and drugs testing and received its quality assurance for consumption.

VERY PLEASED
Sukhdeo-Singh stated that the ministry is very pleased about this new investment and expansion of the local beverage market and the significant capital injection into the economy.
“We would like to encourage Caricom Bottling Company to continue to innovate and invest in our local economy. Our stable social and political environment, coupled with Government’s pro-business polices have created the enabling environment for the strong growth in foreign and domestic investments in our country in the last two decades,” she observed.

ADDITIONAL JOBS
Sukhdeo-Singh assured that the investment by Caricom Bottling Company will create new employment opportunities for Guyanese immediately and, no doubt, spawn additional jobs and spin off opportunities in the medium to long term as its products gain acceptance and overseas markets are found.
She quoted Minister Irfaan Ali, who was on travel duties overseas at the time, as saying: “We believe that the innovation we speak of today must be the innovation that would lead us to a strong tomorrow. The modernisation that we speak of today must be one that is linked to a diversified tomorrow.”
Making remarks on the occasion, too, was Sales/Marketing Manager, Mondale Smith, who was the emcee for the function attended by a large gathering, including media operatives.

(By Michel Outridge)