Pictured proudly showing off their High Rock Gold medal from the 49th World Quality Selections are some of the Grand Bahama Bahamian Brewery & Beverage team; Hazel Springer, Lab Manager, Dieter Stich, Brewmaster, James 'Jimmy' Sands, CEO, Lorenzo Johnson, Assistant Brewmaster and Donny Delahey, GB Brewery Manager. "This team and my Grand Bahama staff are the real reasons behind the gold award,” noted CEO Sands. “They are on our line everyday ensuring that each time we brew we match the standards we have set. This award shows that what we are brewing here in Grand Bahama is a consistent product that meets the standards of international brewery's around the world. My team here have exceeded my expectations!” (Photo by Erik Russell for Barefoot Marketing)
Freeport, Grand Bahama – The Bahamian Brewery & Beverage team were in HIGH spirits over the July 10th weekend, not just for the Independence celebrations, but also in celebration of their GOLD win from the Monde Selection Committee.
“I’m elated,” said James ‘Jimmy’ Sands, CEO of Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Co., “I knew we could do this! I’m so proud today that Bahamians won a gold. This is quite an achievement for a small country! To achieve a gold on our first submission, its fantastic!”
High Rock, which only launched in November of last year, received the prestigious Monde Selection Gold Quality Award in May 2010. The 49th World Selections, which tests consumer goods throughout the world, awarded High Rock this rare honour on its first submission.
The Monde Selections have been testing quality products since 1961 and their criteria for testing have been compared to Michelin stars for restaurants worldwide. The stamp of approval from Monde means you are producing international recognized quality products measured for quality, taste and successful branding.
This year 2,400 products were submitted for testing from over 80 countries and 850 different companies. According to the Monde Selection Committee, products receive points, and depending on the number of points earned, products will receive the according quality award, either a Grand Gold Quality Award, a Gold Quality Award, a Silver Quality Award or the Bronze Quality Award.”
Now, with High Rock's first gold award, the brewery team has decided to change the beer's label to incorporate this win. “We have just approved the new label with the gold award on it,” noted Sands. “These new labels will start going on our product in short order and we will use them in our advertising straight away.”
This new symbol of quality has really put a great cap on the success of the High Rock brand, the fourth beer launched by the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company in Grand Bahama. “This award puts us in line with brewery’s that are both well known and Internationally recognized,” added Sands. “The gold quality rating shows that our product meets the high standards set by the seven independent experts in the food and beverage field.”
To say that CEO Sands is proud of his staff is a real understatement. “Our Brewmaster, Dieter Stich, Assistant Brewmaster, Lorenzo Johnson, Hazel Springer, the brewery’s Lab Manager and Donny Delahey our Brewery Manager are the real reasons behind the gold award,” he noted. “They are on our line everyday ensuring that each time we brew we match the standards we have set. This award shows that what we are brewing here in Grand Bahama is a consistent product that meets the standard of international beers around the world. My team here has exceeded my expectations!”
The new High Rock bottles will hit the market in the near future and will showcase the Monde Gold seal on all the bottles. The Monde recognition is a highly coveted rating that companies seek to have for their products. “Grand Bahamians should be really proud today, one of their own products, named by Bahamians and brewed by Bahamians has TRULY succeeded!”
Brewery INFO:
Grand Bahama’s “Truly Bahamian” brewery opened in 2007 with the launch of its first beer SANDS. The 20-acre brewery is located at the intersection of Queen’s Highway and Grand Bahama Way and is a 100% Bahamian owned business. The brewery also produces Triple B, a natural malt drink, sold via Asa H Pritchard Distributors, as well as STRONG BACK, SANDS LIGHT and HIGH ROCK. Bahamian Brewery and Beverage team currently employs just over 60 staff and expanded its operation into Nassau in 2008, opening a capital-based distribution centre at Kelly’s Liquor Store on Wulff Road. All Bahamian Brewery & Beverage products are also available at Bristol Wines & Spirits locations, Simms Brothers, Jimmy’s Liquor Store and truly Bahamian restaurants and bar locations.
