‘Major Foods’ - Decades of producing quality condiments

‘Major Foods’ – Decades of producing quality condiments

Jun 10, 2018 News

‘Major Foods’ is a family-owned company that is committed to producing quality products. From the sourcing of raw materials to the delivery of individual condiment creations, quality is never compromised.
Major Foods has been in existence for over 70 years, and has grown to become a leader in the agro-processing industry with the production of cassava cassareep, cake colouring, Chinese sauce, green seasoning, mango, tamarind and souree achar and pepper sauce.
The history of Major Foods dates back to the 1940s, with Edna Major making products from cassava, like cassareep, at ‘Factory Yard’ in Victoria, East Coast Demerara. Chickens and pigs were also reared, and these along with her other produce, were then sold by her in New Amsterdam.

Some of the products produced by the family business

In the early 1970s, Alan Major, the son of Edna, registered Major Foods and soon after adopted the skills of his mother when he began producing his own cassareep and selling chicken and pork. Soon after, birthed the Major brand and the company expanded its services to offer a wide array of products.
The company which is headed by Dennise Major-Goppy, the daughter of the late Alan, employs mostly women and still operates out of Victoria. In fact, 99 percent of its workforce is made up of women, as the company strongly believes in empowering women not only in the village of Victoria, but across the country. Over the years, Major Foods has grown to become the largest employer in the village.
“Our quality is important; we source all of our ingredients from suppliers who believe in quality, because that’s all we would accept. We try to use local spices and purchase from local farmers who we can track and monitor,” said Earl Gittens, the company’s Marketing Consultant.
Gittens disclosed that the company tracks even the celery from the date it is planted, reaped and sold to them.
He added, “Ultimately we would like to support only sustainable farming practice and add value to the green sustainable society Guyana is building. Consumer safety is top priority with us, so our quality control starts from our procurement methods. We inspect the produce from the farms if possible and ensure that what we are buying is processed in a safe manner. Once in our facility, we practice our SQT (Safety, Quality, Taste) system.”
Apart from producing for the Guyana market, Major Foods has been exporting its products to Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad, England and the USA. There have even been sightings of the company’s products in stores in Amsterdam, Holland.

CEO of Major Foods Dennise Major (at extreme right) and her staff

According to Gittens, the company has seen growth in sales over the years, however, due to competition from other brands, market shares have decreased.
“However our brand is still strong and this has sustained us along with unwavering quality and great customer service. You think Pepperpot and then you think Major Foods cassareep. Currently our strongest international market is New York, USA, where around 300 to 500 gallons of cassareep are exported annually,” Gittens disclosed.
When asked about the idea put into the production of these condiments, Gittens said, “We have realized that the younger consumer demands a more ready-to-use product. Quick, easy cooking solutions! We are positioning our brand to bring this to that demographic while staying at the helm of keeping customers satisfied with innovative products.
Major Foods, which has become a household name in the diaspora, is seeking to expand. The company’s products are available in all major supermarkets nationwide, municipal markets as well as shops in neighbourhoods. As the company continues to wow customers with new flavours, it is looking for support to enhance and maintain the legacy of this popular brand.

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