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J.Wray goes to Montego Bay!

Published:Friday | February 18, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Chair of Rose Hall Developments, Michele Rollins (right), shares a joke with Colleen Crooks-McConnell while her husband, Fraser McConnell, chairman of Tim Air, focuses on the camera.
J. Wray & Nephew's managing director, David McConnell (right), gets ready to cut the ribbon to officially open the company's Montego Bay office at the Fairview Shopping Centre last Thursday night. Sharing the moment are (from left) Reverend Stephanie Warner; Andrew Desnoes, chief operations officer, Wray & Nephew; and Montego Bay's mayor, Charles Sinclair. - Photos by Noel Thompson
J. Wray & Nephew 2011 calendar girl, Tonya 'Thick Business' Thompson, who is based in New York, poses with (from left) the company's David Walton, Dominic Beckford, Cecil Smith and Jared Samuel.
Operators of Hotel Grace (formerly the Richmond Hill Inn, Montego Bay), Stephanie Chin (left) and daughter Grace Elmore pose for the camera.
Richard Shirley (left), operator of Trelawny's Total service station, is in an animated mood as he speaks with Ernie Grant of Rainforest Seafood.
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Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Liquor giant J. Wray & Nephew has opened a branch to serve its customers in Montego Bay and its environs for the first time in its 186-year history.

The facility is located in the Fairview Shopping Centre at Bogue - part of Montego Bay's newest and ever-expanding commercial belt. It was officially opened last Thursday night with hundreds of guests attending the posh reception, which was awash with fine wines and liqueurs of various brands.

With the opening of this store, it means that both wholesalers, exporters, retailers and even individuals can now walk into the store and make their purchases from a fully stocked liquor store.

J. Wray & Nephew's chief operating officer, Andrew Desnoes, said there were three main reasons the company decided to open its western office, showcasing wine and spirits.

"Firstly, we have never been able to properly showcase our extensive portfolio of wines, spirits and liqueurs in western Jamaica. Secondly, in May last year, we closed our western warehouse, which meant that all our customer deliveries have been coming out of Kingston. While this system is working effectively, we recognise that emergencies do happen, especially on weekends, and we wanted to establish an emergency warehouse in western Jamaica to allow us to provide the highest level of customer service," Desnoes explained.

Third, he said Wray and Nephew needed a home base for its western staff, but more importantly, a place to host their customers at meetings, presentations and the occasional 'drink-up'.

"I believe that with the opening of this facility we have achieved all three objectives," he said.