Industry Minister Highlights Expansion of Nutraceutical Sector

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, says the Government continues to formalise the country’s nutraceutical sector, to strategically place the country in a position to take advantage of this expanding industry.

“The increased availability of natural wellness products has been made possible through the Government’s deliberate strategy to formalise Jamaica’s nutraceutical industry,” he noted.

Mr. Hylton was speaking at the launch of the Eden Gardens Nutraceutical Wellness Teas, on December 9, at Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa, on Lady Musgrave Road, in Kingston.

The line of wellness teas is the newest addition to GraceKennedy (GK) Foods and Services Limited. The eight herbal teas are exclusively distributed by World Brand Services, a division of GK Foods and Services Limited.

Mr. Hylton commended the firm for its innovation in the production of a line of herbal teas, noting that the product will greatly assist in the country’s economic development.

The Minister said that the tea brand is an excellent addition to the country’s wellness industry, adding that the line will contribute to the expansion of the local nutraceutical industry.

The teas are a blend of familiar herbs that are endemic to Jamaica. These include: guinea hen weed with combinations of ball moss and cinnamon, soursop and ginger, cerasee and ginger, bissy, lemon and ball moss, moringa and cinnamon.

Mr. Hylton said the launch of the line is especially important, in light of global market forecasts that the nutraceutical industry is poised to become a major contributor to economic growth, with projected earnings of US$207 billion in 2016. It is anticipated that this will further increase to US$600 billion by 2018.

Meanwhile, Executive Chairman and founder of Eden Gardens Wellness Brands Limited, Dr. Henry Lowe, said that Jamaica has a long tradition for using teas for curative purposes, and development of the product is the company’s contribution to economic development.

“We have planned to help Jamaica with export, so we can earn foreign exchange because we are all about export,” he said.

The company exported some 85 per cent of its products in 2014 and has made earnings of some $40 million in exports of its other wellness products in 2015 to international markets, such as the United States, Canada and parts of Europe.

The firm is currently in negotiations with China regarding the export of the teas to that market.

Dr. Lowe revealed that the company will also be adding a marijuana tea to its line.