Jamaican Entrepreneurs Receive Sun-Sentinel Business Award

Jamaican entrepreneurs Catherine and Desmond Malcolm of Jerk Machine Incorporated are among the four recipients of the Sun-Sentinel 2005 Excalibur Awards.
The recipients were honoured for outstanding leadership and community service at a ceremony at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, on January 19.
The Malcolms were cited as outstanding small business leaders in Broward County along with architect Jorge Garcia of Garcia Stromberg in Palm Beach County. Chief Executive of Auto Nation, Michael Jackson and managing partner. Patricia Lebow of Broad and Cassel, were honoured as outstanding corporate leaders in Broward County and Palm Beach County respectively.
Described as pioneers of Jamaican jerk-style cuisine in the area, Catherine and Desmond Malcolm opened their first Jerk Machine restaurant in Lauderhill, Fort Lauderdale, in 1989. Today, they are owners of a thriving food franchise and warehouse commissary, employing some 65 persons in the South Florida region, and boasting annual revenue of US$3 million.
They now have eight locations in operation and successfully market Jamaican delicacies such as jerk chicken and pork, oxtails, curried goat and other exotic dishes.
The two were born in Jamaica, and migrated to Canada in 1977. The idea of a food business emerged when the Malcolm’s catered for their wedding in 1982 in Canada.
Then they started a small catering operation planning events for families and other customers. Having grown tired of the long winters they decided to move to South Florida where Desmond combined his culinary expertise with his wife’s shrewd business sense and opened the first store of the now successfully run food franchise.
With a vision for success in the food operation, the Malcolms began bottling their own “jerk sauce” and a line of natural juices. They plan to launch those products in supermarkets. Their business acumen has also allowed them to look into extending the franchise in other cities throughout the United States and Canada.
Jamaica’s Consul General Ricardo Allicock congratulated the couple for their success as business leaders and also commended them for raising the standard of excellence in the Jamaican community. He said their success was an inspiration as Jamaicans continued to make a positive impact in the community.Catherine and Desmond Malcolm have remained committed to their roots as they continue to give back to the Jamaican and the broader South Florida community.
They have overwhelmingly supported several community organizations, making contributions to charitable, civic and educational projects.
In 1998, they established a non-profit organization ‘It Takes a Village’ working with at-risk youth ages 14 to 22 years. Through this endeavour, they have created educational opportunities emphasizing the arts and technical skills, and a job-training programme providing training and placement services.
In accepting the award, the Malcolms expressed appreciation to the Sun Sentinel for setting the example of encouraging community involvement and leadership through their daily newspaper in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
As business partners, they both spoke of their pride and enthusiasm as they imparted Jamaica’s heritage and culture to the South Florida community.
Mrs. Malcolm was also a recipient of the Caribbean Business Women of the Year 2000 Award from the National Association of Caribbean Business Women in South Florida.