Jamaica’s Home Choice bets on Guyana’s boom

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation of Jamaica’s sorrel crop, local food producer Home Choice is attempting to turn a national shortage into an opportunity for its novel product line. The company’s strategy highlights how regional consumer brands are adapting to climate volatility and exploring new export frontiers amid shifting economic winds.

The hurricane, a Category 5 storm that caused an estimated US$30 billion in agricultural damage this autumn, wiped out more than 90 per cent of Jamaica’s sorrel harvest. Traditionally steeped into a festive drink, raw sorrel prices subsequently soared to over $1,000 per pound in the lead-up to Christmas. For Ali Muhammad, director and marketing manager of Home Choice, the crisis became a live test for a product launched just months earlier — a shelf-stable, sugar-free sorrel extract.

“We know that [sorrel] is scarce because the majority of the supply comes from the western end of the island,” Muhammad stated in an interview Tuesday with the Jamaica Observer. “And because of the shortage, the price has been increasing leading up to Christmas.”

Home Choice’s response was underpinned by a supply-chain buffer instituted after the COVID-19 pandemic. “We realised that we had to secure our raw material for about three to six months,” Muhammad explained. “That’s something that we’ve implemented since COVID and it’s been paying off now.” This stockpile allowed the company to maintain production of its sorrel extract while the fresh commodity vanished from markets.

The extract, marketed as yielding 2.5 litres of juice compared to an average of 1.5 litres from a pound of raw sorrel, is positioned on value and convenience. “It is more cost-efficient, it’s real sorrel, and it can save time,” Muhammad said, emphasising that it is “not a flavouring” but designed to be “the closest thing to making it yourself at home.”

Consumer adoption, however, remains a work in progress. Muhammad acknowledged that the product’s momentum is still building, a common challenge for novel food items that alter traditional preparation habits. “It’s been just like any other new product, it takes time,” he noted, despite reporting “very good feedback” from in-store promotions.

Beyond navigating local supply shocks, Home Choice is pursuing growth in Guyana. The South American nation, experiencing a dramatic economic transformation due to its oil boom, presents a new frontier for Caribbean brands. Guyana’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by a staggering 43.5 per cent in 2024, with total exports projected to rise by 77 per cent, creating a burgeoning consumer class.

Home Choice entered Guyana last year, distributing its full suite of products — from pepper sauces and jerk seasonings to packaged soups and turmeric extract. “It’s a new market… it’s a slow, steady growth,” Muhammad said of their operations. “It’s not declining but it’s a slow market which is gaining momentum, and you see potential in future growth.”

This expansion aligns with the company’s broader philosophy of developing products for “easy” and “stress-free” cooking, such as its blended garlic and onion pastes. The Guyana bet is less about immediate, explosive sales and more about establishing a foothold in a macroeconomy poised for sustained expansion. (Jamaica Observer)