The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) honoured the nation’s top innovators, exporters, and industry leaders at its 2024 Awards Ceremony, celebrating excellence in manufacturing, sustainability, and global market expansion.
Angostura Ltd walked away with the Large Manufacturer of the Year Award 2024, while WITCO received top honours as the Green Manufacturer of the Year.
Chief Executive Officer of Angostura Ltd, Ian Forbes, said receiving the award from the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association as the Large Manufacturer of the Year Award 2024 was “unexpected” but said the company viewed it as “truly special” given its 200th celebration in 2024.
“We stand here feeling that somehow we blazed a trail that is the manufacturing powerhouse that is Trinidad and Tobago today. And in our view, we, Trinidad and Tobago, are only getting started. In our view, I tell you that we, Angostura, are only getting started. We’re already looking towards our next century of innovation, of growth, of expansion, of blazing a trail.”
The West Indian Tobacco Company (WITCO) was named the Green Manufacturer of the Year 2024.
The award, which recognises excellence in environmental stewardship, waste management, and carbon footprint reduction, cited that WITCO has been working diligently over the past two years to achieve carbon neutrality for scopes 1 and 2 by 2030 and scope 3 by 2050.
A representative from WITCO’s Management Team, Gina Ferguson-Spencer, noted that the company has been making strides.
“Over the recent years, we’ve invested significantly in transforming our operations, not just to meet environmental standards, but to lead by example. Sustainability is embedded in our culture and reflected in our core value: do the right thing.”
Meanwhile, Blue Waters Ltd won both the Trade Mission Champion Award 2024 and the Excellence in Leadership Award 2024.
Accepting the award, Blue Waters CEO Pradeep Subrian emphasised the company’s culture of fostering continuous learning and professional growth across all levels of the organisation.
“We, as a company, we don’t focus on the operational results, those are the lagging results. Those are the quantitative numbers, the financial numbers. But if you focus more on the leadership, if leaders and managers focus on people development, robust performance management system, that is really true, you know, and robust enough, policies, planning, governance, et cetera, the result will come.”
Fresh Start Ltd received the Innovation of the Year Award. Its Managing Director, Marcus Sun Kow, explained that “Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation.”
“To my team at Fresh Start, thank you for listening to me drone on and on and on, indulging my wild ideas and learning fast and pushing boundaries until we got it right. In keeping with our tagline, you deserve it. And to our friends, family, and everyone in between who selflessly tasted and evaluated many, many margaritas.”
Ramps Logistics earned the Supplier of Services Award, with its Vice President of Regional Initiatives, Rudy Rampersad, noting that the company is committed to continuous excellence.
“At Ramps, service isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are. It’s our pride, it’s our purpose, it’s our passion. It’s the fire that drives us to be better every day. And tonight reminds us we’re not done yet.”
Meanwhile, Novo Farms walked away with the Medium Manufacturer of the Year Award, Christle Ltd with the Small Manufacturer of the Year Award, and Half Moon Vegan Ice Cream Ltd with the Micro Manufacturer of the Year Award.
New Market Entrants for 2024 were also honoured: Langston Roach Industries Ltd in the Large category, Creamery Novelties in the Medium, and Asa Enterprises in the Small group.