Trade and Industry Minister, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon has lauded the Associated Brands Industries Limited (ABIL) management team for their innovation, use of technology and continued investment into their manufacturing and production processes. On Monday 8 March, 2021, Minister Gopee-Scoon along with Executives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry met with Mr Arthur Lok Jack, Chairman, ABIL and Mr Nicholas Lok Jack, Deputy Chairman and Group CEO, ABIL. The visit sought to provide Minister Gopee-Scoon with first hand insight into the company’s operations, its use of new equipment and technology and their current expansion projects.
ABIL, a manufacturer and distributor of snack foods, chocolate confectionery, biscuits and breakfast cereals recently made significant investments in the expansion and further modernisation of its factory facilities. Speaking on the investment, Minister Gopee-Scoon said, “The growth and expansion of ABIL over the years is as a direct result of their ongoing drive to penetrate new markets and diversify their product offering. This current expansion will further aid this agenda and increase the global competitiveness of your various product lines. The Government remains committed to providing the necessary support to businesses seeking to meet international standards and quality, enter new markets and increase their exports”.
The company markets and distributes products in over forty five (45) countries worldwide including Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama, Costa Rica, Ireland, Taiwan, the United States, the Middle East, Mediterranean and CARICOM countries. Mr Nicholas Lok Jack, Deputy Chairman / Group CEO, ABIL said “Trinidad and Tobago is the home of Associated Brands Industries Limited and the company’s modernization and expansion is a natural part of its business growth. Despite significant investments in our T&T factories our Group has also been investing heavily outside CARICOM and is in the completion phase of a Greenfield manufacturing factory in Bogota Colombia.” Mr. N. Lok Jack also emphasized the point “while investment in a physical factory is important, he noted that the investment in the marketplace in intangible assets like Brands that is also critical”.
The Minister also recognized the Chairman, Mr Arthur Lok Jack for his contribution to Trinidad and Tobago and congratulated him on the growth and development of his organisation over the years. ABIL currently employs over one thousand persons in Trinidad and Tobago and has four (4) factories located in Trinidad and Tobago, two (2) in Malta and now one (1) in Colombia.
