LINK-Caribbean Magazine

SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS

get a car loan than a business loan, Patria-Kaye leveraged the misfortune of a car accident to deposit the insurance cheque into the business and get a car loan to replace her car that was written off. Fast forward to 2016 Sweetie was in the position where the company needed to scale up. Having partnered with the other local commercial candy manufacturing company who were able to provide the factory facilities Patria-Kaye needed expand production and buy new machinery. Turning to angel investment Patria- Kaye was able to secure a US $25,000 investment readiness grant from the LINK-Caribbean programme to help put her on way to do just that. With the funds she was able to make the required developments to her business that made it investment ready and after securing investment from First Angels Jamaica in 2017 the company moved to a 4000 square feet facility in Clarendon. Running at 24-hr operation naturally requires more staff and so the company has been able to increase its staff complement to twelve people with all but 2 having been unemployed and living in the local area. This candy factory makes a real difference to the local community and it’s production has increased sixfolds