Jamaica Broilers Group (JBG) plans to exit its poultry business in Haiti, citing that it is no longer financially viable to conduct operations there, according to Jamaican media outlets.
Loop Jamaica reported that the JBG board of directors accepted a recommendation from CEO Christopher Levy to wind down operations of Haiti Broilers, a subsidiary that has been part of the company for the past 12 years.
Haiti Broilers operations began to wind down on July 2021, following the unrest in the country – then under martial law – that followed the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. That was just one tragic event to make conducting business difficult, as an earthquake would later strike in Haiti and claim the lives of more than 2,200 people.
The company was also dealing with difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, Haiti Broilers recorded a 44 percent decline in revenues to JA$1.33 billion (US$8.72 million).
No information concerning this decision has been placed on the JBG website.
Jamaica Broilers Group, according to the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies Database, for the time being has operations in Jamaica, Haiti and the United States. Its Caribbean distribution is handled from multiple Jamaican and Haitian facilities, and international exports originate from two breeding facilities in the U.S. Haitian eggs are marketed under the HB Ouefs brand, and chicken is marketed under Le Chic Poulet.
The company established its presence in the United States in 2015 with hatchery assets, and during the following year, it acquired a feed mill in Georgia from Crystal Farms Mills. It furthered its presence in the U.S. in 2019 with the acquisition of the Gentry’s Poultry Co. plant in Ward, South Carolina. The company does business as The Best Dressed Chicken in the United States.
