Without simultaneous local investment in its human resource and business systems for enhanced productivity, it is unlikely that any export-oriented company can achieve its goals in the international marketplace.
That’s the view of Mount Gay Distilleries Limited’s managing director Raphael Grisoni, who participated in a recent high performance team event for all staff members of the local distillery.
The all-day staff training event formed part of an ongoing programme being managed by international consulting agency McKinney Rogers, which specializes in high performance team management.
Grisoni said as the company pursued its global vision of seeing Mount Gay join the super-premium brands club by 2018 as the world’s original rum, it would be necessary for every staff member to support the vision in a way that would positively impact their daily routines.
He said this was the thinking behind the day-long event at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, which took staff members through sessions looking at various areas, including teamwork, adapting to change, and high performance behaviours.
“It is extremely important that we work to transform the traditional culture into a high performance culture aligned to the Mount Gay mission and vision through the effective implementation and management of systems, standards and behaviours.
“Our employees must be motivated to consistently deliver high levels of performance that support our international vision,” Grisoni said. The managing director added that while Mount Gay Rum was a home-grown brand, the demands of international competition dictated that levels of productivity be brought to international standards.
“We have a local team of which we can be justifiably proud in what they have helped to achieve over the years for the Mount Gay brand; this is a platform on which we can build and move to the next level, so we have to ensure that we take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to us.”
Mount Gay Distilleries Ltd presently employs 140 permanent and temporary staff members in Barbados, and indirectly provides employment opportunities for hundreds more entrepreneurs in the spirits trade.
The local manufacturer exports close to 500 000 cases of product a year to over 70 markets from a portfolio including 1703 Old Cask Selection, Extra Old, Eclipse, Eclipse Black and Eclipse Silver, and Black Barrel.
(PRSC)
