J. Wray & Nephew Limited
J. Wray & Nephew Limited is a subsidiary of the Campari Group, a major player in the global branded beverage industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands marketed and distributed in over 190 countries worldwide. Established in 1825, J. Wray & Nephew Limited is the oldest company in Jamaica and one of the largest exporters in the Caribbean, with its products going to over 60 countries around the world. The Company has Jamaica’s largest wine and spirits portfolio, comprising a number of owned and represented brands including the iconic Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum and Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum. J. Wray & Nephew Limited’s principal operations include the cultivation of sugar cane, the manufacture of sugar and the distillation of rum and other spirits; the ageing, blending and bottling of rum; the production of wines and other alcoholic beverages and the marketing, sales and distribution of the Company’s brands as well all non-owned brands that are represented by the Company in Jamaica. The Company owns three sugar estates – Appleton Estate, Holland Estate and New Yarmouth Estate – which account for approximately 63% of all spirits produced in Jamaica.
A Glance in the Past
In 1825, when John Wray established his rum company in Kingston, the town was a bustling seaport and Jamaica’s commercial center. Kingston was also home to one of the most fashionable theatres in the New World – the Theatre Royal – which played host to the English Touring Companies who would stop in Jamaica before going north to Boston and New York. It was beside the Theatre Royal that John Wray set up the Shakespeare Tavern. The tavern was located on the northern side of Parade, the main square, which was a popular meeting place for the young, middle-aged and elderly alike. The Shakespeare Tavern quickly became a hot spot as Wray was famed for experimenting with the blending of rums, liqueurs and spirits, producing alcoholic mixes that quickly found favour with his patrons. In 1860 John Wray took his 22-year-old nephew, Charles James Ward, who was a dynamic and gifted entrepreneur into the business. Two years after, he made Ward his partner establishing the company, J. Wray & Nephew. Wray retired in 1864 and died in 1867, leaving Ward as the sole proprietor of the business; Ward developed his heritage - a tavern and liquor dealing business - into one of Jamaica’s premier companies. When Ward died he left his estate to be administered by trustees, and in 1916 the trustees sold the estate to Lindo Brothers & Co. Ltd who then purchased the Appleton Estate, which had been producing rum since 1749. Since that time J. Wray & Nephew has changed hands several times ending with this latest acquisition by the Campari Group.
Corporate Social Responsibility
J. Wray & Nephew Limited places great emphasis on the quality of our brands and makes investments to ensure the maintenance of the high product standards that have become a hallmark of the Company. It is this same standard of consideration and level of responsiveness that is applied to stakeholders that support and contribute to the company’s success. It is a part of JWN’s strategic objectives to reciprocate the support of our people, consumers and customers. This support is offered through donations of cash and kind to persons who demonstrate a need or who desire to make a change in their own communities in keeping with our policy. The Company is also proactive about the responsible marketing and promotion of our brands. All Camparistas in the marketing, sales and public relations departments subscribe to the Campari Group’s Code of Commercial Communications. J. Wray & Nephew Ltd. ensures that all our communication includes the responsible drinking statement ‘Must be 18 and older to drink. Please Drink Responsibly’ and all our customers are educated about the importance of selling alcoholic beverages only to persons over the legal drinking age. The Company then promotes the responsible use and consumption of our products by those persons who have attained the legal drinking age. Through our JWN Academy, bartenders, employees of J. Wray and Nephew and members of the public are exposed to responsible serving techniques.