Anita Witter, Silver Award at the British Female Inventor and Innovative Network (BFIIN) awards
Anita collecting her award from the Commonwealth secretariat
Jewel Isle Productions wins New Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Jewel Isle Directors Anita Witter & her husband Carlton at the launch party
Tessa Sanderson, one of the many guests at the partyy
British born of Jamaican parentage, Anita Witter recently received the Silver Award at the British Female Inventor and Innovative Network (BFIIN) awards in the 'exceptionally creative' category, for her development of Jewel Isle rum punch.
"For me, it is a great achievement because the competition was very stiff.," Witter told JIS News. "I did not expect that my innovation in creating the flavours (of the Jewel Isle rum punch) would have won, but the judges were impressed with the product," she added. She said she was originally told about the BFIIN programme, but was reluctant to enter as she thought the competition was not for her.
"However, I was contacted by the organisers who said they were disappointed that I had not sent in my application and they encouraged me to give it a try. I did so, but I did not think I would have won," said Witter. The BFIIN Awards, which took place at the Guildhall in London, gave women across the United Kingdom an opportunity to exhibit their inventions and innovative ideas and products. Witter, who is the chief executive officer of Jewel Isle Production Limited, said the award was an endorsement of her faith in the product and has made her more resolute to make it work.
Jewel Isle rum punch was officially launched in 2005 at the Jamaican High Commission in London. It features three flavours -tropical, pineapple-ginger and lemon-lime. It is made with fruit juice and authentic overproof Jamaican white rum. Witter said the tropical flavour came originally from an old family recipe passed on through the generations and synonymous with the Caribbean rum punch.
Just three weeks since its official launch Jewel Isle Productions has been recognised with a coveted black business award for its range of authentic rum punch
The company beat stiff competition to be voted New Entrepreneur of the Year at the second Black Business Initiative Awards held at the Docklands Hilton last Saturday 22nd October.
In accepting the award Jewel Isle’s Chief Executive Director Anita Witter said she was humbled: “I never thought I would win because it was such a late nomination. It was enough I thought to be nominated. I saw it as a good sign which said I have a good product, that alone was a boost for me so it was such a pleasant surprise, I’m humbled.”
The accolade marks Anita’s ambitious plan to mass market a secret family recipe. Her unique cocktails and 15 year experience in the soft drinks industry has helped the company penetrate a market where not many black owned companies exist. Jewel Isle launched its Tropical flavour rum punch, based on Witter’s late father’s recipe, earlier this year to much acclaim.
In September two new flavours Lemon-Lime and Pineapple-Ginger joined the range. All are made with authentic Jamaican overproof rum
"For me, it is a great achievement because the competition was very stiff.," Witter told JIS News. "I did not expect that my innovation in creating the flavours (of the Jewel Isle rum punch) would have won, but the judges were impressed with the product," she added. She said she was originally told about the BFIIN programme, but was reluctant to enter as she thought the competition was not for her.
"However, I was contacted by the organisers who said they were disappointed that I had not sent in my application and they encouraged me to give it a try. I did so, but I did not think I would have won," said Witter. The BFIIN Awards, which took place at the Guildhall in London, gave women across the United Kingdom an opportunity to exhibit their inventions and innovative ideas and products. Witter, who is the chief executive officer of Jewel Isle Production Limited, said the award was an endorsement of her faith in the product and has made her more resolute to make it work.
Jewel Isle rum punch was officially launched in 2005 at the Jamaican High Commission in London. It features three flavours -tropical, pineapple-ginger and lemon-lime. It is made with fruit juice and authentic overproof Jamaican white rum. Witter said the tropical flavour came originally from an old family recipe passed on through the generations and synonymous with the Caribbean rum punch.
Just three weeks since its official launch Jewel Isle Productions has been recognised with a coveted black business award for its range of authentic rum punch
The company beat stiff competition to be voted New Entrepreneur of the Year at the second Black Business Initiative Awards held at the Docklands Hilton last Saturday 22nd October.
In accepting the award Jewel Isle’s Chief Executive Director Anita Witter said she was humbled: “I never thought I would win because it was such a late nomination. It was enough I thought to be nominated. I saw it as a good sign which said I have a good product, that alone was a boost for me so it was such a pleasant surprise, I’m humbled.”
The accolade marks Anita’s ambitious plan to mass market a secret family recipe. Her unique cocktails and 15 year experience in the soft drinks industry has helped the company penetrate a market where not many black owned companies exist. Jewel Isle launched its Tropical flavour rum punch, based on Witter’s late father’s recipe, earlier this year to much acclaim.
In September two new flavours Lemon-Lime and Pineapple-Ginger joined the range. All are made with authentic Jamaican overproof rum