Big G’s Pepper Sauce has been named the Best Quality and Most Innovative Product in Dominica at the first ever Buy Dominica Award Ceremony which was held at the Fort Young Hotel on Thursday night.
Ten manufacturers and service providers in Dominica were recognized during the ceremony which formed part of the “Buy Dominica Campaign” observed in the month of September and organized by the Dominica Manufacturer’s Association (DMA) and Dominica Coalition of Service Industries (DCSI).
Graceson John of Delices, manufacturer of Big G’s Pepper Sauce, said he is elated by the awards.
“I feel elated, I feel excited and I thank the Almighty Father for blessing me with this skill,” he told DNO. “The customers are the ones who nominated me for these awards.”
John also made mention of his mentor, Brandon Defoe who have been there providing support from day one.
“He continues to motivate me,” he noted.
He also thanked the Dominica Youth Business Trust (DYBT) who also assisted him along the way.
“I did the business training program with the Dominica Youth Business Trust in 2013 to 2014 and I am very satisfied,” he stated. “I will recommend any young person with a business idea to contact the DYBT. They will help you and provide business training in all different areas.”
He advises young entrepreneurs to, “stay focus, maintain consistency and know your limits.”
This is not the first time John has received awards for his pepper sauce product and his spirit of entrepreneurship.
Last year he won the 2015 Caribbean Regional Start-Up Young Entrepreneur Award at the Caribbean Youth Summit held in Barbados.
Also last year he received the Most Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 10th Annual Youth Award Ceremony. In 2013, he received the Business Innovation Plan Award (BIPA).
He manufactures a variety of pepper sauces ranging from ginger, coffee, pumpkin, red roasted pepper and many more.
At Thursday night’s ceremony, the Arts and Craft manufacturers’ awards went to Vanessa Winston of New Beginning Leather and Craft.
The other awards in the manufacturing sector went to Germaine Raphael, manufacturer of coconut cheese.
Don St. Jean, CEO of Nature Islands Productions, received the manufacturing Award for Best New Product, while the best labeling packaging award went to PAK’s Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and the best new product went to Nature Island Production, manufacturers of coffee.
The awards for excellence in service delivery went to Dominica’s princess of song, Michelle Henderson, Fred Esprit of ‘Esprit Ultimate Designs for architecture, Sorrel Consulting Limited for Excellence in Service Delivery- engineering and KPB for chartered accounting for Excellence in Service Delivery.
Congratulations to all the winners. Good luck for the future. Keep it up.
We go for sales up here; not cheap but reasonable. 
Dominica is in need of some entrepreneurs. This is to buy local and keep the business and money circulating in Dominica.
I am not a huge pepper sauce eater. My parents did not eat highly seasoned foods. In recent years I developed a taste for it but it must not be too strong.
A few years ago I commenced making my own including Tomato Ketchup/Sauce. Reason? When I get the pepper and tomatoes on sale/reduced price. This one is healthy with fresh tomatoes. If I can help it, I will not purchase them otherwise.
What is good about home-made items, they do not contain preservatives. I should try to market them.
The problem with bottled/canned items, they must have some sort of preservatives so that they will last a certain length of time.
It would be useful for the Dominica Manufacturer’s Association (DMA) and Dominica Coalition of Service Industries (DCSI) to seek out Dominicans in the Diaspora who are interested in opening shops to sell Dominican products. Jamaicans have done so in some cities in the US..It seems the model could be replicated to promote and sell Dominican products in the region,,…and internationally
Yes Yes brother go hard or go home, you definitely need an inspiration to the young ones wanting to pursue their dreams. Showing that fast money is not the call of the day hard work and dedication. Keep it up bro. We’ll link.
Congratulation young man! Keep up the positive vibes…………
Congrats!
But what are your sales margins on a single bottle of pepper, $1/2? Not much I guess.
Well, your government is making a lot, lot more than you by selling your own asset – a Dominica passport. They are selling our passports at around USD200,000 a shot. It costs around USD50, or so to make a passport, so that’s some margin aye! Also, guess what? THEY CAN SELL AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PASSPORTS to rich people looking for a great tax and visa device. Do you honestly believe that Dominica is getting that money?
Ditch your pepper sauce business and demand Dr. Skerritt give you the right to introduce anyone into the passport program for a 50% commission. This means, you sell 10 passports and you are a millionaire.
EACH AND EVERY DOMINICAN SHOULD BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO MAKE MONEY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES THIS WAY. THE PRIVILEGE OF BECOMING MILLIONAIRES THIS WAY SHOULD NOT ONLY BE FOR GOVERNMENT MINISTERS AND THEIR FRIENDS.
It is always encouraging when young folks display the the the spirit that you have. I do hope that you can grow this dream into a lucrative venture. Best wishes and congratulations galore.
Are any of your products available in North America?
Young Entrepreneurs trained and supported by DYBT!
Great job entrepreneurs!
Great job DYBT!
Going the extra mile!
Dominica Youth Mean Business!
Simply the best,whenever we travel to the UK we always bring at least 6 bottles with us.
Keep it going man.Yeah do need a proper pourer though.Best of british luck
Hello and good afternoon my people. Well I bought two bottles of pepper sauce and it’s very good but I think he should bring it to the Virgin Islands where we have many of our people who would love to support him.
I would also like to know what the other participants produce so we can support them.
Congratulations! I would suggest that the puts the percentage by volume of the active ingredient, capsicum chinense, on the bottle to distinguish himself from cheaper competitors, who I suspect may use a larger proportion of water in their products.
Congratulations to all. Perseverance is key in your continued success. Help those need help to begin and improve.
I agree that is the best pepper sauce ever. I wish he could improve the dispenser though because I always put too much on my food because of that…maybe that is deliberate so I have to buy another bottle sooner? Good luck young man, well done! Your sauce beats Bello anytime.
I have the same issue with putting too much….BUT THE PRODUCT IS JUST GREAT!! Congratulations!!
Yep! Bello has always left a bad taste in my mouth. Too acidy.
Lady, that kills half the enjoyment! Imagine you doing the same for tomato ketchup? No, he has to find a more efficient way of dispensing his excellent pepper sauce from its bottle, that would be the way to go.