BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
A
rmstrong Manufacturing Ltd. (AML) is a
Barbadian owned and operated manufacturing
company that originally started production in 1970. In
the 1970’s and the 1980’s AML had manufacturing
contracts for Lucozade and Ribena, which were
exported throughout the CARICOM region. With
trade liberalisation in the 1990’s these contracts went
to China and AML was left with only Claytons Kola
Tonic (CKT), a brand that they purchased from
Beecham in UK (the then owners) in 1993. AML
continued to produce CKT and launched an early
version of Kick in 1999 but without the other lines,
there were not enough sales to justify maintaining the
costly infrastructure for a production facility. An
arrangement was made in early 2001 with West Indies
Rum Distillery (WIRD) to acquire the bottling line
and to contract manufacture CKT and Kick for AML.
WIRD’s equipment was unsuited to producing Kick
and a decision was made to discontinue production of
this item in late 2001. WIRD continues to
manufacture CKT under AML’s supervision. Kick
was relaunched in a new format in 2007 being
contract manufactured by the Barbados Bottling
Company. In 2012 Kick was switched into a can and
OCT 2014
with the introduction of Banks new canning plant, it is
currently produced by Banks Breweries Barbados Ltd.
It is now called Claytons Kola Kick to emphasis the
Kola Nut of West Africa which is at the heart of this
natural energy drink. AML works closely with the
bartenders and mixologists of Barbados to bring the
Claytons family of products to the attention of locals
and tourists alike. Most rum shops of Barbados will
carry the 375ml version of Claytons as both CKT and
Kola Kick are very popular as a chasers with any
alcohol, and also popular as a mixer for those not
drinking alcohol.
Armstrong Agencies Limited (AAL), a Barbadian
Distribution Company formed in 1993 and is owned
and operated by Barbadians. AAL is an importer,
wholesaler, distributor and marketing company that
serves Barbados and some of the Caribbean islands.
Its best known brands are Cadbury chocolates, Ritz
and Oreo cookies, the Swiss range of condiments and
pasta from Trinidad, Sunshine cereals also from
Trinidad, Lasco products from Jamaica. AAL and
B&B wholesale co-distribute Claytons Kola Kick.
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