About Independence Agencies Ltd.
Vision
To be the Distributor and Retailer of Choice in Grenada.
Mission Statement
We will satisfy the needs of our customers by providing quality brands and exceptional related services while ensuring total customer satisfaction, profitability and building positive long term relations with employees, shareholders and other stakeholders.
Value Statement
We pledge to conduct our business with honesty and integrity and through teamwork to be a successful and result driven organization for the mutual benefit of our employees, customers, shareholders, community and other stakeholders
To be the Distributor and Retailer of Choice in Grenada.
Mission Statement
We will satisfy the needs of our customers by providing quality brands and exceptional related services while ensuring total customer satisfaction, profitability and building positive long term relations with employees, shareholders and other stakeholders.
Value Statement
We pledge to conduct our business with honesty and integrity and through teamwork to be a successful and result driven organization for the mutual benefit of our employees, customers, shareholders, community and other stakeholders
History
Independence Agencies Limited was established in October 1973 by Mr. C.K. Ralph Sylvester. The Company consisted of C.K. Sylvester as Managing Director, Mr. Ken Sylvester who joined the Company as his assistant soon after it was registered, and Richard Smith who operated a sales Van selling to the small retail outlets around the Island. The Company operated out of a small office which accommodated the three employees for almost a year, but then had to relocate to a larger space in 1974 when three more Employees joined the Company. Some of the first suppliers that the Company represented were Akafa, who supplied DANO Powdered milk, British American Tobacco, supplying Cigarettes and Tobacco, Becks and Orangeboom Beer from Holland, Mc Callum’s Whiskey from the UK and Swedish Match from Sweden. The Company also imported Rice, Flour and Sugar in Bulk from Canada, USA and Guyana.
By 1985, the Company had to relocate again to a larger location as more employees were added and more warehouse space and chill room facilities was needed to store larger brands like Anchor Cheese and Butter from New Zealand and Alaska Condensed Milk from Holland.
In 1988, the Empire Cinema Building was purchased and renovated to the new location of the head Office and warehouse. Mr. Brian Sylvester joined the Company then as the new addition to the Sylvester Management team, and by 1994 another building was purchased in Grand Anse, which was renovated and CK’S Super Valu Cash and Carry was opened in 1995. By the end of 1995 the Company purchased another portion of land on the Maurice Bishop Highway and constructed a warehouse building which was used to store additional stock which no longer could fit in the St. George’s head office location.
In the year 2000, the Company was approached by Goddard’s Enterprises of Barbados with an offer to buy the Company, or if not fully, at least controlling interest.
By 1985, the Company had to relocate again to a larger location as more employees were added and more warehouse space and chill room facilities was needed to store larger brands like Anchor Cheese and Butter from New Zealand and Alaska Condensed Milk from Holland.
In 1988, the Empire Cinema Building was purchased and renovated to the new location of the head Office and warehouse. Mr. Brian Sylvester joined the Company then as the new addition to the Sylvester Management team, and by 1994 another building was purchased in Grand Anse, which was renovated and CK’S Super Valu Cash and Carry was opened in 1995. By the end of 1995 the Company purchased another portion of land on the Maurice Bishop Highway and constructed a warehouse building which was used to store additional stock which no longer could fit in the St. George’s head office location.
In the year 2000, the Company was approached by Goddard’s Enterprises of Barbados with an offer to buy the Company, or if not fully, at least controlling interest.
Current Location on Maurice Bishop Highway
The sale was finalized in 2001 with the current management team remaining, but a new board of directors, which included members from the Sylvester Family and Goddard’s Enterprises. By this time the Employees had grown to 65 which included another Director Mrs. Yolande Radix (formally Sylvester) as Manager of the C.K.’s Super Valu Cash and Carry.
In 2003, Mr. C.K. Sylvester was asked to retire and was succeeded by Ken Sylvester as General Manager in 2004. In September 2004, the head Office in St. George’s was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan and the entire operation had to be relocated into the C.K.’s Super Valu Building. A new head office had to be constructed and this was added on to the Warehouse building, and within two years the New Head Office was opened on the Maurice Bishop Highway where it is currently located today, with a total of 76 employees overall at both locations.
Today, Independence Agencies is one of the leading Distributors on the Island of Grenada with one of the widest ranges of well-known brands available at almost all Supermarkets, Wholesale and Retail outlets around the Island of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique.
In 2003, Mr. C.K. Sylvester was asked to retire and was succeeded by Ken Sylvester as General Manager in 2004. In September 2004, the head Office in St. George’s was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan and the entire operation had to be relocated into the C.K.’s Super Valu Building. A new head office had to be constructed and this was added on to the Warehouse building, and within two years the New Head Office was opened on the Maurice Bishop Highway where it is currently located today, with a total of 76 employees overall at both locations.
Today, Independence Agencies is one of the leading Distributors on the Island of Grenada with one of the widest ranges of well-known brands available at almost all Supermarkets, Wholesale and Retail outlets around the Island of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique.