Lowell Hawthorne - The Bakers Son: My Life in Business

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Akashic Books
2012 by Lowell Hawthorne

Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1-61775-125-7
Trade Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1-61775-124-0
eISBN: 978-1-61775-142-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012932526

All rights reserved
First printing

Akashic Books
PO Box 1456
New York, NY 10009
info@akashicbooks.com
www.akashicbooks.com

To the memory of my parents,

Mavis and Ephraim Hawthorne, whose Christian values, unwavering faith, and iron-clad integrity
created a home environment in which our family found love, a spirit of sharing, and a sense of industry, laying the foundations on which our success and that of the next generations could be built. A percentage of the proceeds will go toward the Mavis & Ephraim Hawthorne Golden Krust Foundation.

And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

CONTENTS

My journey to the completion of this memoir has taken me back and forth to Jamaica more times than I can count. Over a five-year period, Ive made notes, sat through and conducted interviews, and unearthed documents and photographs that have given shape to key events and memories I may otherwise have lost. Thanks be to God, I had the help of a cooperative family, friends, and associates who helped fill in the gaps of a story that is at once mine, that of my family, and, of course, about Golden Krust. The idea for The Bakers Son emerged while my father, Ephraim Hawthorne, was still alive and active as a consultant and confidant, so I thank him for his counsel and my late mother, Mavis Hawthorne, for her inspiration.

My wife Lorna, children Daren, Monique, Omar, and Haywoodwhom I thank for their guiding principles were first in line to contribute their opinions and recollections. Im grateful to them for the compassion and detail they have lent to this project. Also instrumental with their input were other members of the Hawthorne clan, as well the wider Golden Krust family. My sister, Lauris Mother Hawthorne, who gave me her unconditional love and extended to me the opportunity to come to the U.S. for my life-changing experience, was an early collaborator. I thank her with all my heart.

Kellie Magnus, Linney Smith, Pauline Bennett OLeary, Pat Rogers, Candice Richards, Bossville Rhoden, Karen Miller Levy, Juliet Young, Monica Campbell, Stephen Hill, and Sharon Whyte, Robert Hill, and Robert Gretczko were valuable readers and advisors. Herma Hawthorne showed wonderful patience and intuition in reading the manuscript and advising me on the best approach and process for telling my life story.

Special thanks to Derek Dingle, senior vice president and editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise, for suggesting that my life should be captured in a book. He lit the fire during the weeks he took notes.

In the last six years, Ive learned more about myself than I ever had before. This is true because of Michael Grant. He has traveled with me throughout Jamaica, watched me deliver mini-sermons, observed my management meetings, was there to applaud when I made scholarship presentations at my alma mater, and ate with me on several occasions at my private residences. He has also played an integral role in the development of some of Golden Krusts branding and product packaging. Michael has invested many hours getting to know my immediate family, my siblings, close friends, former bosses, and even teachers from my early childhood. The composition of this biography would not have been possible without his unique writing skills, his insatiable quest for details, and most important, his passion to accurately tell the Golden Krust story. It was not an easy journey, but draft after draft, and despite several new twists and turns along the way, both in my personal and professional lives, he remained committed to capturing the lifes journey which has been such a pleasure to recount. I extend heartfelt thanks to Michael and the team at Great House for the countless days and nights put into accomplishing this amazing milestone.

Any life of even moderate success depends on the kindness and tolerance of othersusually ones relatives or people who are just as close. For priceless contributions to my life in general, I would also like to recognize my mother-in-law Hyacinth (Mammy) and her husband Harvey for being like parents to me; my stepmother Phyllis, Auntie Paulette, and John Brown (Neville); Velma, a true champion from the beginning; my sister-in-law Janice and my brother-in-law Vincent; my brother-in-law Kevin Lee and sister-in-law Monica Dennis Hawthorne; my ten brothers and sistersCassandra, Lorraine, Jacqueline, Novelet, Lauris, Lloyd, Charles, Leroy, Raymond, and Milton; my nieces and nephews; my church family, including Pastor Leroy Richards who prays with me constantly; Dr. Sam Vassel; my mentor Alfred Simms; my accountant Winston Thompson; attorney Michael Aspinal and my legal team; my adopted brother Stanley Dennis; my niece Desrene, one of my unsung heroines and my inspiration.

I give thanks for the directors of the Golden Krust board Vincent, Scott, Alfred, and Marc. To my friend Dr. Hector Estepan, I give my gratitude for ensuring that I stay healthy. Special thanks to Godfrey Wallace, who solved the puzzle and came up with the name Golden Krust.

Finally, I have undying appreciation for Kai Ng, Al Alston, Garnett Byron Morrison, Burnett Garvey Morrison, Earl Chin, David OBrien, Sergeant Marty Turetsky (NYPD Retd.), Earl Jarrett, Ms. Thelma James, and, of course, the Golden Krust team, the management and corporate staff, our valued franchisees, the bakeries and restaurants staff, and the brave founding members of Golden Krust, upon whose shoulders I stand.

I can hardly wait to get to work each morning, especially after all that brainstorming in my head the night before. Despite my preoccupation with work, however, I am very involved in the lives of my wife, children, and the wider family with a routine that includes being home for dinner and at church on Sunday.

This ability to keep my mind running on parallel tracks was developed early in life as a young entrepreneur. Those early days of uncertainty, brought on by the fear that my fledgling business might not make it through another week, taught me how to juggle many balls at the same time.

Despite being the founding president and CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, Americas foremost Caribbean brand, and one of the top black-owned family businesses in the country, I never head straight for my private office on a typical morning. Purely by habit, my day usually begins with a tour of the machine shop or the bakery, where I walk among the giant stainless steel mixers, dough sheeters, and meat kettles that churn out our products. These are the tools of a trade that has consumed my family for most of our lives, and I look forward to the sense of grounding and tradition that I feel when I am in the plant. As always, the guys are ready with a quick hello as I greet each one like additional members of my already large family. We know each other the way a football team does: everyone with a serious role, but comfortable enough with teammates in the midst of serious business.

Although our principal manufacturing facility covers most of a city block, there is no designated parking space for my car. The managers and factory team all know that the production targets take priority, and so vehicles and trailers have their pick of available spots along the building. As a result, there are often vehicles blocking my way to a parking spot when I arrive.