Pioneer, now PMD, expanding through regional alliances

Pioneer Manufacturing Distribution Company Limited, now rebranded as PMD, has formed an alliance with ASE Integral to distribute the Colombian company’s Biro line of cleaning products in Jamaica and, eventually, across the Caribbean.

Concurrently, PMD is also negotiating to export its proprietary Chloro-Do bleach to Colombia by early next year, signalling its ambition to become a two-way trade player.

The partnership with ASE Integral also marks a significant expansion for PMD, which has doubled its warehouse capacity, and will introduce 10 new products under the Biro brand to Jamaican supermarkets, wholesalers, pharmacies, and chain stores. These include scouring pads, absorbent cloths, sponges, magic erasers, and gloves — items PMD Managing Director Alfred Thomas describes as timely additions, given recent hurricane-related clean-up needs.

PMD Company Limited has become the exclusive distributor of the products in Jamaica, under its deal with the Colombian company, and plans to extend representation to the wider Caribbean.

While PMD is embracing new partnerships, its 20-year roots remain firmly planted in local manufacturing.

The company owns Chloro-Do bleach, a household name in Jamaica since 1947. But few people know the name of the company behind the bleach brand.

“Our advisers thought it would have been too long, so Pioneer Manufacturing Distribution Company Limited is now shortened to PMD. Just like IBM or Google, we want people to remember the name,” Thomas said in an interview with the Financial Gleaner.

PMD acquired Chloro-Do from Colgate-Palmolive in 2005 and continues to lead the market.

“If you want a bleach in Jamaica, up to now, people still say Chloro-Do,” Thomas remarked, underscoring the brand’s dominance despite competition from multinationals like Ajax.

Beyond bleach, PMD Company’s consumer division offers Pro-Pet dog and cat food, Oxy-Clean stain removers, and Reddy soaps from Dominica, alongside light bulbs distributed in partnership with FosRich Company Limited.

PMD operates through three divisions: consumer – under which it supplies items such as bleach, pet food, soaps and cleaning products to supermarkets; food and beverage – supplying major manufacturers such as poultry companies Jamaica Broilers Group and Caribbean Broilers Group, beer maker Red Stripe Jamaica with industrial cleaning chemicals; and professional – supplying cleaning chemicals to hotels and other commercial establishments.

This diversified structure has helped PMD weather market shifts and position itself for regional expansion, Thomas said.

“Our strategy as a Jamaican company is to look south — meaning Colombia and other Latin American markets — to find brands that satisfy Jamaican consumer needs,” Thomas said.

The company is also negotiating to export Chloro-Do bleach to Colombia by early next year, signalling its ambition to become a two-way trade player.

Thomas declined to disclose the level of investment in the ASE Integral partnership, but confirmed significant operational upgrades.

“We have to invest in product coming in, training employees, and employing new merchandisers and sales reps across the country,” he said.

PMD is also in the process of hiring a brand manager, logistics personnel, and additional sales representatives, alongside expanding its merchandising team.

The company’s warehousing capacity has surged 50 per cent, from 80,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet, with facilities located on Spanish Town Road, near Cardiff Avenue in Kingston.

“We got into new warehousing last year. This expansion is critical to support the increased product range and distribution footprint,” Thomas said.

The partnership with ASE Integral was forged at the ProColombia trade show in July, where PMD engaged with over 20 potential partners.

“This is the first one we are kicking off, but there are other businesses we are looking at to represent here in Jamaica,” Thomas revealed, while hinting at more launches in early 2026.

As for the ASE Integral partnership: “They want us to represent them not only for Jamaica, but the Caribbean. That’s a big positive,” Thomas said.

It fits within PMD’s own growth ambitions, which involves strengthening its domestic operations and venturing into regional markets.

“We want to grow market share, employ more people, and promote Jamaican brands internationally. If we don’t do that, we confine ourselves to Jamaica”, whereas, “we want to grow” beyond local shores, Thomas said.

neville.graham@gleanerjm.com