In 2014, a group of individuals came together with the goal of developing the Jezzine region’s rural and social sectors and re-establish its agricultural heritage. This is how the Jezzine and Zahrani Development Company (JAZ) was born.
Today, JAZ markets and sells products like pine nuts, honey, thyme, olive oil and other products under the j.Grove brand. JAZ sells directly to consumers through its retail shop in Jezzine and sells and distributes to 30 points of sales in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, mostly organic shops.
Now JAZ is planning to expand its sales and has approached several large and medium supermarkets about purchasing J.Grove products for the Lebanese food sections of their stores. The deals are still under negotiation, but JAZ needs assistance to draft contracts and prepare joint business plans with its new retail clients.
Fortunately, the USAID-funded LED project is ready to assist. To that end, LED and JAZ signed an MOU that involves cost-sharing to hire a business development expert to introduce J.Grove products to new supermarkets, coach the sales manager etc. With LED’s assistance, JAZ commits to creating 8 new jobs for Lebanese citizens and forecasts sales increase by 2020.