Assad John Haloute
Founder and Chairman
Assad Haloute, the founder and Executive Chairman, is the visionary behind the growth of Chefette from its humble beginnings, as a small restaurant in Fontabelle in 1972, to the largest privately held company in Barbados comprising, 14 restaurants, 9 drive-thrus, 7 playgrounds and a manufacturing plant, employing almost 800 Barbadians.
However, Assad does not take sole credit for Chefette’s success. Instead he insists that without its loyal and dedicated staff, the company would not be what it is today. Many of its staff have been at Chefette for 20 or more years; in fact quite a few have passed the 30 year mark. Chefette is committed to promoting from within with many of its senior management having worked their way up from Cleaner to Cook, to Supervisor, to Assistant Manager, to Branch Manager and even higher. He has always placed a heavy emphasis on staff training; as Assad says “You have to spend money to make money. If the staff are happy and well trained, customers will be happy”.
A father of two and grandfather of three, he is extremely proud of Chefette’s achievements and the legacy that he will leave for the next generation to follow but never forgets his own poor beginnings. He grew up in Trinidad, one of four brothers, and went to work at an early age for $2.50 a week to help pay school fees. He can remember going to school with cardboard in the bottom of his sneakers and acknowledges that he was toughened by his humble beginnings. [more]
Probably due, in no small part, to his childhood experiences, Assad has always insisted that Chefette be a community-minded company giving to the less fortunate and contributing to the development of Barbados. Indeed, Chefette has always helped, and continues to help, those in need and supports any worthwhile cause. Assad’s desire is for Chefette to be remembered first and foremost for making a significant contribution to the enhancement of communities in Barbados.
In recognition of the contributions that he has made not only to the development of the restaurant industry, but to the development of Barbados in general, he was awarded a Barbados Centennial Award in January of 2001.
[less]
