138 Years in Business, The James Brodie and Co. Ltd. Legacy

A hundred years in business is no easy feat to accomplish, but that is just what James Brodie and Company Limited has been able to do. In fact, in twelve years, the company will celebrate one hundred and fifty-years in business. Over the last century, the company has changed leadership from its original Scottish owner to at least four others. Today, Edward “Billy” Musa sits at its helm, and he is preparing to make his exit in due course to make way for a new generation. In tonight’s installment of Belize on Reel, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at storied history of one of Belize’s longest standing companies.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

In twelve years, James Brodie and Company Limited will celebrate one hundred and fifty years in business. The company was founded in 1887 by James Brodie, a Scotsman who arrived in British Honduras in 1872, hoping to make his mark in Britain’s newest Crown Colony. Today, the company is led by Chairman and Managing Director, Edward ‘Billy’ Musa Senior.

 

Edward “Billy” Musa, Chairman, James Brodies and Co. Ltd.

“Brodies advertised for an office manager. I applied and I got the job, and I was hired in nineteen sixty-four.”

 

Covering the company’s hundred-and-thirty-eight-year history would take a book with hundreds of pages. But there are some key moments worth highlighting. For instance, the original store was where the Downtown Plaza now stands on Albert Street. James Brodie bought that Albert Street location thirty years after opening, from Hofius and Hildebrandt.

 

Edward “Billy” Musa

“It goes way back to 1872 when a young man from Scotland came to Belize to seek its riches. From then the company has grown and changed shareholders. From that date it has changed about four controlling shareholders. This gentleman was not a social guy. Whenever he left work he would go to his home across from Saint John’s Cathedral and stay there for the rest of his day or night. He was not sociable and that is why they called that home “The Retreat”.”

 

In 1915, knowing his time was running out, the elderly Scotsman turned James Brodie into a limited company, allowing shareholders to come on board. The cover of the ‘100 Years of Brodies in Belize’ magazine, published for its centennial in 1987, shows Barry Bowen leading the company. The magazine featured congratulatory letters from then Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel, Father of the Nation George Price, and then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce Cresencio Sosa. It also included congratulations from partner companies like General Mills, Kiwi, Canon, and General Foods. The first page even had an ad for Rolex watches.

 

Edward “Billy” Musa

“During that time we had many good companies, representing many good companies. Rolex was one of them, but not the ordinary man can by a Rolex. When tourist came they would by it, but over the years the business just dwindled. There are many items we had to get out of because of competition in Belize and across form Chetumal. But our main core, business is food, dry goods, agro-chemical, veterinary products and of course drugstores, medicines.”

 

Interestingly, in the early 1970s, there was a time when David Estephan, the former majority shareholder, thought about selling his shares to Santiago Castillo Limited. That’s when Musa, who was the board secretary back then, stepped up and took action.

 

Edward “Billy” Musa

“So I went to him and said Don David, why not give me a chance to see if I can raise the funds and buy the shares. He said, I will give you one month. During that one month, I spoke to Barry Bowen and we were able to come up with the money he wanted and that is how Bowen got involved with myself.”

 

Musa later bought Bowen’s shares and became the major shareholder. Under his leadership, James Brodie and Company Limited has flourished. Brodie’s International Corporation was set up in the Corozal Freezone, and Brodie’s Superstore opened on the Phillip Goldson Highway. The Albert Street location expanded to include a pharmacy and deli, with a department store across the street. Belmopan now boasts an expanded branch, and a new agro and veterinary outlet is in the works. At the heart of this century-old business are its dedicated staff members. Brodie’s employs over four hundred people across all its locations.

 

Edward “Billy” Musa

“The staff, we give them loans for health, education, and we give scholarships to members of the staff, for their children. So they are happy with us. The managers and supervisors have health insurance free. We don’t give it to the regular staff, because the turnover is so fast. We have a problem because everybody wants to go to the call centers.”

 

However, today’s business world brings new challenges. Call centers are offering higher salaries, and competing stores are providing alternative products at very competitive prices.

 

Edward “Billy” Musa

“We strive on excellence when it comes to quality. We believe in quality and in today’s business world, many people are not looking for quality but pricing. That is affecting us a lot now.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What does the future of this company look like?”

 

Edward “Billy” Musa

“I think it has another hundred years, with my boys taking over.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez