BY SHOREYANN RAGOSO
34-year-old Jamaica Tanito runs Juiceman Juice in Gizo Market, Western province keeping his late mother’s juice tradition alive.
He was born at Gizo Hospital and is the youngest of five children, and has lived in Gizo for nearly 30 years.
He left high school at Form Five and learned juice making from his mother by watching her sell drinks at the market.
After being at home for almost two years without a job, he decided to start his own business using those skills.
He named it Juiceman Juice and continued his mother’s recipe after she passed away.
At Gizo market, many people sell lemon drinks, so he makes his stall different by using fresh local fruits.
He blends different fruits to create flavors that appeal to both young and old customers, including those who avoid lemon for health reasons.
Students line up at his stall each morning to buy drinks before going to school.
He promotes his brand using a logo and slogan, “To know Gizo is to drink Juiceman’s Juice,” on social media like Facebook and TikTok.
The business has attracted tourists and a few local celebrities, and word of mouth has helped spread it.
He says, “Word of mouth is powerful,” and believes customers like his drinks because they are natural, fresh, and healthy.
His favorite is cucumber and ginger with lemon mix.
Mr. Tanito has been running his juice business for the past eight years, serving his community with consistency and dedication. He is well known in Gizo for his passion for small business and his commitment to helping local entrepreneurship grow.
He also serves as the Treasurer of the Western Province Youth Entrepreneurship Council. This year, he was one of four successful grant recipients under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Youth Entrepreneurship Council of Solomon Islands (MCT–YECSI) partnership between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and YECSI.
Through his business, Mr. Tanito continues to support Gizo as a friendly destination for both locals and visitors. His work also helps promote tourism, hospitality, and small business opportunities in the Solomon Islands.
