Magdalena and Arlene talk about so many things in this episode! From building a business and a brand, to finding inspiration, right down to the origin and current state of the fine chocolate and cocoa industries in Grenada.
We hope you enjoy the journey on today’s Pathway!
Mexican born and trained as an architect, Magdalena moved to the Caribbean after meeting her British husband Russ Fielden while sailing. Together, they worked for over 25 years around the Caribbean, setting up hotels, marinas, restaurants and retail outlets. In 1998 the couple decided to settle down in Grenada with their young family and bought what was then a 7-cottage bankrupt inn, which they completely revamped and today call it the True Blue Bay Boutique Resort. Magdalena and her family personally have run, designed and developed the inn into a 70-room resort, with a restaurant, marina, dive center, spa, yoga studio and bakery. The resort is one of the leading environmentally sustainable resorts in the Caribbean and has always sought to involve the local community in their operations.
This is how Magdalena discovered Grenada chocolate and cocoa. The story of the late Mott Green, founder of the Grenada Chocolate Company (first factory in the island) was definitely an inspiration to continue his legacy. The idea of creating a community-oriented, sustainable chocolate festival came to her in 2013 and it was launched with only a few participants but all locally inspired activities involving the real people behind a tree-to-bar chocolate.
In 2021 the island will celebrate the 8th annual Grenada Chocolate Fest from May 7th to 12th . The GCF has been an essential part of the development of the Cocoa and Chocolate Industry in Grenada, where the Island now has 6 tree-to-bar chocolate producers, from only 2 in 2013. Magdalena’s day job is the Marketing Director of the resort but she also serves as the Honorary Consul of Mexico for Grenada and owns the very popular House of Chocolate Museum-Café in St Georges, Grenada’s capital city.
This episode is sponsored by True Blue Bay Boutique Resort. Call or visit their website to book your stay today!
Website: www.truebluebay.com
Instagram: @truebluebayresort
Facebook: True Blue Bay Boutique Resort
Twitter: @TrueBlueGrenada
Phone: 1 (473) 443-8783
Pathways is produced and edited by Grenadian STEAM Inc.
Your host is Arlene Hayes
Theme song produced by Andrew ‘Hitz’ Phillip
The thoughts and ideas expressed on this podcast are those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, Grenadian STEAM, or its members.
The thoughts and ideas expressed on this podcast episode are those of the host and her guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of, Grenadian STEAM or its members.