It combines traditional and unconventional business models based on research, world market trends and tried and tested business experiences of the proprietors. Based on the executive decision of the company to diversify, they have now established various divisions that are part and parcel of the vast growth of the company. Tracing way back to the roots and humble beginnings of Skowhegan, JRH Retai
l, Restaurant and Food Bar Division is where it all began. It modestly started with a Food Bar, Restaurant and guest house near Haus Laplap in Rabaul and Nonga, which were subsequently lost with everything else in the 1994 volcanic eruptions. This division was revived in a makeshift food bar in a converted bus at the Kokopo Market and later a small restaurant at the old sports field. Finally finding a permanent home at Skowhegan Commercial Complex after construction was completed in 1995, they opened a Filipino Restaurant, Food Bar and Kowlin Bar, which now boast retail and food bar outlets at the Main Market in town, operating as Fish Haus and Haus Kai Kai. This division remains and always will be a vital and important part of JRH business operations. The company started full operations in July 2006 with the manufacturing of Bakery products such as breads, cakes and pastries thru JR Holdings Ltd trading as Lola Magdalene’s Bakery. Soon after it started selling these products to other local businesses in Kokopo as well with its production outlet remaining at Skowhegan Commercial Complex until just recently when all bread and pastry production was finally moved into their new bakery building. In 2011, JR Holdings Ltd started its real estate division through JRH Properties by building then renting out two houses at Kenabot, it also marked the purchase of Lot 2, Sec 99, Gumur, Kokopo. This is now the site of Gumur Service Station and JRH Commercial Centre which it owns and rents out commercially. Later that same year JRH was able to purchase a portion of land in Kerevat namely Marhaw Sawmill and another in Rabaul Town (an abandoned BP service station site also known as Palms Corner). Just recently, JRH was able to negotiate a lease agreement for an adjacent block of land near Gumur where JR Holdings Ltd is setting up its newest Divisions within the company as enumerated:
Firstly, JR Holdings trading as Niugini Gas is an exclusive flagship distributor with Origin Energy giving JRH rights to sell their LPG Gas to the East New Britain market and just recently now also includes parts of the NGI region as well. As part of this deal, JRH is to build Isotank facilities in areas where it establishes its branches and thru partnership with Origin make available cheap and affordable LPG to the greater minority. Secondly, Gazelle Lubricants is another Division with distributorship rights and gives JR Holdings Ltd the exclusive rights to sell Shell lubricants under the Pacific Energy brand in the New Guinea Islands region. Currently in the construction stage is a main storage warehouse which will be used to stock lubricants in Kokopo which later will become its main distribution point for the other provinces in the NGI region. JR Holdings Ltd also trades as Matmalara Transport which is its Transport Division. It is responsible for the transportation of fuel to the three JRH operated Service Stations in Kokopo namely Talina, Timbur and Gumur, which it takes from both IP and Puma depots in Rabaul respectively. Specialist Security Division concentrates on the company’s own security needs with deployment of static guards to their locations. It also boasts of elite and highly trained men that form their special Tactical Response Unit who do their bank escorts but also can provide for selected clients other services that may be needed based on special security requirements specific to their business. JRH Civil Construction Services is another division that was started to primarily cater for the building and maintenance needs for JR Holdings Ltd. Being already heavily involved in real estate, retail & wholesale, fuel, gas and lubricants, it was natural to form a division specifically intended to address these needs. It also is able to do outside contracts due to the highly qualified manpower the division keeps at all times. Bright Ideas is a new division which recently partnered with a small privately owned business entity Solar Solutions Ltd to become their main distributor for the NGI region because of what its products stood for. Specializing in solar lighting thru Australian brands like Barefoot Power these are products well known for quality and value for money perfect for the rural sector. They also carry other smart energy alternatives like solar street lights from Sentinel and Leadsun which come with manufactory’s warranties ranging from 2 to 3 years. Only specializing in quality products this division truly is one that can immediately improve people’s lives and JR Holdings is committed to bringing these products to people’s doorsteps thru its Bright Ideas display showroom which will be located on the Ground Floor at JRH Commercial Centre in Kokopo. When opened, they will continue to stock new products like quality school chairs, solar powered air conditioners, cheap yet high quality treated mosquito nets etc. not only to there to assist our elected Leaders to have products at their fingertips that they can use to complete rural electrification programs for their respective provinces. It must be pointed out that in the NGI region alone many continue to remain without access to PNG Power. In New Guinea Islands for example, there remains the largest percentage of the general population especially in the rural areas like students, teachers, aid posts who require and depend upon good quality lighting at night for the work they do. However, because of the unavailability of the quality products, they are forced to purchase cheap and unreliable alternatives to get by. Thus, the need to introduce Barefoot products – all-in-one products, which are genuine, durable, affordable and super easy to use, what else could you ask for! which is the division that deals with the daily operations of all JRH service stations JRH in the province. The first one was built in Timbur where the customer base remains strong and consistent due to the people living in the islands. And then followed by Talina Service Station which now caters for all the company’s credit customers. Gumur was built and opened in 2013 operating 24 hours a day. With a solid platform based on a history of reliability and experience in the petroleum retailing business it plans to build and manage more Service Station locations around the NGI region in the near future, which will all be JRH operated and managed. Aside from its subsidiaries, JR Holdings has always been a frontrunner when it comes to introducing new ideas on how business is done in ENB province. The emphasis it places on this, including its unorthodox approach has established many iconic establishments like:
First, Club Skowies – which was the first Night Club in ENB that encouraged local artists and bands to promote themselves through the Live Music stage concept again and will soon open its door with a KTV lounge and Pokies bar set-up that will be the envy of many. Second is JRH Convenience Shop – The only 24 hour Convenience Shop in the country that trades 24 hours a day and is the first in the country that is legally licensed to sell alcoholic drinks 24 hours a day, a radical new idea and the concept being done only in East New Britain province and seen nowhere else in PNG. Soon to be unveiled is “Chipapi’s – Chicken, Pasta and Pasta that will drive you crazy” a concept of Fast Food outlets offering a 24 Hour Express Delivery service bringing delicious, affordable fast food to customers in Kokopo and nearby areas, delivering fast food on time and every time. Currently, JR Holdings Ltd employs around 20 Expatriate staff and nearly over 200 National staff to run its current operations. With its planned expansion into the New Guinea Islands, with the opening of branches in West New Britain, New Ireland, Manus, Lihir, and Bougainville soon to come, these will pave the way for employment for many more national staff giving job opportunities for the people in these provinces which never was available before. JR Holdings Ltd has only been in operation for nine years but in this short period has slowly established itself as one of the most reliable and reputable among the local business community. With its recent merger with Skowhegan Ltd and led by its young and vibrant Managing Director, John Rodriguez, JR Holdings Ltd and its subsidiaries continue to push the boundaries on how business is done in this country. Recent developments and the clamor brought about ENB being earmarked as the Tourism Hub of Papua New Guinea has only given JR Holdings more incentive to now venture into what tourism has to offer for the province and with this the company has started the initial phase of a truly historic and ground breaking endeavor to help ENB province accomplish this goal with JR Holdings showing the way. Head and shoulders above everyone when it comes to pushing boundaries, JR Holdings will continue its quest to show the way for the introduction of innovative and unprecedented ideas into ENB and PNG. It is exactly this type of commitment and passion that undoubtedly will make Jr Holdings Ltd continue succeeding in everything it does and also ensure that it will remain a force to be reckoned with for the years to come.
