Ads by Google Ads by Google

GHC Reid celebrates 100 years as Lloyd’s agent

Nowadays, it’s hard to walk around the corner or drive down the street without seeing a new business spring up—and often, they are not locally owned or run. Whether it’s a grocery store, a laundromat, or sewing shop, the bulk of the businesses on island are fairly recent.

 

But one locally owned family business has stood the test of time, growing steadily every year and continuously expanding their services to cater to the needs and demands of the local community.

 

Last month, GHC Reid & Company, Ltd. marked its 100th anniversary as a Lloyd’s of London Agent, a prestigious and historic milestone achieved by only a handful of agents worldwide.

 

Earlier this year on February 23, 2014, Lloyd’s of London commemorated GHC Reid’s achievement with a special plaque. Company board director and co-owner, Peter E. Reid III, travelled half way across the world to London on May 23, 2014 to personally receive the award.

 

GHC Reid President Olivia C. Reid-Gillet said, “As the fourth generation holders of the Lloyd’s of London Agency, we are extremely proud to hold this distinction of being centenarians in such a vast network of agencies worldwide with so few that have reached this point.”

 

She continued, “As GHC Reid and Company itself has been in operation for over a hundred years, it’s an added bonus to keep this legacy going strong as well.”

 

Reid-Gillet said they were “humbled” by the beautiful shield that was presented to them, marking their 100th anniversary. “We look forward to another 100 years of being part of the world-renowned prestigious Lloyd’s of London global network,” she stated.

 

Lloyd's Agents are appointed by the Lloyd's Agency Department in the United Kingdom to supply local shipping information and casualty intelligence and to provide surveying and, in most instances, claim adjusting services to the global insurance industry and its customers.  Lloyd's Agents are appointed for their professionalism and expertise.

 

BACKGROUND

 

It all started over a century ago in 1906, when GHC Reid was established by George Henry Charles Reid and Olaf F. Nelson.  At the time, the company was known as Nelson, Reid & Company.

 

On February 25, 1914, Edgar “Kuika” Reid, who was the original Reid to settle in American Samoa from Scotland, became the official Lloyd’s of London Agent and, in 1915, his son George H. C. Reid took over the role. 

 

In 1921, George H.C. Reid bought out Olaf Nelson’s shares and renamed the company G.H.C. Reid & Company, Ltd. 

 

From 1904 to the mid 1980s, GHC Reid was primarily a grocery retail and wholesale operation and became the exclusive distributor for Coca-Cola in 1975.

 

In 1986, George H.C. Reid’s grandson, Lealaifuaneva Peter E. Reid, Jr. bought out all other family shares of the company, discontinued the grocery retail store, and focused on beverage wholesale only. The rest is history.

 

To this day, GHC Reid is still a family owned business, still focused on beverage wholesale only, and still the exclusive distributor for Coca-Cola and its complete line of beverages, as well as the exclusive distributor for Vailima and Coors Light. 

 

The company also distributes Fiji Water and Pauls Milk products, in addition to Vaimalu Water which is produced locally by its sister company, SLC Manufacturing.