After decades spent at the helm of Continental Baking Company Limited, Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson has stepped down as its Chief Executive Officer.

He announced that his son Craig has taken over the reins of the parent company responsible for brands such as National, HoMade and HTB.

Mahiri Stewart has that story.

Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, OJ, is a third-generation businessman, following in the footsteps of his father, Karl and grandfather, Reginald.

It was Reginald, who, along with his wife Irene, started the family’s first baking company, Paramount in the 1930s in St. Elizabeth.

‘Butch’ took over from his father in 1995 and has served as its leader ever since.

The family business later rebranded as Continental Baking Company.

Come November 2027, one of Continental’s popular brands, National, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The company hosted a media briefing at the ‘Talk of the Town’ at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday to launch the anniversary celebrations.

In his address at the gathering, Butch announced that the time has set on his tenure as head of the Continental Baking Company Limited.

‘Butch’, says his son Craig, has now taken over the reins, representing the fourth generation of the family’s leadership.

From spending his summers working in the bread plants as a teenager, Craig rose through the ranks, serving as Continental’s Director of Sales & Marketing in 2015 and now CEO.

‘Butch’ says his son is ready to run the business from the top and carve his own path as its leader.

As he steps down from his post, ‘Butch’ expressed confidence in the future of the National Bakery brand.

Meanwhile, Craig Hendrickson, says his immediate aim as the new CEO of Continental Baking Company is to ensure that National’s customer base are the beneficiaries of his push to improve operations.

Craig Hendrickson, CEO of Continental Baking Company Limited.