Faith fuels April’s PAN victory

When April Taylor was crowned the 2025 PAN Chicken Champion at Jamaica College in St Andrew on August 31, her first response wasn't words -- it was worship. She lifted her voice to ' Alpha and Omega', the powerful worship song by Israel Houghton, a heartfelt declaration that her victory belonged to God.

For Taylor, owner of The Passions Kitchen, faith has always been the compass guiding her path. "I know I'm being directed by God," said Taylor.

The University of Technology culinary graduate entered PAN 2025 not just to compete, but to seize an opportunity to expand her business. Still, she knew winning would demand more than good intentions -- it would take flawless execution and unwavering belief.

She was prepared.

"Faith without works is dead, so even when I didn't have the money, I built my business model canvas. I gave God what I had, and He opened the gates for opportunities," he said.

"This victory is proof that preparation and faith walk hand in hand," Taylor added.

Her faith-fuelled preparation paid off. Along with the coveted title, Taylor secured $1 million from CB Foods, a year's supply of CB Chicken, a year's supply of National Hardo Bread, $100,000 cash from JN Money, a Red Stripe Beer and JPS gift package, and $100,000 from Tru-Juice as the 2025 Sauce Boss winner.

She insists the real treasure lies in the platform PAN has given her to scale her brand.

At her side throughout the competition was her business partner, Craig Townsend -- a quiet but steady presence whose support highlighted the teamwork and trust that powered their win.

Taylor came to PAN prepared not only with recipes, but with a plan. Inspired by the lessons from the PAN training workshops -- covering financial management, customer service, marketing, and food safety --she developed a detailed road map for growth.

"I always had a vision for my business, but the PAN workshop gave me the push to put pen to paper and map out exactly how I wanted to grow. I created an inventory list that included everything, from equipment to a vehicle for transportation, because I knew expanding my reach would be key," she explained.

Her love for food runs deep. At just 13 years old, she grilled her first pan chicken on a street corner near her home. By 2018, she launched The Passions Kitchen with a cookout, slowly building her brand through catering gigs, pop-ups, and PAN vending in St Catherine and Franklyn Town, Kingston.

Now, with her faith stronger than ever, she is ready to scale.

"I've always had the idea and the plan, but not always the resources. Now, I'm ready to invest in equipment, branding, and marketing to expand The Passions Kitchen into something bigger," she said.

Nicole Hall, commercial marketing manager at CB Foods, said Taylor's win reflects everything PAN represents.

"April's story is exactly what PAN is all about -- giving vendors the chance to dream bigger, get creative, and transform their passion into opportunity. The competition doesn't just crown winners; we fuel small business growth and give vendors the tools to expand their horizons. PAN is a movement that empowers people, celebrates Jamaican culture, and builds stronger communities one pan at a time."