Lowell Hawthorne, President & CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill (GK), the nation's largest Caribbean franchise chain, was awarded the Jamaica Observer's Business Leader Award for 2010. The award was presented by Observer Chairman – Gordon "Butch" Stewart at a banquet held on Wednesday, November 30 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. This award is considered to be the island's most prestigious and coveted business award.

Lowell Hawthorne was named winner among nine nominees in the Diaspora who are also trailblazers in their chosen fields. Nominees for the 2010 award included: Richard M. Powell, co-founder and co-senior managing director of the Florida-based private equity company AP Capital Partners Inc; Vincent HoSang and his wife Jeanette, founders and principals of the New York-based Royal Caribbean Bakery; George Yap, founder and principal of Miami-based LEASA Industries; Beverly Nichols, founder and principal of the New York-based Beverly's Home Health Care; Marcus Simmonds and his wife Monique Hamaty-Simmonds, operators of the Miami-based Tortuga Imports; Verona Greenland, founder and president of the New York-based Morris Heights Health Centre; and Vincent Lai and his wife Lorain, founders and operators of the Toronto-based, Nicey's Food Mart.

The final nine nominees were chosen from at least 60 Jamaican entrepreneurs identified by the search committee for outstanding representation of "brand Jamaica" overseas.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Hawthorne expressed his elation at being chosen from such an impressive group of nominees. He further went on to say, that he "will continue to do all within his power to proudly represent the land of his birth in the Diaspora, while seeking to engender change and garner support for the disadvantaged and less fortunate both in the US and also in Jamaica."

Not only is Golden Krust known for its authentic Caribbean cuisine, but over the years it has developed an impressive and consistent reputation for community outreach, especially in the areas of education, health awareness and charity.

Golden Krust Bakery & Grill, Inc., www.goldenkrustbakery.com , is a Caribbean food chain founded in 1989 by Lowell Hawthorne and his family. Golden Krust is headquartered in Bronx, New York and has 120 stores nationwide.