Ambition runs deep within the Golden Krust empire and Steven Clarke, the vice president of marketing, is no exception. As the innovative voice—and nephew of Golden Krust founder Lowell Hawthorne—behind the renowned culinary gem, he’s elevating the brand and dedication to creating tasty Jamaican beef patties to the next level with cultural awareness, strategic insight and faith.
Clarke was born in Kingston, Jamaica. The last of four children, his father was a pastor and his mother was a missionary. Clarke recalls Sundays filled with worship, whether at their home church or while serving in different communities around the island.
His parents prepared him for leadership as he headed a youth group at the tender age of nine. That role instilled immeasurable values such as responsibility, service, humility and gratitude.
The Evolution of Golden Krust
Mavis and Ephraim Hawthorne, the parents of Golden Krust founder Lowell Hawthorne (and Clarke’s mother), ran Hawthorne and Sons Bakery near Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica, for over five decades. They enlisted the help of their 11 children to grow their business to the success it’s known for today.
Hawthorne and Sons was the premier bakery in the area, offering quality bread, buns, cakes, coffee, sugar, cocoa, and more. The bakery sat on the same land as the house, blending the two worlds into one.
After some time, the family eventually relocated to the United States of America, and in 1989, the Hawthorne siblings and their spouses compiled their savings to open the first Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery on East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, New York.
As the business grew, the family moved their manufacturing plant to the South Bronx. They purchased almost the entire city block. By 1996, Brooklyn, New York, which has a large Jamaican population, became the location of the bakery’s first franchise.
In under a decade, Golden Krust celebrated their 100th opening in Queens, New York.
That same year, the founders launched the Mavis and Ephraim Hawthorne Golden Krust Foundation (MEHGF).
The Foundation has supported schools in Jamaica and the U.S., partnering with institutions like the University of the West Indies and Bronx Community College, and collaborates with Golden Krust to provide internships and employment. Since its inception, MEHGF has given over 250 scholarships to aspirational kids.
Clarke is proud that yet another generation is growing up on Golden Krust. “Uptown Bronx is known as ‘Little Jamaica,’ but when I’m in the restaurants, I do see more than Jamaicans buying our products — and I think that’s a testament to the strength of the culture.”
While visiting a pizzeria in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, Clarke noticed a child not of Caribbean origin ordering Jamaican beef patties. Curious, he asked the child’s parents what influenced that decision. To his delight, they revealed their child enjoyed the patties served at school.
The bakery has a prominent contract with New York City Public Schools, where the company provides patties for the lunch programs. The Jamaican Beef patties, which the bakery has been distributing for over two decades, are placed on the menu approximately once a week.
The option is not only delicious and nutritious, it’s an opportunity to share a cherished part of Caribbean culture in an accessible manner.
By Quia Bethea
