Caribbean News
Sunny Foods Executive rings up the costs of the Grocery Business
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, December 1, 2022 – Another TCI based grocer is speaking out on the high costs of goods in stores even as an update on the extension of the tax exemption on Bread Basket items is confirmed. Sanjay ‘Sunny’ Gopaldas of Sunny Foods spoke to Drexwell Seymour on RTC FM during Financially Speaking to explain why residents are feeling such a big pinch in terms of grocery prices
A 22 year food industry veteran with six stores across the TCI, Sunny was questioned on whether grocery stores were passing on the savings, a question many residents may be asking themselves given the recent spikes in food especially poultry and lettuce.
“We are passing on the duty exemptions and the CPF from the government but the problem we are facing is the increases from our vendors- from the supply chain.” he explained, saying that many of the increases were simply out of their control.
“For example- even I saw it on Facebook where people were complaining about the Romaine heart lettuce. There was a viral fungal infection in California and the demand— is much higher than regular and everybody had to pay more.”
Unfortunately for lettuce lovers that price may take months to go back to normal, the grocer said.
Gopaldas explained that because of decimated labour forces from Covid-19 stores like Amazon, Winn Dixie and other major retailers were woefully short on manpower, decreasing supply as demand increases pushing up prices even more. And just like consumers, stores too are taking a major hit.
‘Our [profit] margins are actually down because of the competition that we are facing, there are a lot of mom and pop stores– it is a good thing because it keeps everybody on their toes– at the same time the cost of doing business is not the same. Electricity is up and commercial businesses are still paying high prices and we have the same labour crisis on this island as well.”
He listed freight raises as a major expense, up to 45 percent higher than before the pandemic and higher NIB costs as factors driving up operating costs.
“It just adds up” he said “and you have no choice but to pass on the freight costs and add on to your price. It’s part of the cost.”
Magnetic Media obtained a statement from Graceway Supermarkets, which operates five stores including one in Grand Turk and it echoed the same sentiment. Citing high costs around the globe as behind the rocketing prices on grocery items for locals.
Aside from the extension of the tax exemption associated with the Price Inflation Stimulus – duty free breadbasket items and duty exemption for returning residents on purchases abroad – the government had promised to re-assess the $15 million dollar Food and Fuel Tax break – a discount on Customs Processing Fee and fuel tax – if it was needed.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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