BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THOSE in the supermarket business will have to gear up for battle as competition is becoming more intense. Staying ahead at this stage will call for innovative thinking as patrons watch and wait for the best bargains and best service.
Presently, the major supermarkets in the Basseterre and surrounding area include RAMS Trading, Horsford's Valu Mart IGA, C&C Trading, Best Buy, Daily Food Supermarket, Island Foods Grocery and most recently added King's Pavilion II.
For years RAMS Trading and Horsford's Valu Mart IGA have dominated the supermarket war, always being considered the two most popular and most patronised stores in the Basseterre area.
The other stores were not as successful in pulling the large masses that these stores accumulated on a daily basis.
Staying Ahead
Stiff competition is now coming from Chinese supermarkets which have begun to pop up all over Basseterre. So far there are five.
Already we are seeing some major changes and improvements to time schedules, customer service and selective pricing by supermarkets in an effort to be at the front in the race to be the most patronized store.
Most noticeable have been the extended shopping hours which ensures that patrons continue to have choices as to where they can shop especially on Sundays and after normal working hours.
Late last year Valu Mart extended their opening hours every day of the week, even on Sundays. RAMS did the same at the very same time and added Sunday to their calendar of open days.
Customer service has definitely improved as workers have been more courteous and helpful in making one’s shopping experience a great one. Valu Mart probably takes the cake in terms of help beyond the checkout counters as patrons are even assisted in gathering up their bags and sent on their way with pleasant good wishes.
Location and ease of parking will be factors considered as shoppers select where to shop, but the bottom line invariably will be the price of goods. Just about everyone must stretch his/her dollar as far as possible in these economically stressed times.
When you have competition at such level, grocery prices are bound to drop however difficult it may be for store owners because at the end of it all, most customers would patronise the store offering the best prices, especially the small man who is also bearing the brunt of the recession and has not seen an increase in his salary.
Moving Ahead In Spite Of Disadvantages
Locally owned supermarkets are said to be facing a tough hurdle since the inception of supermarkets owned by Chinese. Some are of the view that foreigners have the luxury of concessions on their imported goods while the local businessmen have to bear the full brunt of taxes.
There have been calls for a level playing field as these concessions are said to give non-locally owned stores an advantage in attracting customers.
Nonetheless, the local stores are doing just about everything to keep up with the competition in some cases by providing more services to make their supermarkets a ‘one-stop-shop’.
Early last year (2011), Best Buy Supermarket introduced its Hot Food Department where customers can purchase foods such as pies, chicken, sandwiches among other foods. C&C Trading did the same late last year. Valu Mart and RAMS have been operating a similar department for a long time.
Hordford's Valu Mart IGA has upgraded their Blue Tag Specials and are offering everyday low prices on selected items throughout the store.
Renovation and expansion…
In 2010 Best Buy renovated its Buckley's Site store to include a second and third floor. It now houses a department store as well, offering simple clothing for adults, children and even babies. They are also offering children’s toys and household items such as pots and pans, sheets and bedspreads among a host of other items. This type of ‘one-stop’ shopping is bound to lure customers.
Last year again, construction began on a three storey Chinese supermarket on the Bay Road in Basseterre and now that this spacious shopping facility is completed, it also hosts a hot food section on one floor, and will soon be introducing a restaurant among a host of other divisions.
The small shops are entering the battle as well! J's Shop and Save is said to be doing some construction of its own and is expanding to include a second floor.
C&C Trading began construction on what is rumoured to be a grand supermarket located in Conaree Village.
‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy
SKNVibes visited the construction site and was told by one of the workers there that the building would indeed be a C&C Trading Supermarket. Managing Director of C&C Trading, Scott Caines seconded this confirmation, but was not forthcoming with further details about this new venture.
"We are not ready to give any information about the supermarket as yet," he said.
For quite some time, rumours have been floating around that RAMS would soon be constructing another major outlet which would be situated opposite their Bay Road location, and right next to the newly constructed Chinese Supermarket.
SKNVibes contacted RAMS' General Manager, Sean Western to gather information but was told "I cannot comment on that, I cannot comment on future plans".
While there are many who are of the view that the competition between locally owned stores and those owned by foreigners is an unfair one due to the concessions being given to outside investors, others believe that the competition is doing more good than bad, as stores are forced to 'pull up their socks' as well as lower their prices which makes shopping much more pleasing, especially for those who are not financially endowed.
What do you think about the battle of the supermarkets?
