BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE supply of Carnation evaporated milk will no longer be price-regulated when a new supply of Bonlé milk hits the shelf soon, a consumer affairs official recently stated.
In last Wednesday’s (Apr. 28) Cabinet meeting, a brand of milk called Bonlé was approved to be the new imported price-controlled milk for St. Kitts-Nevis. The decision came after a tender process which resulted in Bonlé being the more economical option.
Director of Consumer Affairs Howard Richardson told SKNVibes that the decision by Cabinet was one of the measures put forward to reduce the cost of living, taking a cheaper route for the benefit of consumers.
“We have an annual tender put out in the papers and people applied for the supply of evaporated milk. Bonlé had the most favourable tender in terms of price, which is the standard that we judge the bids on. Based on that and a number of other factors, Cabinet made the decision to go with Bonlé,” Richardson informed.
The most recent available pricing information reveals that the price for a small tin (170 grams) of Bonlé milk will cost about 99 cents whereas the large tin (410 grams) will cost about $2.07. Bonlé will be supplied by Peru-based company Grupo Gloria.
The company also offers cheese, yogurts and an assortment of dairy products. Grupo Gloria is also the agent of popular fruit juices Aruba and Tampico, which have already made their way to local shelves.
In July of 2008, the nation introduced a new brand of evaporated milk called Cardinal Cream as a way to counter the limited availability of Carnation evaporated milk. Many consumers raised concerns about the new commodity and hundreds complained about the “poor quality” of the product.
Richardson anticipates that the new brand of milk will have to pass a “transition period”, but he expects it to be accepted nationwide after intensive marketing.
“When Carnation was introduced it actually replaced a milk that was there previously. Therefore, this Bonle will replace our supply of Carnation. Of course there will be a transition period but we will have a very strong marketing approach to the public. In the upcoming weeks, we will be partnering with Gloria, the agents on Bonle, in order to sell the new product to the public.”
Cabinet members also expect for the transition to Bonle milk to be a challenge, but they reassured in the latest post-Cabinet briefing that the new commodity is of a very similar quality to Carnation milk.
“The Ministry of Consumer Affairs recognizes that as a consequence of Carnation milk being supplied locally for the last forty (40) years, there is an entrenched loyalty to the brand, and the Ministry wishes to inform that the new brand of milk is highly comparable and has been introduced to reduce cost,” the statement read.
Other brands of milk, including Carnation, may be available in supermarkets but it is only the Bonlé brand that will be price-regulated after the first shipment is made.
