Minister of State lauds C&C Super Foods’ initiative
Says… “C&C providing opportunity, choice and convenience for customers”

By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief-SKNVibes.com

Hon. Nigel Carty,Minister of State with responsibility for Information and Technology at the launch of C&C online supermarket

“I am delighted to join in the official launch of the C & C Super Foods website that promises substantial convenience for consumers who will use the service. I am pleased, also, to extend the congratulations of the Government to the Directors of the company on the achievement of this milestone, which I am sure would have a spin-off effect among companies in the Private Sector.”

Minister Carty said the new Online Shopping Service is a continuation of the thrust to ensure that St. Kitts and Nevis keeps pace with technology that serves the cause of efficiency and effectiveness in doing business.
 
He noted that modern technologies in business are relevant to issues of profitability and consumer convenience and comfort. “They address matters of internetworking in the global business environment that brings products and services faster to consumers, and critically, allowing consumers to obtain comparative information that helps them in their decision-making.”

Carty pointed out that C&C Super Foods and other similar operations contribute positively to the move of creating an effective e-society within St. Kitts and Nevis. He also declared that it is a goal that forms a significant part of the government’s development policies within the process of strengthening the country’s post-sugar economy. ~~Adz:Right~~

“Obviously,” he stressed, “policy, education and awareness must grow together in creating the opportunities for the transformation of our economy and our society. It is about positioning our people to help sustain a productive economy, and the private sector must engage in the modernisation of our economy.”

Carty said the government had “actively and assertively” pursued the development of the Information and Communication Technology [ICT] sector, and the evolution of communication and information technologies currently have a profound impact upon the way business is conducted globally.

He also noted that the only path to survival in the new global environment is to “keep up” and although the Federation possesses very little resources, the nation must be prepared to be part of the ICT revolution.

Carty opined that ICT is most likely to succeed when there is a successful partnership between the public and private sectors. “When that happens, e-Government and e-Commerce can work hand-in-hand to develop a better economy and certainly a better society. We see it as integral to the securing of a functionally diversified economy. We see it as one of our nation’s means of staying attractive for local and foreign capital investments. Certainly, government is prepared to be a critical leader in forging this new sector.”

The Minister declared that using the ICT Strategic Plan as a guide, the government has moved forward to five thematic areas of action: Establishment of e-Governance; Reorganising and modernising the Human Resource Structure; Creating an ICT infrastructure; Providing the policy and legislative environment to facilitate e-development; and Forging Public-Private partnership for further economic development.

Carty noted that the increasing level of e-Commerce in the Federation would provide opportunities for local business and C & C Super Foods has capitalised on it by providing opportunity, choice and convenience for its customers by establishing the Online Supermarket.

He pointed out that C&C Super Foods is providing a link with the international community and an opportunity for overseas nationals to purchase products online and have them delivered to family members in the Federation. ~~Adz:Right~~

The Minister said the system also provides a choice for citizens and residents of the Federation to stay in the comfort of their homes and do grocery shopping, as well as being useful for students, medium-term visitors, and operators of bars, restaurants and hotels.

He noted that the initiative is a significant milestone for C & C Super Foods and encouraged the Directors to continue looking forward and to explore new horizons, particularly those of an ICT nature, as they continue to assist in the transformation of the economic community in the Federation.

He also spoke to the success of the education system and the resourcefulness of young people in the Federation.
“I want to, not just as a way of showcasing the successes of the education system, but better yet showcasing the resourcefulness of our people here indicate that the chief architects of this new online facility are young people who were trained here in St. Kitts and Nevis, and who, through utilising their god-given talents and embracing the notion of hard work and entrepreneurship, have made SKNVibes a leader in the ICT services sector.

“I want to point out that C&C Super Foods is one of the newer supermarket businesses in the Federation, but where vision, entrepreneurship and boldness to explore the application of technology to expand the boundaries of its clientele are concerned, C&C Super Foods has established itself as a frontrunner. C&C Super Foods has given nationals abroad another medium to transmit remittances back to their country. Our nationals will work abroad, use their credit card abroad, but the money and the groceries are delivered locally. No action epitomises more the notion of ‘Thinking locally but acting globally’!” Carty said.

The Minister of Information and Technology said the entrepreneurs and young developers that brought the website to fruition indicate the kind of skill that is useful in the transformation process of the country’s economy.

“I cannot emphasise enough that education and training are foundation stones in the development of an e-Society in St. Kitts and Nevis. Government will continue to adopt a pro-development stance in regard to increasing access to the tools of communications and Internet access, to further facilitate growth in this sector.”

The Online Supermarket, which can be found at www.candcsuperfoods.com, is owned by Scott Caines, Laverne Caines and Richard Caines, the Directors of C&C Super Foods Ltd., while the service was facilitated by the locally-owned SKNVibes - the leading Web Development Company in the Caribbean Region specialising in Ecommerce and Web Applications.