Trinidadian supermarket chain, Coss Cutters, has established a presence here with the opening of a US$2 million branch at Farm, East Bank Demerara and the company is already making plans for further expansion with two more locations planned for opening within a year.
The supermarket, located next to the Park Vue Hotel, held a soft opening on Friday afternoon. The establishment promises to offer customers an enhanced shopping experience and quality customer service.
Sham Ali, the General Manager of the supermarket, yesterday told Stabroek News that their decision to set up operations here was two years in the making. He said that they invested in research on the local market before committing to open a branch here.
“We wanted to expand our company and we made a decision to come to Guyana after two years. We did research on the market and Guyana was one of the countries where the expansion seemed worthwhile…We didn’t wake up one morning and say ‘let we come Guyana and open a supermarket’,” Ali said, when asked about the reasons they chose to invest here.
He added that they are currently working on a new deal to open another supermarket in Georgetown and are looking at the prospect of opening a third.
Ali explained that while they are known in the construction and hardware industry in Trinidad and Tobago, their business started with a grocery shop. He said that Coss Cutters is the only supermarket chain in the fellow CARICOM state to have branches on both islands.
With that knowledge and experience, he said, they decided to move into the local market. He disclosed that their investment is close to US$2 million.
“We invested in everything new brand. From the shelving to refrigerators to the freezers and cashier outlets, it is all new brand,” he emphasised.
According to Ali, they currently have over 40 staff members and have begun to source fresh produce from local farmers. He said that this is an arrangement they take pride in since it is a means of empowering locals.
He added further that they are looking at a win-win situation in exporting Guyanese manufactured products and placing them on their shelves in Trinidad and Tobago.
“We want to have a win-win situation where we can have our products on the shelves here and we have local Guyanese products on our shelves back home,” Ali said.
Asked what makes the supermarket a choice for shoppers, Ali said, “Coss Cutters is a business that thrives on its name, we cut cost. We offer affordable prices and services. You go to some places and you don’t experience quality service; we try to provide efficient and proper service to the people and items at excellent prices…”
The supermarket boasts a wide selection of products sourced both locally and overseas and which are available at wholesale and retail prices. Ali said that while they aim to stock the supermarket with a variety of products from different brands, they also wanted to create a comfortable shopping experience for customers by offering a one stop shop entity with spacious aisles.
He said that while they faced some challenges while setting up operations here, they were able to overcome them. The General Manager said they understand the business arena and as such, they had protocols to follow.
“Challenge is something every business during set up has. It was nothing we couldn’t have overcome… Even back home we have challenges…but we followed the procedures and we planned and followed through…” he added.
The supermarket, he said, has received tremendous support from the public since its opening. The opening hours are from 8 am – 10 pm Monday to Saturday and 8 am to 5pm on Sundays.
