Incremental even if still modest evidence is beginning to emerge that Guyana’s agro-processed products are beginning to make gradual inroads into the wider regional market. The most recent local company to underscore that point has been the Marudi Creek, Linden Soesdyke/Linden highway entity Precision Global. The company’s impressive range of products which includes Virgin Coconut Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Coconut Chips and Coconut Flour, which is being manufactured under the ‘Only Coconuts’ brand, ‘turned heads’ at the recently concluded 2023 Barbados Agro Fest after it concluded an Agreement with Armstrong Agencies of Barbados, the company that will now serve as its sole distributor on the island.
The disclosure, arguably the standout ‘take away’ for Guyana from the Agro Fest event will also serve to popularize the Guyana ‘brand’ on the Barbados market on the Barbadian market.
Precision Global Vice President Leslie Ramlall has said that initial discourses on what is now a ‘done deal,’ commenced during last year’s Agro Fest event and that the initial ‘trial shipment’ was made to Barbados back in November last year. A subsequent shipment was ordered by Armstrong Enterprise in February this year and the more recent signing of an Agreement would appear to suggest that the ‘trial period has been successfully negotiated. Indeed, Ramlall disclosed that during his recent visit to Barbados to attend the Agro Fest event, he had been sought out by the Barbadian company to arrange a new shipment of products since the previous shipment of Virgin Coconut Oil and coconut flour, particularly, had been almost sold out.
During his stay in Barbados Ramlall was able to meet with Barbadians whom he said had become users of Virgin coconut products.
Ramlall said that at AgroFest 2023, many individuals said that they are interested in the products and came looking for their coconut products. Ramlall says that many of the individuals mentioned that their dentists in Barbados recommended that they can use the virgin coconut oil as mouthwash. Ramlall did indicated that he does not know about the mouthwash and will have to find out from the medical fraternity. Ramlall said that the virgin coconut oil can be used for ‘light cooking’ such as salad and frying eggs as well as for hair and skin or the cosmetic industry.
The regional marketing experience the company executive told Ramlall, had been a challenging but rewarding one. He pointed out that while the market experience in Barbados had not been emulated across the region the company had committed itself to working to overcome those market access challenges. Contextually, he disclosed that the company’s Only Coconuts brand had attracted the attention of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) at AgroFest 2023 and that following a recent interview with the regional media house inquiries had been made about from Jamaica and Grenada.
Ramlall disclosed, meanwhile, that the company will be participating in next month’s Jamaica Expo. The company Executive also told the Stabroek Business that its coconut products had also been well-received at last year’s October 15-19 SIAL event in Paris 2022 where its product display had attracted the interest of visitors from other parts of Europe and from Africa. Last October the company had also put in an appearance at the Florida International Trade and Cultural (FITC) Expo in Fort Lauderdale where its products were also well-received.
Ramlall disclosed, meanwhile, that the company’s coconut products will shortly appear on supermarket shelves in Florida, having cleared the hurdle of making adjustments to its labeling to meet the legal requirements of the US market. Currently, Precision’s products van be acquired at outlets in Suriname, Jamaica, Canada, Barbados and Florida.
Apart from being a recipient of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards’ Made in Guyana mark the company is also in receipt of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, (HACCP) certification. Going forward, it is also aiming at the acquisition of the British Retail Consortium, (BRC) citation, is a global food safety standard that applies to various types of foods.
