Bruster’s Ice Cream yesterday announced a temporary closure until the 20th of this month due to a cold storage malfunction it believes was caused by the Guyana Power and Light Inc’s (GPL) recent and frequent power supply disruptions.
In a notice addressed to its customers, staff and members of the community yesterday, the company said, “We regret to inform you that all Bruster’s Ice Cream locations in Guyana will be temporarily closed. Our sincere apologies go out to everyone affected by this closure.
“… Recently, we encountered a critical issue with our cold storage facilities. Unfortunately, this malfunction compromised our perishable inventory. We suspect that the prolonged erratic power supply in the area caused damage to our cold storage equipment, resulting in significant losses,” the company stated.
GPL has a system that facilitates the reporting of incidents, if customers believe that the power fluctuation caused damage to their equipment. However, such claims go through a rigid verification process. Customers are required to keep the damaged item(s) until the investigation process is completed.
“Guyana Power and Light Inc is only responsible for damage caused by negligence on our part and this has to be established. We may seek independent assessment [to confirm] damage costs,” GPL stated..
To file a claim for damaged equipment or appliances, customers must download and fill a form within 30 days of the incident. They also have to provide proof of ownership of the damaged property. And if repaired, they have to provide proof of expenditure to repair or replace the item.
However, Bruster’s said it was committed to resolving the situation and had already begun working to fix the equipment and machines.
“Rest assured; we are taking immediate action to address this situation. Our team is working diligently to repair the damaged equipment and replace the discarded inventory. We understand the disappointment this closure may cause…,” the company said.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding. Our goal is to resume operations as soon as possible. We expect to once again serve our fresh ice cream made daily later this month.”
