It has been quite the year for AML Foods. Over the 12 months, the publicly listed company has hired 250 Bahamians to fuel what can only be seen as rapid expansion. The company's latest creation - Solomon's Fresh Market at the Harbour Bay Shopping Centre - will cap off this period of growth when it opens its doors sometime next week. "This is a big moment. It is the end of a very busy period," said Gavin Watchorn, the CEO of AML Foods. "We have grown substantially over the last year or so. We have put in a lot of hard work over the last few years to position ourselves for strength and stability. Now we want to bring all of this to our bottom line."
It started last summer with the first Solomon's Fresh Market at the Old Fort Bay Town Centre. The supermarket, known for its organic foods and quality products, was an unexpected hit among consumers in western New Providence, in the sense that it exceeded the company's already lofty expectations. AML Foods opened a regular Solomon's in Freeport a few months ago, and in less than a year, it has duplicated the Fresh Market concept out east. In many respects, the opening of the Harbour Bay Shopping Centre store is a fitting crescendo for a year of development.
"This is a very good location. It is a gateway to eastern New Providence," Watchorn told Guardian Business. "We felt our concept would warrant two stores. So when it became available, we jumped at the opportunity." And a jump of sales is expected to follow. Total sales at the end of this year are projected at $125 million, or approximately $30 million more than the previous year. For 2013, sales are expected to climb to $150 million following a full year of operation at the new locations. The new Solomon's Fresh Market, a virtual clone of the western store, represents a $6 million investment for AML Foods.
t has hired 90 Bahamians for its day-to-day operations, dozens more during its construction and promises to provide a considerable boost to entrepreneurs in the area. Indeed, a tangible buzz has descended on pockets of eastern New Providence for a supermarket that offers a different experience. "For those that haven't seen, they will be surprised, but also proud, I think, that a Bahamian company can achieve U.S. standards," Watchorn explained. "We feel because we're in the islands that we have to accept lower standards. That is not the case. We were very conscious in upgrading our stores and providing the public with a U.S. shopping experience."
If the first Solomon's Fresh Market is any measure, the new location will be stocked with 150 different kinds of organic produce, including a grand total of 400 fresh items. The store's fish market and meat counter is another highlight, offering considerable variety and high-quality products. A bakery, coffee bar, dessert section and ready-made area are all part of the shopping experience. But beyond the shopping cart, executives at Solomon's Fresh Market know they are also selling a lifestyle to Bahamians. "When we opened Fresh Market, we aimed to create a new floret. More Bahamians have seen the benefit of eating healthy. We see this as an opportunity to do something we were interested in. And it has taken off far better than expected. The interest and comments on when we are opening tells us that anticipation and demand is building," according to Watchorn.
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