The doors to Quality Supermarkets' second location have opened in South Beach, and the owner of the grocery store said business has already been outstanding. Rupert Roberts told Guardian Business that the supermarket, which opened on December 13, is already a hit with customers, and he is impressed at how the numbers have matched up to the Cable Beach location. "We had a fantastic opening and it seems to be going neck and neck with the Cable Beach store," Roberts said. "We still have a little bit more work to do at that location, but we are encouraged by what we have seen so far."
Roberts, who is also the owner of the Super Value food stores, admitted that the timing of the opening has played a part in the early success, given that Bahamians generally tend to buy more groceries during the holiday season. The store was scheduled to open earlier than it did, but he didn't receive the business license approvals in time to do so. According to him, part of the reason Quality Supermarkets has performed well is because of its consumer-friendly prices, which were designed to be more considerate of Bahamians who are not as economically flexible as others.
"Eighty percent of the population is doing okay but the other 20 percent has been devastated by the economy and are either without jobs or don't have as much financially," he said. "When hard times come the average sale per customer falls, so we run a bunch of specials to bring people into our stores and become affordable for them. Bahamians know how to economize when they have to." Roberts' plan was to enlarge the food store's warehouse section, in a effort to create more space during high volume periods such as the Easter and Christmas holidays.
It would be a prime storage location during the hurricane periods, which enables him to widen his capacity. While the continued success Roberts has enjoyed in the food distribution industry is a testament to his hard work and dedication in the sector, he didn't hesitate to admit that he is blessed to have such longevity in the market. "I'm just fortunate to be able to operate at a consistent level for all of these years and I hope that going forward I can continue to do so," he said. "The holiday season is a good time to reflect on what a person should be grateful for, and I am very grateful to be in this position." The Seagrapes location is expected to open in early January, according to Roberts.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
