The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Bahamian beverage producer has been forced by the “ridiculously” high cost of limes to instead use concentrate in his ‘Switcha’ product line, saying: “It was a matter of survival.”

Mervin Sweeting, who appeared on the Rotaract Club of East Nassau’s fourth annual entrepreneurship panel on Wednesday night, cited the ‘switch’ as one of “the most difficult decisions” he has had to make to-date as an entrepreneur.

    “The most difficult  decision I ever had to make in business was switching from squeezing limes to concentrate,” he explained.

“The reason behind it was the cost of limes was getting too high. It was ridiculous. One minute it was $15, and the next minute it was $105. It was a matter of survival.”

Mr Sweeting, who launched the beverage producer back in 2007, said bad weather, disease and drug cartel violence in Mexico, where the United States sources 90 per cent of its limes, were all responsible for skyrocketing lime prices dating back to early 2014.

 Mr Sweeting said the switch from squeezed limes to concentrate did not sit well with consumers.

“The Bahamian people, the customers, were extremely pi. We got a lot of flack, it was a headache. I still have nightmares about it,” said Mr Sweeting.

Asked whether he would have done anything differently, he said: “If there was a way not to do it, I would have. I really didn’t want to but it was a matter of survival.

“At the end of the day you go into business for one reason, and that is to make money. It was a difficult decision. At the end of the day I can’t keep the business stagnant because I can’t get the raw materials.”

Mr  Sweeting said there needs to be a new environment, a “new  city” to spur entrepreneurship in the Bahamas.

“We need a new environment. We need a completely new city to spur entrepreneurship in this country,” he added, suggesting that New Providence has become overcrowded.