The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Super Value’s owner yesterday said he had seen an estimated 80 per cent spike in business over the weekend, as Bahamians stocked up on food and water ahead of Hurricane Matthew.

“It was a rush like Christmas. People started shopping on Friday afternoon,” Rupert Roberts told Tribune Business. “There was a heavy rush on Saturday and Sunday. I expect the same until today. 

“Our store in Winton was temporarily out of water. We had to send a few hundred cases out of the warehouse until the local suppliers got there. Due to Hurricane Joaquin last year and the intensity of this storm, I think the public is taking it seriously.”

Mr Roberts added: “Fortunately we have had five days’ warning, and it’s not caused panic shopping; it’s been spread out, so that we can handle it better allowing us to restock every night.

“I heard that some of the stores like Winton checked out at 1.30am  on Sunday morning. We have our perishables in and were trying to get another load in, but Tropical wasn’t sailing, so we were trying to get in on on MSC and they were prepared to sail and arrive yesterday and unload, but they closed the port, so sailing has been cancelled.

“I hope that we are not short on perishables. They will sail as soon as weather permits. I think we will be able to meet the demand and stay as late as it’s safe to get our staff home.”

Matthew is a powerful Category Four hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour, with higher gusts. The storm is expected to move north across the heart of the Bahamas from Wednesday into Thursday.