April 13, 2012
Rupert Roberts
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SUPER VALUE CHIEF: FOOD COST UP 30% – Roberts reveals assessment of 15 common items
Super Value’s principal yesterday said a review of 15 commonly-bought items revealed The Bahamas sustained food inflation of around 30 percent over the past two years, adding: “The customers are re-training us.”
Super Value in halt over ‘reached the limit’ orders
Super Value will stop buying products whose prices have “reached the limits” of Bahamian affordability, its owner disclosed yesterday, while revealing that soaring energy bills have “siphoned off 5 percent of our sales”.
CHRISTMAS SHOWDOWN – Roberts: Price Control backed off after festive season shutdown threat
Super Value’s principal yesterday disclosed Price Control “backed off” seizing vast quantities of product when warned of pre-Christmas store shutdowns, telling the Government: “We don’t want war, and you don’t want war.”
Christmas food items 'will reflect Thanksgiving prices'
SUPER Value owner Rupert Roberts said Friday with the holidays approaching, the price of popular holiday goods will remain consistent to the prices currently reflected in stores.
‘The public is better off’: Eliminate price controls
Super Value’s principal yesterday urged the Government to abolish the price control regime rather than expand it, arguing: “Consumers will be better off.”
Super Value chief: Retain food store mask mandate
Super Value’s principal yesterday urged the Government to maintain the COVID mask mandate for supermarkets and prevent the sector from becoming “the number one spreader” of the virus.
Egg-static: Price hikes phased in
Super Value’s principal yesterday gave struggling consumers some relief by revealing there will be no “sudden” rise in egg prices as the projected 60 percent increase will instead be phased-in between now and Christmas.
Food cost ‘plateau’ looms despite 60% egg increase
Super Value’s president yesterday voiced optimism that food price inflation could start to “plateau” by end-September despite warning Bahamians that egg prices could suffer an imminent 60 percent increase.
Super Value chief ‘thrilled’ at Ukraine supply restart
Super Value’s principal says he is “very thrilled” that Ukraine has begun to ship grain and related products again although it will be some months before Bahamian consumers see any food price benefits.
Super Value transport budget up 47% as gas prices strike
Super Value’s principal yesterday said shoppers have “cut back drastically” on luxury items to make every dollar count, while revealing the supermarket chain’s own transportation budget has soared 47 percent.
Super Value to ‘duck’ energy hike via solar
Super Value’s president yesterday said it plans to “duck” any long-term impact from higher Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) prices through the installation of solar power across its business beginning on August 2.
‘Fantastic’ food tariff cuts won’t fully offset inflation
The Budget’s tariff cuts “can’t compensate” fully for the 20 percent increase in food prices since late 2021, Super Value’s principal said yesterday, although they may cover “half of what was lost” by the return of breadbasket VAT.
Super Value slashes inflation impact 20%
Super Value’s principal says he does “not expect” The Bahamas to be hit by the baby formula shortage afflicting the US, while the supermarket chain’s buying strategies have reduced food inflation’s impact by 15-20 percent.
‘We buried hatchet’ over retail closure
Super Value’s principal has revealed he and his family “bit the bullet” in closing their loss-making Harbour Bay housewares retailer, adding: “We were fighting a losing battle so we buried the hatchet.”
‘World’s in worst state that I have ever seen’
Super Value’s principal has voiced hope that “we can do better than” the World Bank’s dire prediction of high food prices lasting for three years, but conceded: “The world is in the worst state I’ve ever seen.”
Super Value principal backs VAT’s breadbasket removal
Super Value’s principal yesterday backed calls to remove VAT from breadbasket foods as a means to ease the burden soaring inflation has imposed on hard-pressed consumers still struggling to recover from COVID-19’s fall-out.
Super Value chief: Food price peak ‘in 6 months’
Super Value’s principal is optimistic that soaring global food prices could peak “in six months’ time” as it relies on high warehouse inventories and “forward bookings” to mitigate the impact on Bahamian consumers.
Food prices: ‘What goes up may not come down’
Super Value’s principal has warned Bahamian shoppers to brace for the possibility that increased food prices may be here to stay, warning: “I don’t believe in what goes up must come down.”
Super Value’s solar roll-out eyes 60% energy bill slash
Super Value’s principal yesterday revealed the supermarket chain is aiming to slash its energy bill by “60 percent or better” through installing solar power at all its stores by summer 2022.
Ninety days to switch VAT pricing
Retailers have been given a 90-day transition period to deal with the repricing “nightmare” caused by the VAT rate cut, one saying yesterday: “We hope this is the last change for a very long time.”
Super Value chief: ‘Well will run dry’ if taxes increase
Super Value’s president has warned that “the well will run dry” if the government imposes new and/or increased taxes in next week’s budget, adding: “We have to get the economy rolling first.”
Super Value in struggle to fill 100 vacancies
Super Value’s principal is questioning if “people want to work” as the supermarket chain struggles to fill up to 100 vacant posts amid an unemployment rate predicted by the Prime Minister to hit 30 percent.Rupert Roberts, pictured, told Tribune Busin
Super Value: March VAT 'highest ever'
Super Value’s president yesterday said its March VAT return was the “highest ever” after COVID-19 shoppers drove a 36 percent increase in store sales and even greater warehouse output.Rupert Roberts told Tribune Business that the 13-store supermarket
Super Value chief blasts fake 'mask seize' claim
Super Value’s chief yesterday blasted the “mischief maker” behind an e-mail falsely claiming the government seized $176,000 worth of masks from it, adding: “We need to fight the virus, not each other.”Besides “categorically denying” the assertions in
Super Value's 'crazy panic buying figures'
Super Value’s principal yesterday revealed that COVID-19 panic buying had produced “crazy figures” with sales at some stores having increased by as much as 147 percent. Rupert Roberts, the supermarket chain’s president, told Tribune Business that wh
Consumers 'disgruntled' on plastic bag transition
Super Value’s principal yesterday admitted “there are disgruntled customers” over the 25 cent per plastic bag charge, adding that the transition had “not been accepted as I had hoped”. Rupert Roberts, pictured, told Tribune Business: “I would say tha
Super Value chief '100%' confident resort deal close
Super Value’s owner says he is “100 percent” confident that the sale of his Bimini Sands resort will close as early as this week, adding: “I’m doing the island a favour by exiting.”Rupert Roberts told Tribune Business he hoped to conclude the deal th
Top Abaco food store to re-open with 40% of staff
Abaco’s main supermarket will re-open “within two weeks” with just over 40 percent of its pre-Dorian staff, as one of its principals said: “I’ve never seen devastation like that in my life.”Rupert Roberts, the Super Value chief, told Tribune Business
Super Value owner: ‘$1.5m relief in sight’ via VAT Commission
Super Value’s owner has voiced optimism that “$1.5m relief is now in sight” after the recent appointment of the VAT Appeals Commission chairman.
Island Luck CEO hits out at Rupert Roberts
ISLAND Luck CEO Sebas Bastian took to social media on Monday to blast Super Value owner Rupert Roberts over his recent claim that web shop gaming was eating into the supermarket chain’s revenues.
Super Value owner: I have nothing to hide over prices
A TOP food retailer said he has “nothing to hide” in response to claims of price gouging on grocery items days before Value Added Tax (VAT) takes effect.
Super Value owner backs D.N.A.
THE owner of the Super Value chain of grocery stores is throwing his support behind the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) after becoming disillusioned with two-party politics. Rupert Roberts, the veteran businessman, said “it was time to try something else” after growing tired of the same two parties with little difference between them.
VAT uncertainty: Super Value puts $1m expansion 'on hold'
Super Value has put a $1 million expansion of its main Carmichael Road warehouse “on hold” due to the continuing uncertainty over Value-Added Tax (VAT), its president describing the Government’s key tax reform as “terrifying”.
Super Value: 131% fee rise 'big pill to swallow'
Super Value’s owner has described the impending 131 per cent increase in its annual Business Licence fee to $3 million as “a big pill to swallow”, and fears it will increase the cost of living.
Quality is the mark of a new supermarket
SUPER VALUE’s owner and president Rupert Roberts said that the opening of his third Quality Supermarket in the Sea Grapes Shopping Centre would create 50 jobs, telling Tribune Business that approximately $3.5 million had been invested into the store.
Super Value roadworks losses greater than $15m relief package
Super Value’s president yesterday said the supermarket chain would apply to the Government’s roadworks relief initiative, even though it was likely owed more - on its own - than the total $15 million compensation package being made available.
Super Value aiming to slash container landing fees ‘in half'
Super Value chief Rupert Roberts is working on a plan that could “cut in half” the $1,300 per container landing fee his business currently faces.
Price Control too tight on margins
THE Government’s Price Control Department still does not provide enough margin to allow retailers to pay their expenses, one leading supermarket operator has told Tribune Business.
Quality's 20,000 customer goal at South Beach
Super Value’s owner yesterday said his two supermarket brands will collectively employ more than 1,000 persons when the final store opens in February, adding that he would be “thrilled” if the latest location attracted 20,000 customers per week.
'1,000%' confident on pre-Christmas South Beach re-open
Super Value’s owner yesterday said he was “1,000 per cent” confident that his second Quality Supermarkets store would open at South Beach pre-Christmas, telling Tribune Business it would not believe the anti-copper theft defences he had to install.
80% tourist share a Quality 'bonus'
Super Value’s president yesterday said his first Quality Supermarket had received “a little bonus” through tourists generating 80 per cent of sales, telling Tribune Business he expected the Cable Beach site to be “profitable from day one”.
Super Value opens Cable Beach store
SUPER VALUE’S Cable Beach location opened its doors yesterday, employing more than 70 new and former City Market employees.
Super Value chief 'forging ahead' in 3-store takeover
SUPER Value's president yesterday said he was "forging right ahead" with the takeover of three former City Markets' locations, having put out "bids" for the re-equipping of the South Beach and Seagrapes sites, as he told Tribune Business: "We're aiming to be number one."
'Green light' for City Meat store re-opening
SUPER Value's president yesterday said the refitting of City Markets' former Cable Beach store was "green lighted and a go", with the location's re-opening - targeted for this month - set to create around 60 jobs.
'Monday at latest' for City Markets deal close
CITY Markets' principal yesterday told Tribune Business he was aiming to close the sale of its remaining four New Providence stores to Super Value by this Friday "or Monday at the latest", added urgency coming from his attorney likely taking up a post in the new PLP government.
'Millions' to refit City Meat stores
Super Value’s president last night confirmed that capital expenditure “running into the millions” would be required to re-equip three of City Markets’ New Providence stores, telling Tribune Business that but for a “misunderstanding” related to government approvals the Cable Beach outlet could have been open this weekend.
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