Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon wants supermarkets to support T&T’s manufacturers by distributing more local products so the country could become more competitive in export markets.
The minister made the call at the Supermarkets Association of T&T’s (SATT) Annual Christmas Dinner, Dance and Awards Gala on Sunday.
The sentiment was echoed by Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat who appealed to SATT members to consider three issues—the Beekeepers’ Association’s call for supermarkets to support the local honey industry; a call from the fisheries sector supermarkets to procure a quality product, locally; and support in lowering the food import bill by seeking opportunities for import substitutions with quality locally produced products.
Gopee-Scoon told SATT members they have a vital role in the economic landscape of the country by contributing to employment, domestic investment, distribution of goods and services and tax revenue.
“Supermarkets continue to play a pivotal role in the food distribution value chain, in that they are the intermediaries between suppliers and consumers.
“In fact, supermarkets are usually at the front line of attacks made by consumers about price gouging, and other unfair business practices.
“To this end, supermarkets have a responsibility to protect consumers against unfair business practices and provide the necessary information to inform and enlighten the public on new developments within the Industry so that more-informed decisions can be made.
“In light of this function, the Consumer Affairs Division (CAD) will continue to work with supermarkets to prevent asymmetric information and to ensure that consumers are well informed and educated about matters and issues affecting them in the Industry,” she said
This year’s SATT award recipients included Distributor of the Year (Large), Vemco, Distributor of the Year (Medium), FineLine Distributors and Distributor of the Year (Small), Happi Products Limited.