By Nikieta Liburd
Nevis Reporter
(Charlestown, Nevis) – Buying food can be a lot cheaper, if you just know where to look.
The Department of Trade and Industry Supply Office located at Pinney’s Industrial Site is the place to find affordable goods. They offer basic food items such as milk, flour, sugar, rice, toilet paper, and paper towels. These items are only sold in bulk. Animal feeds are also available for horses, dogs, poultry, rabbits and pigs.
“Anyone can buy, it doesn’t matter if it’s a small family or a big family. It’s more efficient and more affordable for a larger family especially to buy in bulk,” Mr. Jermaine D. Stapleton, Senior Trade Officer, said. “It helps reduce the cost of living.”
“Over the last six months there has been four dramatic cost increases,” Mr. Stapleton said. “However, the Supply Office has kept the prices consistent and there haven’t been any major price increases since 2004.”
“What is important is that the general public appreciates how we offer help to keep the cost of living down,” he said. “We are not competing with retailers, we are just another alternative in helping to reduce the high cost of living. We are committed to provide quality service.”
“The Supply Office offers the best possible prices, we want the customers to benefit, and that must be balanced against operational fundamentals,” he said.
“As the Department of Trade and Industry continues to restructure the Supply Office, we will review the product offering to ensure we offer products that can be of most benefit to reducing the cost of living. People should take advantage of the products we are offering,” Mr. Stapleton said.
“Nevis is part of the global economy, with drastic increases in oil, wheat and dairy product on the world market, one absolutely should appreciate how long the Supply Office has been able to maintain prices,” Mr. Stapleton said.
“Various improvements in and around the facilities are being made, the improvement of security, environment for staff and customers. Parking is also something we are looking into to improve, we would like the customers to have more space when there visiting,” Mr. Stapleton said. “At this time we are reviewing product offering, we want people to take advantage of the products we are offering.”
The opening hours of the Supply Office are 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Supply Office could be contacted at 469-5521 ext. 2043.
