The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama concrete company says it has cut its workforce from 32 to 12 in 18 months, with its owner accusing a foreign-owned rival of predatory pricing aimed at squeezing Bahamian businesses out of the market.

Glennette Fowler, president, chief executive and founder of Heroic Concrete and Concrete Products, said her company had cut 20 jobs and reduced its operating days as business declined. She blames Del Zotto Products Company, formerly Gold Rock, which returned to the island's concrete market after shutting its Grand Bahama concrete operations in 2022.

"Since 2025, we've been experiencing a downturn not because of the economics of the island per se, but because of predatory pricing practices we believe that are being undertaken by the Del Zotto Products Company," Ms Fowler said.

Ms Fowler and Washington Smith, of Smith's Construction, are the only Grand Bahamian operators in the ready-mix concrete and concrete block industry. Both also claim they have been threatened.

At Heroic's plant, the yard was quiet. Cement trucks sat parked, machinery stood idle and no workers were in sight. Stacks of concrete blocks remained on the ground.

Mr Smith said his business had seen a sharp drop in work since Del Zotto re-entered the market. He has kept his staff, but only by dipping into his own savings.

"To meet payroll, I have to go to my account — my personal account," he said.

He also alleged that workers associated with Del Zotto had followed his truck to job sites and told prospective customers they could beat his prices.

"We need the government to step in," Mr Smith said.

Ms Fowler said Heroic was not opposed to competition. She questioned how one competitor with similar production requirements could sell concrete for substantially less when the industry faces rising costs for cement, aggregates, labour, fuel and electricity.

"We want to understand how this one competitor versus all of the competitors in this country can provide a substantially lower-priced product, and we are not," she said.

She called on the relevant authorities to urgently review pricing and market conditions in the sector, including an impartial examination of pricing, access to raw materials, supply arrangements and concessions.

"If there's any concessions that are being extended to any company, all of us should have those concessions extended to us," she said.

Ms Fowler said she had written to the Grand Bahama Port Authority several times seeking an investigation, and had also written to the government, the Consumer Affairs Department and the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.

She also alleged that foreign competitors were operating in a sector that should be reserved for Bahamian businesses under the applicable licence agreement. She said that agreement covers the retail and wholesale sale of concrete and concrete products.

Both owners said they were not seeking special treatment, only a level playing field.

"We are looking for any operator that chooses to be in this ready-mix concrete production industry to have the same opportunity to compete and earn a profit," Ms Fowler said.

They warned that losing locally owned suppliers would leave Grand Bahama with less competition and more exposure to price increases.

Government representatives did not respond to requests for comment up to press time.