The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

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.

“Quality Supermarket in the SeaGrapes Shopping Centre opens today. We have 50 persons working there, that’s excluding packers of course. As of this week our employee count stands at 816. Excluding inventory we would have spent about $2.5 million on that store, inventory would run it up to approximately $1 million more,” said Mr Roberts.

“Quality Supermarkets caters to consumers across the board in speciality groceries and perishable items at the best prices. The store is fully stocked featuring wide isles, new state of the art energy saving lighting and display equipment. We were careful not to overspend on new equipment, decorations and signage in order to offer consumers the best prices and not affect the already high cost of living. Quality markets also offers consumers their favourite rewards program, quality stamps,” Mr Roberts said. Mr Roberts said that the Quality Supermarkets brand has been performing strong. “They have been performing well in this economy but the reason we bought them is because we are hoping for a turnaround in the economy soon,” Mr Roberts said.

Mr Roberts agreed on a deal with the Finlayson family last year to acquire four stores which had been operated under the now defunct City Market food store chain. Apart from the Super Value Chain, Mr Roberts now also operates Quality Super Market in Cable Beach as well as South Beach, with the Sea Grapes store being the third under the Quality Supermarket brand.

“We lost the Harbour Bay store to Fresh Market and I don’t know what Mark (Finlayson) is going to do about that. Our deal with Mark was for four stores. I don’t know what he’s going to do but if we can get that of course we would operate that as well,” said Mr Roberts.