The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

AN Abaco based poultry producer says that roughly 70 per cent of its product is being gobbled up by Bahamian food retailers, but it is having a tougher time breaking into the restaurant market.

Lance Pinder, operations manager at Abaco Big Bird Chicken Farm, a family-owned and operated business since 1995, said that after nearly going out of business a year ago, the farm was up to full capacity and enjoying steady sales in the local retail market. Business at Abaco Big Bird had dropped 60 per cent after the Government eliminated the permit regime for chicken imports.

“We have been back up to full production capacity for about a year now. Most of the customers we have are very loyal and really don’t have a problem with our product,” Mr Pinder said.

“Most people that are used to eating our chicken really don’t want any other chicken. As far as the retail market is concerned we really don’t have a huge issue. The restaurant market is harder to get into. Tapping into the restaurant market is a lot harder for us.”

Mr Pinder added: “We can do about 1.5-1.6 million pounds a year. About 70 per cent of that goes into the local retail market. The other 30 per cent goes into restaurants, that we know of.

“With some of the wholesalers in Nassau, we don’t know where it is going; they may sell it to restaurants or retailers.

“We have restaurants that call us in Eleuthera that want to buy, but we don’t really have any way to get it to them because the shipping doesn’t link up. That is a part of the challenge that we face. It’s the logistical aspect of the country and lack of linkages. It’s a big problem that a lot of farmers face.”