The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

NASSAU-based food retailers have reported a “slight” to “considerable” drop-off in post-Christmas business, one telling Tribune Business he did foresee any major pick-up until around Easter.

Phil Lightbourne, owner of the Gladstone Road-based food retailer/wholesaler, Phil’s Food Services told this newspaper: “Business has slowed down considerably. We don’t expect anything to pick up no more until somewhere in March or somewhere in Easter, I should say.

“People don’t have much money on them right now. People have spent up all their money. They get paid at the end of January, and now they have to pay December’s credit card bill.

“There’s really not a lot of people travelling now because of the weather, so there are not a lot of tourists coming in. Things will be slow for a little while. Not everything is going to be smooth. It’s going to be smooth and rough. You just have to keep going. We’re going to keep battling.”

Mr Lightborune said retailers were still challenged on port fees. “It definitely affects the price for consumers. Once they pass it on to me I have to put that into my price. The consumer is going to feel it,” he added.

Philip Beneby, head of Courtesy Supermarkets and the Retail Grocers Association, told Tribune Business there had been a slight drop-off in business post-Christmas but described it as “nothing major”.

“There has been just a slight drop off since the Christmas. It’s nothing major. This is what usually happens around this time of the year,” said Mr Beneby.