**3.0 The Bahamas**

**3.1 Overview**![](media/image1.wmf){width="0.38958333333333334in"
height="0.24444444444444444in"}

The Bahamas consists of an archipelago of some 700 islands and 2,000
islets in the North Atlantic Ocean, 45 miles from the southeast Florida
coastline. The total area of all the islands is 13,940 square miles. The
islands have 1 percent arable land and no permanent crops and pastures.
The Bahamas is a middle-income, politically stable, developing country,
which saw average economic growth of 4.5 percent from 1998 to 2000.
Continued growth depends largely on the economic situation in the US and
the performance of the tourism sector. Feedback from local business
leaders indicates that the economy has been directly impacted by weak
growth in the US partly as a result of the events of September 11, 2001.

According to USDA, the US is the major exporter of food products to the
Bahamas, supplying an estimated 77 percent of total food and
agricultural product imports annually. Industry leaders expect the large
US position in the retail food sector to continue.

**3.1a Demographics**

The total population of the Bahamas was just under 300,000 in 2001. The
majority of the population resides on the island of New Providence where
the capital, Nassau, is located, and in the city of Freeport on the
island of Grand Bahama.

The Bahamas attracts an estimated three million tourists each year.
Tourism alone accounts for more than 60 percent of national GDP and
directly or indirectly employs 40 percent of the country\'s labor force.
Moderate growth in the tourism sector and a boom in the construction of
new hotels, resorts, and residences led to estimated GDP increases of 3
percent in 1998, 6 percent in 1999, and 4.5 percent in 2000.

**3.1b Consumption**

Sources indicate that chicken is the most widely consumed category of
meat in the Bahamas. Beef and pork follow a distant second and third in
popularity to chicken, respectively, trailed by other meats such as
lamb, mutton, goat etc. Reasons for the high popularity of chicken
include:

• Relative affordability (as compared with other meats);

> • Wide appeal to consumers regardless of income (with chicken necks,
> backs and feet consumed by lower income households, versus premium
> breast meat preferred by affluent residents); and

• Perception as a healthier alternative to red meat.

Seasonally, the Christmas and New Year holiday period is the busiest
time for chicken, turkey, and ham sales, when imported brands like
Butterball, Perdue, Black Forest, Bar-S, and Prestige are commonly sold
at Bahamian supermarkets. There is also some increase in sales of these
products during the Easter season, although not at Christmas levels. One
retailer noted sales of lamb beginning to increase around Easter time.

Healthier food products are growing in popularity among middle- and
high-income consumers. These include low-fat, low cholesterol, and
sugar-free foods. Distributors and retailers concur that over the past 5
to 10 years, health-conscious eating trends in the US have taken root in
the Bahamas as well. This was confirmed through visits to local
supermarkets where "healthy" products were in abundance in the canned
and chilled meats sections, including Hormel's Lean Ham; Spam Lite;
Tyson Canned Chicken Breast (98 percent Fat Free); Healthy Choice Ham
Slices (97 percent Fat Free); Bar-S Extra Lean 96 percent Fat Free
Cooked Ham, and others.

The last few years have also seen an increase in the demand for deli
products, evidenced partly by the expansion of deli food restaurants
such as Subway. There are two Subway restaurant chains in the Bahamas,
one based in Nassau that operates 13 stores and the other based in Abaco
and Freeport. Most of the major supermarket chains have installed deli
sections in their stores. One retailer indicated these are only found in
stores located in upper- and middle-income neighborhoods, as deli
products generally do not sell as well among lower-income consumers.

**3.2 Domestic Production and Processing**

Agriculture and industry account for less than 10 percent of the GDP of
the Bahamas. Ongoing national efforts to expand food production are
intended to reduce imports and generate foreign exchange. The Government
of the Bahamas actively seeks foreign investment aimed at increasing
livestock production and processing, among other agribusiness sectors.

**3.2a Production**

![](media/image6.wmf)With only one percent arable land, Bahamian
agricultural output accounts for just 5 percent of total domestic food
consumption. It is therefore unlikely that local production will ever
play a major role in meeting local consumer demand, much less that of
the large and growing tourism sector.

Meat production in the Bahamas has declined in recent years. Production
volumes are minimal in relation to consumption. In spite of government
efforts to protect the poultry industry, production has never reached a
level capable of satisfying local demand.

**3.2b Processing**

There are three major poultry processors in the Bahamas:

-   **Gladstone Farms --** Located in Nassau, this processing company
    supplies chicken parts and specialty-processed chicken such as
    "boneless skinless breast". They sell under the *Gladstone* label.

-   **Grand Bahama Farms --** Located on Grand Bahama Island, this
    company processes and sells whole chicken and chicken parts.

-   **Abaco** -- Located on the island of Abaco, this company processes
    and sells whole chickens under the *Big Bird* brand.

There are no major swine processors in the Bahamas. The Bahamian
Government has previously tried to promote this industry by setting up a
government-owned and managed slaughterhouse and processing facility for
the benefit of small-scale swine producers. This facility is no longer
active.

**3.3 Imports**

The Bahamas imports nearly all of its food. A former British colony, the
Bahamas still retains some cultural ties to the United Kingdom, although
the US supplies the vast majority of the food consumed in the Bahamas
due to its proximity. Food products from Europe and other origins are
generally shipped through the US. The predominance of US food imports,
which are viewed as high quality products by local consumers, extends to
the meat industry where the US dominates local imports of all processed
and value-added meats.

Bahamian meat imports encounter periodic trade barriers. This is
especially true with respect to poultry, as government efforts to
protect local producers occasionally result in quotas or duty increases.
For example, import licenses for chicken leg quarters have been
restricted in the recent past in response to complaints from local
companies.

![](media/image7.wmf)

**3.3a Import Volumes and Values**

Official import statistics from the Bahamas Department of Statistics
show a noted increase in imports of processed meats in recent years,
from 6,000 MTs valued at \$15.5 million in 1997 to 8,600 MTs valued at
\$20 million in 2000 (cif value). This represents growth of 43 percent
by volume and 29 percent by value, respectively.

The strongest categories in 2000 were sausages and similar products of
meat offal, with imports of 3,626 MTs valued at \$ 8.2 million, followed
by beef products, with 2,871 MTs valued at \$4.9 million, and processed
poultry with imports of 1,402 MTs valued at \$4.2 million. Processed
pork and pork mixtures trailed poultry in 2000, with imports of 425 MTs
valued at \$1.6 million.

**3.3b Country Suppliers**

In general, **US** imports comprise 92--100 percent of Bahamian
value-added meat imports by volume and value across the categories.
**Canada** is second to the US in supplying poultry and sausage imports.
Other competitors in the Americas include **Brazil** and **Argentina**
for beef products and **Trinidad**, **Jamaica** and **The Cayman
Islands** supplying mainly sausages and in a few instances poultry and
beef products.

**European Union** processed meat imports are sourced primarily from the
**UK,** and to a lesser extent from **Denmark**, **France**,
**Germany**, and **Spain.**

**3.3c Import Statistics**

The following tables show Bahamian imports of processed meats by
category and supplier:

+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| *   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| *Ta |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ble |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| 3   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| :2: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Ba  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ham |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ian |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| I   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| mpo |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| rts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Sa  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| usa |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ges |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| and |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| S   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| imi |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| lar |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Pr  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| odu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| cts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| M   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| eat |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| O   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ffa |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| l** |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+=====+=======+=======+=======+=======+=======+=======+=======+=======+
| **  | **1   |       | **1   |       | **1   |       | **2   |       |
|  ** | 997** |       | 998** |       | 999** |       | 000** |       |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | *     |
|     | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ |
|     |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | cif** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| US  | 2,30  | 6,31  | 2,60  | 6,80  | 2,95  | 6,93  | 3,43  | 7,86  |
|     | 1,151 | 3,878 | 6,529 | 1,443 | 3,196 | 8,369 | 9,710 | 6,086 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Can | 15    | 27    | 7     | 15    | 7     | 12    | 17    | 29    |
| ada | 3,587 | 6,902 | 1,077 | 2,730 | 0,561 | 8,442 | 7,686 | 6,378 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| J   |       |       |       |       |       |       | 4,803 | 1     |
| ama |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | 7,221 |
| ica |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| UK  |       |       | 7,042 | 2     | 5     | 22    | 2,531 | 5,705 |
|     |       |       |       | 9,226 |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| G   |       |       | 50    | 239   |       |       | 1,886 | 2,921 |
| erm |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| any |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Sp  |       |       |       |       |       |       | 70    | 1,500 |
| ain |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Fra |       |       | 5     | 42    | 77    | 216   | 49    | 325   |
| nce |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| F   |       |       |       |       |       |       | 3     | 8     |
| inl |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| and |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| D   | 3,516 | 6     | 2     | 10    | 1     | 4     |       |       |
| enm |       | 2,841 | 4,134 | 0,677 | 0,798 | 2,428 |       |       |
| ark |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Cay |       |       | 1     | 4     | 1     | 3     |       |       |
| man |       |       | 2,483 | 9,999 | 0,053 | 5,472 |       |       |
| I   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| sla |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| nds |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Tr  |       |       | 678   | 1,500 |       |       |       |       |
| ini |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| dad |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Arg |       |       | 45    | 83    |       |       |       |       |
| ent |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ina |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| ### | **2   | **6   | **2   | **7   | **3   | **7   | **3   | **8   |
| ### | ,458, | ,653, | ,722, | ,135, | ,044, | ,144, | ,626, | ,190, |
|  To | 709** | 621** | 044** | 939** | 690** | 949** | 739** | 144** |
| tal |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| *S  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| our |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ce: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| B   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| aha |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| mas |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| D   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| epa |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| rtm |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ent |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| St  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ati |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| sti |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| cs* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| *In |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| clu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| des |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| all |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| s   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| aus |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| age |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| pr  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| odu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| cts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| (   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| spi |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| cy, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| swe |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| et, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| bre |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| akf |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ast |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| lin |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ks, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| et  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| c.) |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| m   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ade |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| f   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| rom |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| po  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ult |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| ry, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| po  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| rk, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| or  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| bee |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| f.* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| *   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *Ta |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ble |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| 3   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| .3: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Ba  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ham |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ian |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| I   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mpo |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Ho  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mog |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| eni |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| zed |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| M   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| eat |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| s** |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+=====+=======+=======+=======+=======+=======+=======+=======+======+
|     | **1   |       | **1   |       | **1   |       | **2   |      |
|     | 997** |       | 998** |       | 999** |       | 000** |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
|     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | **U  |
|     | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | S\$c |
|     |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | if** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| US  | 20    | 74    | 23    | 80    | 33    | 1,24  | 34    | 1    |
|     | 9,553 | 1,078 | 9,068 | 4,084 | 8,179 | 9,406 | 6,662 | ,068 |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | ,318 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Ha  | 141   | 254   | 34    | 62    | 307   | 554   |       |      |
| iti |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| **T | *     | *     | *     | *     | *     | **1   | *     | *    |
| ota | *209, | *741, | *239, | *804, | *338, | ,249, | *346, | *1,0 |
| l** | 694** | 332** | 102** | 146** | 486** | 960** | 662** | 68,3 |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | 18** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| *S  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| our |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ce: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| B   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| aha |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mas |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| D   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| epa |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rtm |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ent |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| St  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ati |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sti |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cs* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *In |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| clu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| des |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| all |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| f   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ran |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| kfu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rte |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rs, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| hot |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| d   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ogs |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| and |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| s   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| imi |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| lar |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| pr  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| odu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| m   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ade |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| f   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rom |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| po  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ult |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ry, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| po  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rk, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| or  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| bee |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| f.* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| In* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+

+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| *   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *Ta |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ble |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| 3   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| .4: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Ba  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ham |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ian |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| I   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mpo |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Pro |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ces |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sed |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Pou |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ltr |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| y** |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
|     | **1   |       | **1   |       | **1   |       | **2   |      |
|     | 997** |       | 998** |       | 999** |       | 000** |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
|     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | **U  |
|     | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | S\$c |
|     |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | if** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| US  | 1,13  | 2,83  | 1,01  | 3,06  | 1,11  | 3,58  | 1,39  | 4    |
|     | 2,532 | 1,889 | 1,198 | 5,681 | 3,331 | 9,205 | 2,304 | ,144 |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | ,140 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Can |       |       |       |       |       |       | 1     | 43   |
| ada |       |       |       |       |       |       | 0,040 | ,630 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| J   |       |       |       |       |       |       | 111   | 540  |
| ama |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ica |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| UK  | 1,273 | 2,600 |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Fra | 77    | 366   |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| nce |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Ot  |       |       |       |       |       |       | 158   | 581  |
| her |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| ### | **1   | **2   | **1   | **3   | **1   | **3   | **1   | *    |
| ### | ,133, | ,834, | ,011, | ,065, | ,113, | ,589, | ,402, | *4,1 |
|  To | 882** | 855** | 198** | 681** | 331** | 205** | 614** | 88,8 |
| tal |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | 91** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| *S  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| our |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ce: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| B   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| aha |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mas |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| D   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| epa |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rtm |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ent |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| St  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ati |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sti |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cs* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ### |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ### |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ### |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|  In |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| clu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| des |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|  al |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| l p |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| roc |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ess |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ed  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| pou |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ltr |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| y p |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rod |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| uct |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| s e |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| xce |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| pt  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sau |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sag |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| es  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| and |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|  ho |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mog |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| eni |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| zed |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|  pr |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| odu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|  li |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ke  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| chi |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cke |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| n f |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ran |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ks. |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+

+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| *   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *Ta |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ble |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| 3   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| .5: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Ba  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ham |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ian |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| I   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mpo |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Pro |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ces |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sed |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| P   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ork |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| (   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| inc |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| lud |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ing |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Mi  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| xtu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| res |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| )** |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
|     | **1   |       | **1   |       | **1   |       | **2   |      |
|     | 997** |       | 998** |       | 999** |       | 000** |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
|     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | **U  |
|     | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | S\$c |
|     |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | if** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| US  | 23    | 95    | 36    | 1,26  | 35    | 1,42  | 42    | 1    |
|     | 4,550 | 6,589 | 8,708 | 2,588 | 3,419 | 0,842 | 5,683 | ,617 |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | ,257 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| G   |       |       |       |       |       |       | 57    | 206  |
| erm |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| any |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Fra |       |       |       |       |       |       | 1     | 8    |
| nce |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| UK  |       |       |       |       | 26    | 426   |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| **T | *     | *     | *     | **1   | *     | **1   | *     | *    |
| ota | *234, | *956, | *368, | ,262, | *353, | ,421, | *425, | *1,6 |
| l** | 550** | 589** | 708** | 588** | 445** | 268** | 741** | 17,4 |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | 71** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| *S  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| our |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ce: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| B   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| aha |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mas |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| D   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| epa |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rtm |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ent |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| St  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ati |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sti |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cs* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| #   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ### |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ### |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ##  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Inc |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| lud |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| es  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| all |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|  pr |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| oce |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sse |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| d p |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ork |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|  pr |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| odu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|  ex |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cep |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| t s |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| aus |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| age |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| s a |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| nd  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| hom |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| oge |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| niz |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ed  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| pro |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| duc |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ts  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| lik |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| e f |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ran |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| kfu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rte |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rs. |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+

+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| *   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *Ta |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ble |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| 3   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| .6: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Ba  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ham |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ian |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| I   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mpo |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Pro |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ces |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sed |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| Bee |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| f** |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
|     | **1   |       | **1   |       | **1   |       | **2   |      |
|     | 997** |       | 998** |       | 999** |       | 000** |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
|     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | *     | **    | **U  |
|     | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | *US\$ | kgs** | S\$c |
|     |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | cif** |       | if** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| US  | 1,84  | 4,05  | 2,28  | 4,50  | 2,64  | 4,61  | 2,69  | 4    |
|     | 0,496 | 4,673 | 4,697 | 0,210 | 2,573 | 8,499 | 3,997 | ,746 |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | ,132 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Bra | 10    | 26    | 10    | 23    | 3     | 6     | 13    | 137  |
| zil | 4,802 | 8,794 | 4,994 | 9,549 | 2,911 | 5,067 | 4,471 | ,243 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Can | 4,445 | 2     | 2,176 | 2,794 |       |       | 4     | 49   |
| ada |       | 2,100 |       |       |       |       | 2,000 | ,162 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| UK  |       |       | 76    | 260   | 8     | 73    | 382   | 818  |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Fra | 15    | 70    | 400   | 1,469 | 112   | 424   | 146   | 1    |
| nce |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | ,026 |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Ot  |       |       |       |       |       |       | 29    | 172  |
| her |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| G   |       |       |       |       |       |       | 7     | 137  |
| erm |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| any |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Tr  |       |       |       |       | 2     | 4     |       |      |
| ini |       |       |       |       | 1,425 | 6,830 |       |      |
| dad |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| Arg | 1     | 4     | 352   | 508   | 5     | 55    |       |      |
| ent | 8,173 | 8,983 |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ina |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| **T | **1   | **4   | **2   | **4   | **2   | **4   | **2   | *    |
| ota | ,967, | ,394, | ,392, | ,744, | ,697, | ,730, | ,871, | *4,9 |
| l** | 931** | 620** | 696** | 790** | 035** | 948** | 032** | 34,6 |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       | 90** |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+
| *S  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| our |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ce: |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| B   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| aha |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mas |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| D   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| epa |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| rtm |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ent |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| of  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| St  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ati |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sti |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cs* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *In |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| clu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| des |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| pro |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ces |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sed |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| and |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| can |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ned |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| b   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| eef |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| pr  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| odu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| (   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cor |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ned |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| be  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ef, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sh  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| red |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ded |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| be  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ef, |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| et  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| c.) |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| exc |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ept |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| sa  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| usa |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ges |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| and |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ho  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| mog |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| eni |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| zed |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| pr  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| odu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| cts |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| l   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ike |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| b   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| eef |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| fr  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| ank |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| s.* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| In* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
|     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| *In |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| clu |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
| de* |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |      |
+-----+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------+

**3.4 Distribution**

Major US food brands are marketed in the Bahamas through the use of
local distributors. Club warehouses have been selling significant
volumes to those who want to buy direct from the US, resulting in a
partial loss in market share for importer-distributors. However,
distributors continue to supply supermarkets, mainly because the limited
number of stores serving the country's small consumer base limits the
use of direct purchasing.

**3.4a Structure and Trends**

About twenty large, well-established wholesalers dominate Bahamian food
distribution. Most of

them are agent-distributors and serve both the retail and HRI (hotel,
restaurant and institutional) sectors. While major distributors
specialize in carrying a full line of fresh, frozen and dry products, a
few concentrate on a single category such as produce, meat and poultry,
or seafood. Distributors occasionally buy products from each other in
order to offer a wider product range or fill supply gaps.

Most Bahamians purchase food from well-established supermarkets
(including 2 major chains and 220 small independent grocers),
hypermarkets, and club stores, and a growing number of gas station
marts.

While local distributors supply most of the retail market, larger club
stores, hypermarkets, and supermarkets purchase some of their
merchandise either directly from manufacturers or from US consolidators
and distributors within their parent group (such as Winn Dixie). The
small size of the Bahamian market makes it difficult for supermarkets to
import directly. Additionally, local distributors offer the conveniences
of competitive pricing, an established distribution network, and
marketing support. Bahamian distributors normally prefer exclusive
contracts with their suppliers, although some have complained that US
food suppliers undermine their businesses by selling their products to
wholesalers and retailers at the same time.

It should be noted that, in addition to exclusive channels, it is likely
that many US products enter the market indirectly via mixed containers
shipped by Florida consolidators, thereby undermining their
"exclusivity." Many of these consolidators specialize in servicing
Caribbean and nearby markets by offering up to 150,000 different items.
Although they may not offer all of the marketing support of a local
agent, they are often price competitive and offer the advantage of
shipping less than container load (LCL) quantities and on a more
frequent basis. (See Section 9 for more information on Florida
consolidators).\
\
Some of the major hotels are reportedly importing a greater number of
products directly from the US; however, the hotel industry generally
remains a growth area for many wholesalers, as the high volume of the
tourism industry helps balance the lack of growth in the retail trade.

**3.4b Importer-distributors**

A list of major Bahamian importer-distributors carrying processed meat
products is provided below.

+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Table 3.7: Bahamian             |                                    |
| Importer-Distributors           |                                    |
+=================================+====================================+
| **Bahamas Food Services**       | This US-owned company is the       |
|                                 | largest food distributor in the    |
| *Gladstone Road, PO Box N-4401* | Bahamas. Their business is evenly  |
|                                 | split between retail and food      |
| *Nassau, Bahamas*               | service. The majority of retail    |
|                                 | sales are to supermarket chains    |
| *Contact: Don Carnine, Sales    | (70 percent) and independents and  |
| Coordinator*                    | convenience stores (30 percent).   |
|                                 |                                    |
| *Tel: 242-461-6115; Fax:        | **Interested in receiving product  |
| 242-461-6127*                   | information from potential         |
|                                 | suppliers.**                       |
| *Email:                         |                                    |
| dcarnine@bahamafood.com*        |                                    |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| **Asa H Pritchard Ltd**         | One of the largest food            |
|                                 | distributors in the Bahamas, this  |
| *Robinson & Claridge Roads, PO  | family-owned business sells to     |
| Box 6218 SS*                    | supermarkets (45 percent of        |
|                                 | sales), convenience stores and gas |
| *Nassau, Bahamas*               | stations (40 percent), and food    |
|                                 | service (5 percent). Major clients |
| *Contact: Robert Pritchard,     | are City Markets, Winn Dixie, and  |
| Vice President*                 | Super Value. The company is also   |
|                                 | developing a food service line.    |
| *Tel: 242-393-2437; Fax:        |                                    |
| 242-394-5720*                   | **Interested in receiving product  |
|                                 | information from potential         |
| *E-mail:                        | suppliers.**                       |
| robert@asahpritchard.com*       |                                    |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| **The d'Albenas Agency Ltd**    | This local distributor buys        |
|                                 | directly from many manufacturers,  |
| *Palmdale, PO Box N-8180*       | including Kraft, Con Agra, and     |
|                                 | Kelloggs. Clients are supermarkets |
| *Nassau, Bahamas*               | (50 percent of sales), convenience |
|                                 | stores (25 percent) and food       |
| *Contact: Steven Key, Food      | service (25 percent).              |
| Service Manager*                |                                    |
|                                 | **Currently not able to expand     |
| *Tel: 242-322-1441/8221; Fax:   | their range of meat products due   |
| 242-328-2938;*                  | to warehousing constraints as they |
|                                 | are trying to expand their storage |
| *Email: skey@bahamas.net.bs*    | capacity before taking on new      |
|                                 | lines.**                           |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| **Nassau Hotel & Restaurant     | This company is one of the largest |
| Supplies Ltd**                  | food service distributors in the   |
|                                 | Bahamas (they do not sell to       |
| *116 Mackey Street, PO Box      | retail). The majority of their     |
| N-3244*                         | business actually consists of      |
|                                 | supplying equipment and industrial |
| *Nassau, Bahamas*               | supplies to hotels and             |
|                                 | restaurants. Food represents only  |
| *Contact: Bradley Claridge,     | 15-25 percent of their total       |
| General Manager*                | business and includes staples such |
|                                 | as Genoa salami, bologna, sliced   |
| *Tel: 242-393-8977; Fax:        | pepperoni, ham, chicken and turkey |
| 242-393-3718*                   | breasts, and roast beef. The       |
|                                 | company does not carry products    |
| *Email: bhclaridge@hotmail.com* | exclusively and tends to base      |
|                                 | purchases on price.                |
|                                 |                                    |
|                                 | **Interested in receiving product  |
|                                 | information from potential         |
|                                 | suppliers of food service meat     |
|                                 | products.**                        |
+---------------------------------+------------------------------------+

**3.5 Retail Sales**

Food retailers in the Bahamas can be classified into three categories:
supermarkets, grocery and convenience stores, and discount membership
clubs (presently one store). Processed meat products are sold throughout
the retail sector with the bulk of sales via supermarkets.

Nassau is home to the majority of retail stores in the Bahamas.
Supermarket outlets are spread across the main island (New Providence
Island) with locations in downtown Nassau and in the center of outlying
towns. The average supermarket size is between 25,000 and 30,000 square
feet. The wholesale club outlet and the hypermarkets are located in
shopping centers that have a significant amount of traffic and public
visibility.

**3.5a Major Supermarkets**

The three major Bahamian supermarket chains are City Market/Winn Dixie
(12 stores), Super Value (10 stores), and Solomon's (2 department
stores/hypermarkets). Others include John Chea and Sons (6 grocery
stores), Harding Food Sales (1 store), Grand Union (1 store), Food World
(1 store), and Cost Rite Wholesale Club (1 store, similar to Costco or
Sam's Club membership stores in the US).

+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Table 3.8: Major Bahamian Food |                                   |
| Retail Stores**                  |                                   |
+==================================+===================================+
| **Cost Rite Warehouse Club /**   | Cost Rite Warehouse Club and      |
|                                  | Solomon's Hypermarkets are owned  |
| **Solomon's Super Center**       | by holding company Abaco Markets  |
|                                  | Ltd. There are 4 stores: 1 Cost   |
| *Town Center Mall, Blue Hill     | Rite club store and 1 Solomon's   |
| Road, PO Box N-3236*             | department store in Nassau, and 1 |
|                                  | Solomon's store in both Freeport  |
| *Nassau, Bahamas*                | and Abaco.                        |
|                                  |                                   |
| *Contact: Rachel Curtis,         | **All of the Solomon's stores     |
| Perishables Buyer*               | have deli counters, while the     |
|                                  | Cost Rite Club Store does not.**  |
| *Tel: 242-325-2171/2176; Fax:    |                                   |
| 242-325-2151*                    |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| *E-mail: rcurtis@cost-rite.com*  |                                   |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Super Value Food Stores Ltd**  | The locally-owned Super Value     |
|                                  | Food Store Chain has 10 stores,   |
| *Carmichael & Blue Hill Roads,   | all located in Nassau.            |
| PO Box N-3039*                   |                                   |
|                                  | **4 of their stores have deli     |
| *Nassau, Bahamas*                | counters.**                       |
|                                  |                                   |
| *Contact: Bert Fox, Operations   |                                   |
| Manager*                         |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| *Tel: 242-361-5220-4; Fax:       |                                   |
| 242-328-5583*                    |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| *E-mail: svfsltd@batelnet.bs*    |                                   |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Bahamas Supermarkets Ltd (City | The US Winn-Dixie chain owns      |
| Markets & Winn Dixie Freeport)** | Bahamas Supermarkets Ltd,         |
|                                  | operators of City Market stores   |
| *East-West Highway, PO Box       | in Nassau and Winn Dixie stores   |
| N3738*                           | in Freeport. There are a total of |
|                                  | 12 stores: 9 in Nassau and 3 in   |
| *Nassau, Bahamas*                | Freeport. The average store size  |
|                                  | is approximately 20,000 square    |
| *Mario Simmons, Meat, Deli &     | feet.                             |
| Bakery Buyer*                    |                                   |
|                                  | **All 12 stores have deli         |
| *Tel: 242-393-2830; Fax:         | counters.\                        |
| 242-393-1232*                    | **                                |
|                                  |                                   |
| *E-mail:                         |                                   |
| mariosimmons@winn-dixie.com*     |                                   |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **John Chea and Sons**           | A local chain of 6 grocery stores |
|                                  | located in Nassau.                |
| *PO Box N 6211*                  |                                   |
|                                  | **None of their stores have deli  |
| *Nassau, Bahamas*                | counters.**                       |
|                                  |                                   |
| *Contact: Sydney Chea, General   |                                   |
| Manager*                         |                                   |
|                                  |                                   |
| *Tel: 242-323-5830; Fax:         |                                   |
| 242-322-6029*                    |                                   |
+----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

**3.5b Meat Departments**

Supermarkets in the Bahamas are structured similarly to their US
counterparts, with different departments for frozen foods, canned goods,
etc. Deli meats are offered either fresh sliced at the counter, or in
store-made pre-packs. The deli, chilled and frozen food sections
primarily offered US value-added meat products. Popular US brands
include Deitz & Watson, Butter Ball, Oscar Mayer, Louis Rich, and Bar-S.
US brands also dominated the canned meats section, including Hormel and
Armour canned hams, chicken, Vienna sausages and luncheon meats, and
Libby's corned beef.

**3.5c Products and Prices**

A survey was taken of value-added meat products at three stores
belonging to two major grocery retail groups in the Bahamas -- Abaco
Markets Ltd and City Markets Ltd (owned by Winn-Dixie). The stores
visited were Cost Rite (club store), Solomon's Super Center (department
store), and City Market (supermarket). This data is provided in the
tables below, along with brand names, countries of origin, and retail
prices in US dollars.

The average distributor mark-ups on processed meat products is 10--20
percent and retail mark-ups average 40--50 percent.

+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| **Table 3.9:        |             |           |        |           |
| Products and Prices |             |           |        |           |
| -- Cost Rite, Town  |             |           |        |           |
| Center Mall, Blue   |             |           |        |           |
| Hill Road,          |             |           |        |           |
| Nassau\***          |             |           |        |           |
+=====================+=============+===========+========+===========+
| Product             | Brand       | Origin    | Size   | Price     |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| **Canned section**  |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Chicken breast      | Kirkland    | USA       | 12.5   | \$17.99   |
|                     | Signature   |           | oz     | (6-pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Chicken breast, 98% | Tyson       | USA       | 12.5   | \$12.39   |
| Fat Free            |             |           | oz     | (3-pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Chicken breast, 98% | Member's    | USA       | 12.5   | \$19.99   |
| Fat Free            | Mark        |           | oz     | (5-pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Lunch Meat, 25%     | Hormel      | USA       | 3-pack | \$10.59   |
| Less Sodium         |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Turkey              | Valley      | USA       | 2-pack | \$8.60    |
|                     | Fresh       |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Vienna Sausage      | Armour      | USA       | 5 oz   | \$6.89    |
|                     |             |           |        | (12-pack) |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Vienna Sausage,     | Armour      | USA       | 5 oz   | \$6.89    |
| chicken             |             |           |        | (12-pack) |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| **Chilled and       |             |           |        |           |
| frozen sections**   |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bacon, Hardwood     | Gwaltney    | USA       | 1 lb   | \$9.99    |
| Smoked Sliced       |             |           | pack   | (3-pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bacon, sliced       | Oscar Mayer | USA       | 1 lb   | \$10.29   |
|                     |             |           | pack   | (3-pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bacon, double       | BAR - S     | USA       | 1 lb   | \$11.59   |
| smoked, sliced      |             |           | pack   | (3-pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bagel Dogs, mini    | Best's      | USA       | 1.5    | \$7.19    |
|                     | Kosher      |           | lbs    |           |
|                     | Foods       |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Beef patties        | Miami Beef  | USA       | 5 lbs  | \$8.49    |
|                     | Co          |           | (20    |           |
|                     |             |           | ct)    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Beef patties        | JAC PAC     | USA       | 5 lbs  | \$10.99   |
|                     | Foods       |           | (20    |           |
|                     |             |           | ct)    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Beef patties, lean  | JAC PAC     | USA       | 5 lbs  | \$11.99   |
|                     | Foods       |           | (20    |           |
|                     |             |           | ct)    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bologna Stick,      | BAR - S     | USA       | 5 lbs  | \$7.99    |
| chicken / pork /    |             |           |        |           |
| beef                |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bologna, beef       | BAR - S     | USA       | 20 oz  | \$4.19    |
|                     |             |           | pack   | (2-pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bologna, beef       | Gwaltney    | USA       | 4 lbs  | \$8.99    |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bologna, beef       | Oscar Mayer | USA       | 16 oz  | \$4.99 (2 |
|                     |             |           | pack   | pack)     |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bologna, chicken /  | BAR - S     | USA       | 20 oz  | \$4.69    |
| pork / beef         |             |           | pack   | (2-pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bologna, chicken /  | Maple Leaf  | Canada    | 10 lbs | \$16.99   |
| pork / beef         |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bologna, chicken    | Gwaltney    | USA       | 10 lbs | \$12.99   |
| "Deli Chicken"      |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Bologna, chicken    | Gwaltney    | USA       | 4 lbs  | \$7.99    |
| "Great Bolony"      |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Breaded chicken     | Tyson       | USA       | 2.3    | \$18.99   |
| breast fillets      |             |           | lbs    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Buffalo style       | Tyson       | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$17.99   |
| tenders             |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Chik-Rib-Barbeque,  | Tyson       | USA       | 2.6    | \$17.99   |
| smoked              |             |           | lbs    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Chopped beef steaks | Clark's     | USA       | 72 oz  | \$11.99   |
|                     |             |           | (18    |           |
|                     |             |           | ct)    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Corn dogs           | BAR - S     | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$6.69    |
|                     |             |           | (18    |           |
|                     |             |           | ct)    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Deli sticks, beef & | Old         | USA       | 2.5    | \$10.99   |
| pepperoni           | Wisconsin   |           | lbs    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Diced chicken       | Tyson       | USA       | 2 lbs  | \$16.99   |
| breast              |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Ham, cooked, extra  | BAR - S     | USA       | 2 lbs  | \$9.99    |
| lean (96% fat free) |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Franks, "Lil'       | Hillshire   | USA       | 48 oz  | \$9.99    |
| Smokies"            | Farms       |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Franks, beef        | Best's      | USA       | 2.5    | \$9.19    |
|                     | Kosher      |           | lbs    |           |
|                     | Foods       |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Franks, beef        | Ball Park   | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$7.99    |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Franks, beef        | Sabrett     | USA       | 5 lbs  | \$16.39   |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Franks, pork / beef | Ball Park   | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$5.69    |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Franks, pork / beef | Hillshire   | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$7.99    |
|                     | Farms       |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Franks, turkey /    | Oscar Mayer | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$5.59    |
| pork                |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Great Dogs /Chicken | Gwaltney    | USA       | 1 lb   | \$4.99    |
| Sausages/ 40% less  |             |           | pack   | (3-pack)  |
| fat                 |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Ham, honey slices,  | Continental | USA       | 20 oz  | \$10.29   |
| 97% fat free        |             |           | pack   | (2 pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Ham, sliced, 97%    | DAK         | USA       | 20 oz  | \$11.59   |
| fat free            |             |           | pack   | (2 pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Honey Mustard       | Tyson       | USA       | 2.9    | \$21.99   |
| Tenders             |             |           | lbs    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Kielbasa, pork /    | Cavanaugh   | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$17.49   |
| beef, Polish        |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Mesquite chicken    | Tyson       | USA       | 3.48   | \$21.39   |
| breast fillets      |             |           | lbs    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Sausage, beef /     | BAR - S     | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$4.99    |
| chicken / pork      |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Sausage, Polish     | BAR - S     | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$4.99    |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Sausage, Polish,    | Best's      |           | 2.5    | \$10.99   |
| beef                | Kosher      |           | lbs    |           |
|                     | Foods       |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Sausage, pork /     | BAR - S     | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$4.99    |
| beef                |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Sausage, pork /     | Cavanaugh   | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$17.49   |
| beef, smoked        |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Sausage, smoked     | BAR - S     | USA       | 3 lbs  | \$4.99    |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Sliced ham & roast  | Oscar Mayer | USA       | 2 lbs  | \$10.79   |
| turkey breast /     |             |           |        |           |
| smoke flavored (sub |             |           |        |           |
| sandwich kit)       |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Teriyaki tenders    | Tyson       | USA       | 2.5    | \$19.59   |
|                     |             |           | lbs    |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Turkey breast, oven | BAR - S     | USA       | 2 lbs  | \$9.99    |
| roasted / extra     |             |           |        |           |
| lean                |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Turkey breast,      | Louis Rich  | USA       | 20 oz  | \$11.19   |
| smoked, sliced      |             |           | pack   | (2 pack)  |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| Variety Pack:       | Oscar Mayer | USA       | 1 lb   | \$4.79    |
| bologna / white     |             |           |        |           |
| turkey / chopped    |             |           |        |           |
| ham                 |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+
| *Source: Fintrac    |             |           |        |           |
| in- store survey*   |             |           |        |           |
|                     |             |           |        |           |
| *\*No deli section  |             |           |        |           |
| at this "food club" |             |           |        |           |
| warehouse store*    |             |           |        |           |
+---------------------+-------------+-----------+--------+-----------+

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Table 3.10: Products                                      
  and Prices --                                               
  Solomon's Super                                             
  Center, Robinson Road,                                      
  Nassau**                                                    
  ---------------------- -------------- ------------ -------- ------------
  Product                Brand          Origin       Size     Price

  **Deli section**                                            

  Bacon, Canadian        Fleming        USA          1 lb     \$7.59

  Braseola, dry cured    Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$26.96
  beef                                                        

  Chicken breast         Butter Ball    USA          1 lb     \$6.69

  Chicken breast         Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.69

  Chicken, honey         Butter Ball    USA          1 lb     \$5.59

  Colombus: Beef Roast   Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$11.49

  Corned beef, round     Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$5.29

  Deli Host: Beef Roast  Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$4.99

  Ham, EZ-Carve          BAR - S        USA          1 lb     \$2.99

  Ham, Black Forest      BAR - S        USA          1 lb     \$4.99

  Ham, Black Forest      Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.89

  Ham, boiled            Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$2.89

  Ham, chopped           BAR - S        USA          1 lb     \$2.99

  Ham, honey             BAR - S        USA          1 lb     \$5.49

  Ham, maple syrup,      Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$10.49
  honey                                                       

  Ham, premium           Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$9.29

  Ham, Virginia          BAR - S        USA          1 lb     \$4.99

  Kasseri                Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$7.79

  Liverwurst             Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$5.39

  Mortadella, football   Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$5.89

  Mortadella, salt,      Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$6.99
  sliced                                                      

  Mortadella,            Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$4.69
  w/pistachios                                                

  Musco, Sicilian        Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$5.09

  Olive Calamata Giant   Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$7.99

  Olives Calamata        Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$4.99
  Plastic                                                     

  Pastrami, round        Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$5.39

  Pastrami, tops         Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$9.29

  Pepperoni, sliced      Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$7.99

  Pastrami, turkey       Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.99

  Prosciutto, Di Parma   Deitz & Watson Canada       1 lb     \$14.29

  Prosciutto, Italian    Deitz & Watson Canada       1 lb     \$11.79

  Prosciutto, sliced     Deitz & Watson Canada       1 lb     \$16.29

  Roast beef             Kraft / Oscar  USA          1 lb     \$6.69
                         Mayer                                

  Salame, Finocchionia   Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.89

  Salame, Finocchionia   Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.89

  Salame, Genoa, sliced  Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$13.99

  Salame, hot, sliced    Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$9.59

  Salame, lite, sliced   Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.29

  Salame, Milano         Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$14.29

  Salami, hard           Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$4.49

  Salami, hard           Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$4.49

  Salami, Milano         Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$14.29

  Salami, pepper         Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$12.69

  Salami, Renais Genoa   Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$6.69
  Premium                                                     

  Sausage, Citter        Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$10.99
  Chorizo ½'s                                                 

  Sausage, Hot Dry       Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.79
  Calabrese                                                   

  Sopresata, sliced      Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$12.49

  Sopresata, whole       Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$14.29

  Turkey breast          Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$5.29

  Turkey breast, cracked Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.39
  pepper                                                      

  Turkey breast, honey   Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.59
  cured                                                       

  Turkey breast, oven    Louis Rich     USA          1 lb     \$3.99
  roasted                                                     

  Turkey breast,         Butter Ball    USA          1 lb     \$6.49
  skinless, honey                                             

  Turkey breast, pan     Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$7.49
  roasted                                                     

  Turkey breast, smoked  Deitz & Watson USA          1 lb     \$8.39

  Turkey breast, white   Butter Ball    USA          1 lb     \$3.99

  Turkey, Black Forest,  Butter Ball    USA          1 lb     \$6.99
  smoked                                                      

  **Canned section**                                          

  Beef chili, no beans   Armour         USA          15 oz    \$3.59

  Chicken                Hormel         USA          5 oz     \$2.39

  Corned beef            Libby's        Brazil       12 oz    \$1.24

  Corned beef            Bahama         Brazil       12 oz    \$1.19

  Corned beef            Triple J       Brazil       12 oz    \$1.09

  Corned beef            Delta          Brazil       12 oz    \$0.89

  Corned beef hash, Mary Hormel         USA          7.5 oz   \$1.69
  Kitchen                                                     

  Corned beef hash, Mary Hormel         USA          15 oz    \$3.39
  Kitchen                                                     

  Ham                    Hormel         USA          2 lbs    \$11.59

  Ham, Black Label       Hormel         USA          24 oz    \$7.49

  Potted meat            Hormel         USA          3 oz     \$0.69

  Roast beef hash, Mary  Hormel         USA          15 oz    \$3.39
  Kitchen                                                     

  Spam, hot & spicy w/   Hormel         USA          12 oz    \$3.69
  tabasco                                                     

  Spam, Lite             Hormel         USA          12 oz    \$3.79

  Spam, luncheon meat    Hormel         USA          12 oz    \$4.39

  Spam, luncheon meat    Hormel         USA          3 oz     \$1.09

  Treet: Baked Ham Taste Armour         USA          12 oz    \$4.89

  Treet: Luncheon Loaf   Armour         USA          12 oz    \$3.89

  Vienna sausage,        Armour         USA          5 oz     \$0.69
  chicken/beef/pork                                           

  Vienna sausages,       Hormel         USA          5 oz     \$0.69
  chicken / pork                                              

  **Chilled and frozen                                        
  section**                                                   

  Bacon                  Oscar Mayer    USA          16 oz    \$4.49

  Bacon                  Louis Rich     USA          12 oz    \$3.79

  Bacon, "Chuck Wagon"   BAR - S        USA          12 oz    \$2.09

  Bacon, "Hickory        Kohr's         USA          16 oz    \$3.59
  Country"                                                    

  Bacon, fully cooked,   Oscar Mayer    USA          2.1 oz   \$2.69
  ready to serve                                              

  Bacon, hardwood smoked Sunny Land     USA          12 oz    \$2.79

  Bacon, lower sodium    Oscar Mayer    USA          16 oz    \$4.49

  Bacon, sliced, double  BAR - S        USA          12 oz    \$2.79
  smoked                                                      

  Bacon, sliced, lower   BAR - S        USA          12 oz    \$2.79
  sodium                                                      

  Bacon, thick sliced    Lykes          USA          1.5 lbs  \$5.89

  Bacon, uneven sliced,  Lykes          USA          12 oz    \$2.79
  "Oak Creek"                                                 

  Bologna, beef          Oscar Mayer    USA          12 oz    \$2.09

  Bologna, beef          BAR - S        USA          12 oz    \$2.19

  Bologna, beef, light   Oscar Mayer    USA          12 oz    \$2.79

  Bologna, chicken       BAR - S        USA          16 oz    \$1.59

  Bologna, chicken /     BAR - S        USA          16 oz    \$1.69
  pork / beef                                                 

  Bologna, chicken /     Oscar Mayer    USA          12 oz    \$1.99
  pork, light                                                 

  Bologna, turkey /      Oscar Mayer    USA          12 oz    \$2.79
  beef, fat free                                              

  Chicken / turkey,      Butterball     USA          6 oz     \$1.49
  sliced                                                      

  Franks, beef           BAR - S        USA          12 oz    \$1.89

  Franks, chicken        BAR - S        USA          12 oz    \$0.99

  Franks, turkey /       Louis Rich     USA          16 oz    \$2.09
  chicken                                                     

  Franks, turkey /       Louis Rich     USA          16 oz    \$2.39
  chicken, bun length                                         

  Franks, turkey /       Louis Rich     USA          16 oz    \$3.19
  chicken, cheese                                             

  Ham, chopped, sliced   Oscar Mayer    USA          12 oz    \$4.89

  Ham, cooked, extra     BAR - S        USA          12 oz    \$3.99
  lean                                                        

  Ham, honey, sliced     Healthy Choice USA          6 oz     \$2.99

  Ham, sliced            Oscar Mayer    USA          12 oz    \$6.09

  Ham, sliced, 97% fat   Healthy Choice USA          6 oz     \$2.99
  free                                                        

  Ham, smoked, sliced    Oscar Mayer    USA          12 oz    \$6.89

  Sausages, "Cheddar     Hillshire      USA          16 oz    \$5.19
  Smokies"               Farms                                

  Sausages, "Li'l        Hillshire      USA          16 oz    \$5.19
  Smokies"               Farms                                

  Sausages, beef, Bun    Oscar Mayer    USA          16 oz    \$3.49
  Length                                                      

  Sausages, beef, jumbo  Oscar Mayer    USA          16 oz    \$3.39

  Sausages, pork,        Jimmy Dean     USA          16 oz    \$4.79
  "Maple"                                                     

  Sausages, pork, "Sage" Jimmy Dean     USA          16 oz    \$3.09

  Sausages, turkey /     Oscar Mayer    USA          16 oz    \$2.89
  pork                                                        

  Turkey breast          Healthy Choice USA          6 oz     \$2.99

  Turkey breast, sliced  Butterball     USA          6 oz     \$2.99

  Variety Pack: smoked   Oscar Mayer    USA          9 oz     \$4.49
  ham / turkey / cooked                                       
  ham                                                         

  *Source: Fintrac                                            
  in-store survey*                                            
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| **Table 3.11:       |             |            |       |           |
| Products and        |             |            |       |           |
| Prices - City       |             |            |       |           |
| Market, Rosetta     |             |            |       |           |
| Street, Nassau\***  |             |            |       |           |
+=====================+=============+============+=======+===========+
| Product             | Brand       | Origin     | Size  | Price     |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| **Canned section**  |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Chicken breast      | Swanson     | USA        | 5 oz  | \$3.35    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Corned beef         | Bahama      | Brazil     | 12 oz | \$1.25    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Corned beef         | Libby's     | Brazil     | 12 oz | \$1.39    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Corned beef         | Devon       | Brazil     | 12 oz | \$1.39    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Corned beef         | Thrifty     | Brazil     | 12 oz | \$1.25    |
|                     | Maid        |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Ham Taste           | Armour      | USA        | 12 oz | \$2.75    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Ham, chopped        | Armour      | USA        | 12 oz | \$4.59    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Ham, lean, Chunk    | Hormel      | USA        | 5 oz  | \$2.39    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Spam Lite           | Hormel      | USA        | 12 oz | \$4.29    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Spam luncheon meat  | Hormel      | USA        | 12 oz | \$4.39    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Turkey, in broth    | Hormel      | USA        | 5 oz  | \$2.39    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| **Chilled and       |             |            |       |           |
| frozen section**    |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Bacon               | Oscar Mayer | USA        | 16 oz | \$5.49    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Bacon, Virginia     | Gwantley    | USA        | 12 oz | \$3.19    |
| cured               |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Bologna, beef       | Oscar Mayer | USA        | 12 oz | \$3.19    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Bologna, chicken    | BAR - S     | USA        | 16 oz | \$0.99    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Bologna, chicken /  | Oscar Mayer | USA        | 12 oz | \$2.89    |
| pork                |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Bologna, chicken /  | BAR - S     | USA        | 12 oz | \$1.49    |
| pork / beef         |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Bologna, chicken    | Gwantley    | USA        | 16 oz | \$1.59    |
| "Great Balony"      |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Franks, chicken     | Gwantley    | USA        | 16 oz | \$1.59    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Franks, chicken,    | Madison     | USA        | 48 oz | \$5.49    |
| "Family Pack"       |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Franks, turkey /    | Oscar Mayer | USA        | 16 oz | \$3.29    |
| pork                |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Ham, chopped        | Oscar Mayer | USA        | 16 oz | \$6.09    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| Turkey, sliced      | Oscar Mayer | USA        | 16 oz | \$6.09    |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+
| *Source: Fintrac    |             |            |       |           |
| in-store survey*    |             |            |       |           |
|                     |             |            |       |           |
| *\*Although this    |             |            |       |           |
| store has a deli    |             |            |       |           |
| section, it was not |             |            |       |           |
| possible to record  |             |            |       |           |
| product and price   |             |            |       |           |
| information at the  |             |            |       |           |
| time of the         |             |            |       |           |
| survey.*            |             |            |       |           |
+---------------------+-------------+------------+-------+-----------+

**3.5d Products in Demand**

Retail managers note that value-added meats with high turnaround include
baked turkey breast, boiled and smoked hams, hard salami, and bologna.
Popular brands include Bar-S, Perdue, Deitz & Watson, Butter Ball and
Prestige (Winn Dixie brand).

According to recent USDA reports, convenience foods and home-meal
replacements are slowly increasing in popularity while other trends such
as organic, "healthy," and frozen meals are lagging in demand by
comparison. This is in contrast to feedback from distributors and retail
managers surveyed for this report, who note a marked increase in demand
for healthy foods over the past five years including items like Hormel's
Spam Lite, Healthy Choice 97% Fat Free Ham Slices, and similar products.

It is generally accepted that the Bahamian retail market follows US
trends because of close ties between the two markets with respect to the
media and tourism. While lower-income Bahamians remain consumers of
traditional staples such as rice, evaporated milk, corned beef,
macaroni, etc., the target market for value-added processed and
specialty meats are consumers in the upper and middle-income segments.

**3.6 Import Regulations and Requirements**

Processed meat exporters shipping goods to the Bahamas should note the
following customs and administrative requirements.

**3.6a Customs Requirements**

Commercial shipments of meat products to the Bahamas require the
following documentation:

1\. Bill of lading

2.  Commercial invoice / Suppliers invoice

3\. USDA Certificate / Phytosanitary certificate

Customs clearance reportedly takes no longer than 24 hours, provided
documentation is in order. Bahamian law allows the importer to begin
import clearance before arrival. Importers of perishable products in
particular are allowed to establish "security bonds" through their bank
from which Customs can automatically deduct duties, further expediting
the clearance process.

**3.6b Import Duties**

The following duties and taxes are charged on processed meats imported
in to the Bahamas:

-   Tariff -- Imports of unprocessed beef are duty-free, while processed
    beef products are assessed an import duty of 35 percent. All poultry
    products are assessed a 35 percent tariff. The import duties on
    unprocessed and processed pork are 20 percent and 35 percent,
    respectively. These duties are assessed by customs against the CIF
    value of the imported product.

-   Stamp duty -- A stamp duty of 2 percent is applied on all food
    products (the stamp duty on non-foods is 7 percent). This duty is
    applied to the landed cost of the goods.

There is no Value-Added Tax (VAT) or sales tax in the Bahamas.

**3.6c Food Laws**

The Bahamas recognizes and accepts US standards for food and
agricultural products. The Codex Alimentarius standards are sometimes
applied to imports. The Bahamian Food Act of 1985 basically requires
that imported goods be free from ingredients and processing procedures
that are "injurious to health."

The Bahamian Department of Agriculture regulates imports of certain
products by requiring permit for each shipment. While unprocessed
poultry, pork, and lamb meat are all included in the list of products
requiring a permit, processed meats are typically exempt from this
restriction.

The Ministry of Environmental Health Services is responsible for
inspection of all imported meat and dairy products. However, because of
confidence in US meat inspection procedures, US meat products are
usually not subject to inspection.

**3.6d Trademark Registration**

The Bahamas Trade Marks Act, Copyright Act and Copyright Regulations
protect trademarks and brand names. Trademarks are registered on a
renewable basis by the office of the Registrar General for a period of
fourteen years.

**3.6e Labeling Requirements**

The Bahamas accepts all standard US labeling including the standard
nutritional fact panel. Meat and poultry products from the United States
must bear the USDA inspection seal.

**3.7 Summary**

Despite high tariff rates on many value-added meat products, the Bahamas
continues to be one of the strongest markets in the Caribbean for
marketing new US products. Strong prospects are supported by the
following factors:

• the growing economy (and tourism industry);

• dependence on imports to satisfy food requirements;

• proximity to the United States;

• taste for and confidence in US foods;

• a well-developed distribution system and retail industry.

With US products accounting for approximately 95 percent of total
Bahamian processed meat imports, opportunities still exist for new
manufacturers as imports of processed meats continue to grow in all
major categories.

It is acknowledged that limited growth is expected in the retail sector
and distributors are refocusing their activities towards the food
service industry, which caters to the tourism trade. Nevertheless, major
distributors see opportunities for expanded sales within the retail
sector through the introduction of new product lines.

While many of the companies surveyed did not indicate any one particular
item they are interested in carrying, most indicated they are open to
offers from new suppliers. Direct targeting (by phone, fax or email) of
distributors in the Bahamas is an effective way to introduce a new
company or line of products, and many distributors also visit trade
shows such as Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and National
Restaurant Association (NRA) shows in Chicago, and the Americas Food and
Beverage Show in Miami to meet with prospective suppliers.

**3.8 Surveys**

*The following surveys were carried out during meetings with
importer-distributors and grocery retailers utilizing the questionnaire
forms provided in the Annex.*

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #### Asa H Pritchard Ltd                                              |
|                                                                       |
| ### Activity: Food Broke                                              |
| r/Commission Agent (50 percent) and Importer/Distributor (50 percent) |
|                                                                       |
| *Address: Robinson & Claridge Roads, PO Box 6218 SS, Nassau, Bahamas* |
|                                                                       |
| *Contact: Robert Pritchard, Vice President*                           |
|                                                                       |
| *Tel: 242-393-2437; Fax: 242-394-5720; E-mail:                        |
| robert@asahpritchard.com*                                             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

-   This local family owned business is among the largest of the food
    distributors in the Bahamas. They sell primarily to the retail trade
    -- 45 percent supermarkets, 40 percent convenience stores (including
    gas station stores) and 5 percent to food service stores.

```{=html}
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-   Their major retail customers are: City Markets, Winn Dixie, and
    Super Value. The company is also developing its own HRI division as
    they see that as the market with the greatest growth potential.

-   Almost all of their processed meats are sourced from the US. Their
    major supplier is SYSCO, whose private label line (*Block & Barrel*)
    they also carry. In addition, Pritchard carries Libby's and Denville
    corned beef and they recently assumed exclusive distributorship of
    the US Farmland line of processed meats. In terms of fresh/frozen
    whole meats and cuts they also source items such as spare ribs,
    lamb, and boneless beef from Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, the UK,
    Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

-   Approximately 90 percent of their meat purchases come through a
    Florida consolidator or broker and 10 percent direct from
    manufacturers. With SYSCO, the company is able to purchase in LCL
    (less than container load) quantities and can receive deliveries as
    frequently as twice per week if needed. They generally do not order
    large enough quantities to buy direct from manufacturers, and tend
    to buy commodity type products (e.g. hot dog sausages) through
    brokers to get the most competitive prices.

-   Bologna is purchased from a Canadian manufacturer at a very good
    price and quality. They are also in the process of building a direct
    trading relationship with the US manufacturer of the Farmland brand.
    Typical payment terms with their suppliers are 14--30 days.

-   Factors considered being the most important when deciding to carry a
    product are: (1) strong marketing support and partnership with the
    manufacturer, including matching of resources (financial and
    otherwise); (2) price and quality; (3) customer requests.

-   They are presently not undertaking any promotions for their deli
    meats, but have future plans for in-store displays and samplings
    along with participation in local food shows. They expect to share
    promotional costs 50:50 with their manufacturer suppliers.

-   Recent years have seen an increase in the consumption of deli foods.
    This has been influenced and supported by the expansion of fast food
    franchises such as Subway and S'barro's, and the opening of deli
    sections in supermarkets.

-   Pritchard is not looking for any particular type or brand of
    processed meat products at this time, but are willing to consider
    new lines if approached. They typically visit trade shows such as
    FMI and NRA in Chicago and the Americas Show in Miami to meet with
    prospective suppliers.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #### The d'Albenas Agency Ltd                                         |
|                                                                       |
| ### Activity: Impor                                                   |
| ter / Distributor / Commission Agents / Manufacturer's Representative |
|                                                                       |
| *Address: Palmdale, PO Box N-8180, Nassau, Bahamas*                   |
|                                                                       |
| *Contact: Steven Key, Manager Food Service*                           |
|                                                                       |
| *Tel: 242-322-1441/8221; Fax: 242-328-2938; E-mail:                   |
| skey@bahamas.net.bs*                                                  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

-   This company is among the largest of the food & grocery distributors
    in the Bahamas. Their strategy is to buy directly from
    manufacturers. Their major lines include products from Kraft, Con
    Agra, and Kelloggs.

-   They sell primarily to the retail trade, 50 percent supermarket
    chains, 25 percent convenience stores (including mom & pop stores)
    and 25 percent to food service.

-   In the line of processed meats they are the exclusive agents for
    Oscar Mayer packaged meats, Louis Rich turkey-based products, and
    Smithfield products, such as hot dogs, pork bacon, picnic hams, etc.
    They also supply Hormel pepperoni packaged goods to the food service
    trade and independent delicatessens, Tyson products for food service
    only, and Con Agra's "Banquet Line" of pre-cooked chicken products
    (nuggets, tenders, etc.) to retail.

-   The company's strength is in their sourcing, as they buy directly
    from manufacturers and are able to obtain competitive prices. They
    use the services of a Florida consolidator (Tropical Shipping of
    West Palm Beach) to consolidate and ship their purchases. Payment
    terms vary as they tend to negotiate for discounts in return for
    prompt payments. Terms are 2 percent net 10 days, or 14--30 days
    credit.

-   Key factors influencing them to carry a product line are: (1)
    customer requests; and (2) marketing support in the form of
    advertising and promotional materials. Prices and quality are also
    important. Products for the food service trade do not depend on a
    "brand" strategy.

-   Various media are used to promote and advertise their deli meats --
    newspaper, radio, in-store displays and sampling. Promotional costs
    are typically shared with suppliers. Local TV advertising is
    limited, as most consumers tend to watch cable television.
    Consequently, US brands are widely known.

-   While there has been significant growth in the deli meats market
    over the past 10 years, growth has leveled in more recent times.
    Five years ago several food service and retail outlets started
    opening deli counters although the trend has now slowed.

-   The past five years have also seen more growth in the food service
    sector, while retail growth has been minimal. Growth has resulted
    from the assumption of new product lines. For example, mergers such
    as Kraft and General Foods have opened up product offerings to
    distributors through existing supply channels.

-   Their representatives usually attend tradeshows to identify new
    product lines and suppliers. They also appreciate visits by
    manufacturer representatives to the Bahamas.

-   They are currently not expanding their range of meat products due to
    warehousing constraints and are trying to expand their storage
    capacity before taking on new products.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #### Nassau Hotel & Restaurant Supplies Ltd                           |
|                                                                       |
| ### Activity: Importer / Distributor / Manufacturer's Representative  |
|                                                                       |
| *Address: 116 Mackey Street, PO Box N-3244, Nassau, Bahamas*          |
|                                                                       |
| *Contact: Bradley Claridge, General Manager*                          |
|                                                                       |
| *Tel: 242-393-8977; Fax: 242-393-3718; E-mail:                        |
| bhclaridge@hotmail.com*                                               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

-   This company supplies food service distributors in the Bahamas only
    (no retailers). The bulk of their business is the supply of
    equipment, disposables, tabletop items, linens, flatware, china and
    materials used by hotels and restaurants. Food represents only
    15--25 percent of their total business (with frozen foods the major
    category, representing 12--15 percent of total food sales).

-   The company does not carry a wide range of frozen foods, only basics
    such as Genoa salami, bologna, sliced pepperoni, ham, chicken &
    turkey breasts and roast beef. They do not carry products
    exclusively and tend to shop around for the best price.

-   All of their processed meats are sourced direct from manufacturers.
    Brokers are used to source bulk meats. Their meat supplies are
    consolidated with other chilled/frozen foods through their supplier
    in Florida, Pan American Frozen Foods. Typical payment terms are
    7--10 days or 30 days credit.

-   There has been evident growth in the deli market in the Bahamas, as
    several delicatessens have opened over the past few years. These
    include ice cream franchise "Lickity Split" with 4--5 stores in
    Nassau that recently added deli sections, and "News Café" with 2--3
    stores in Nassau.

-   When seeking new products/suppliers, they rely on customer feedback
    and also attend the major national food trade shows.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #### Bahamas Food Services                                            |
|                                                                       |
| ### Activity: Importer / Distributor / Manufacturer's Representative  |
|                                                                       |
| *Address: Gladstone Road, PO Box N-4401, Nassau, Bahamas*             |
|                                                                       |
| *Contact: Don Carnine, Sales Coordinator*                             |
|                                                                       |
| *Tel: 242-461-6115; Fax: 242-461-6127; E-mail:                        |
| dcarnine@bahamafood.com*                                              |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

-   This US owned company supplies both the food service and retail
    trades. Their sales are evenly split between the two markets. Their
    major retail customers are supermarket chains (70 percent) followed
    by independent supermarkets and convenience stores.

-   They are the exclusive distributors of CAB (Certified Angus Beef),
    which they sell to food service clients and butcher counters in the
    retail trade. They are also exclusive distributors of the Lykes and
    BAR-S processed meat products. Practically all of their processed
    meats come from the US, while chilled / frozen meats are sourced
    from South America and Europe.

-   They are the approved suppliers for the Subway franchise in Nassau.
    There are currently 13 Subway stores there with a new one opening on
    New Providence Island. There are also Subways of a different
    franchise (supplied by another distributor) in Abaco and Freeport.

-   Typical payment terms with suppliers are usually 7 days for
    perishables and 30 days for non-perishables. About 80 percent of
    their products are sourced direct from the manufacturers while 20
    percent are through Florida consolidators and US brokers.

-   Key factors influencing them to carry a product line are: (1)
    price; (2) quality; and (3) marketing support, including advertising
    and promotional materials. Promotional costs are shared with
    suppliers. They describe the Bahamian market as price sensitive both
    at retail and food service levels. The retail market is influenced
    by the low incomes of local consumers, and the food service market
    is highly competitive.

-   They use various types of promotions to sell their meat products:
    newspaper, radio, TV advertising, in-store displays, and sampling.
    They also attend food shows in the US and Europe in order to seek
    new products and suppliers.

-   In the Bahamas there has been solid expansion over the past 10 years
    in the deli business. This is evidenced by the growth of Subway and
    other delicatessens; however, the Bahamas is a difficult market in
    which to sell value-added meat products because of price
    sensitivity.

-   One of the biggest issues with deli meat products is the
    "short-dating" of products. This occurs when products arrive in the
    market with short expiration dates and consequently creates problems
    with returns and wastage.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #### Cost Rite Warehouse Club / Solomon's Super Center                |
|                                                                       |
| ### Activity: Department and Club Store Chain                         |
|                                                                       |
| *Address: Town Center Mall, Blue Hill Road, PO Box N-3236, Nassau,    |
| Bahamas*                                                              |
|                                                                       |
| *Contact: Rachel Curtis, Perishables Buyer*                           |
|                                                                       |
| *Tel: 242-325-2171 / 76; Fax: 242-325-2151; E-mail:                   |
| rcurtis@cost-rite.com*                                                |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

-   Cost Rite Warehouse Club and Solomon's Department Stores are owned
    by the holding company Abaco Markets Ltd. There are 4 stores
    throughout the Bahamas: 1 Cost Rite club store and 1 Solomon's
    department store in Nassau, and 1 Solomon's store in both Freeport
    and Abaco, respectively. All of the Solomon's stores have a deli
    section but Cost Rite does not. They are currently rebuilding
    another store in Abaco that was destroyed by fire that will boast a
    "new and improved" deli section.

-   Products and brands that seem to be the most popular in their stores
    are: Flora/Deitz Watson Cracked Pepper Turkey Breast and Hard
    Salami, Perdue Carving Turkey Breast, Bar-S Smoked Hams and Smoked
    Turkey Breast, and Genoa salami.

-   About 50 percent of their processed meats are purchased directly
    from manufacturers such as Deitz & Watson, while the other 50
    percent are via local distributors (i.e. Bahamas Food Services).
    Typical payment terms with their suppliers are 15 to 30 days credit
    depending on the vendor.

-   They generally order LCL quantities of processed/deli meats that are
    consolidated through their supplier A-ONE-A Produce in Pompano
    Beach, Florida. They also buy fresh produce from this company.

-   Key factors influencing their decision to carry a product line
    are: (1) customer requests; (2) price and (3) product quality. They
    also look for US advertising of products on cable TV, which also
    helps sales.

-   They periodically run advertising spots in local newspapers and
    radio stations to plug sections of their stores, sometimes featuring
    deli sections. At times they also run joint promotions with their
    distributor, Bahamas Food Services. In-store sampling and displays
    work well for new product introductions.

-   There has been an increase in the consumption of deli products over
    the past 5 years. Bahamian consumers in general demonstrate an
    openness to try new products. There is some fluctuation in deli meat
    sales, which tend to increase over the Christmas season --
    especially ham.

-   The major problem they have had with US products is "near-expiration
    dating," and even late dating.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #### Bahamas Supermarkets Ltd / City Markets & Winn Dixie Freeport    |
|                                                                       |
| ### Activity: Supermarket Chain                                       |
|                                                                       |
| *Address: East-West Highway, PO Box N3738, Nassau, Bahamas*           |
|                                                                       |
| *Contact: Mario Simmon, Meat, Deli & Bakery Buyer*                    |
|                                                                       |
| *Tel: 242-393-2830; Fax: 242-393-1232; E-mail:                        |
| mariosimmons@winn-dixie.com*                                          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

-   The Winn Dixie Chain owns Bahamas Supermarkets Ltd, operators of
    City Market stores in Nassau and Winn Dixie stores in Freeport.
    There are 9 stores in Nassau and 3 in Freeport, all with deli
    sections. Average store size is approximately 20,000 square feet.
    While newer stores were built with deli sections, their 3 older
    stores were subsequently fitted with these, resulting in smaller
    space allocation.

-   The most popular brand of deli meats they carry is the "Prestige"
    brand, a private label of Winn-Dixie, which is popular due to its
    low price. Popular items in this brand include boiled ham, bologna,
    salami, and turkey breast. About 80 percent of their processed/deli
    meats are sourced from Winn-Dixie, with the other 20 percent sourced
    from local distributors such as Bahamas Food Service and Asa H.
    Pritchard.

-   Their sourcing is influenced by the following factors: (1) customer
    requests; (2) price; (3) quality; (4) marketing support including
    joint promotions with suppliers. Newspaper, radio advertising, and
    in-store displays and sampling are all used to promote their
    products. In the past their deli sections have not received much
    promotional support, although this is expected to change in the
    future.

-   Deli foods are popular breakfast and lunch items. Over Christmas and
    New Year's there is an increase in deli meat purchases, especially
    pre-prepared platters with sliced meats offered in their deli
    sections.

-   The most recent change in consumer preferences is a move to more
    convenience packs and quick service. As households become busier
    with double income earners, the need increases for time-saving meal
    options. They have begun offering pre-cut and packaged slices for
    customers who do not wish to wait to be served at the counter.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #### Super Value Food Stores Ltd                                      |
|                                                                       |
| ### Activity: Supermarket Chain                                       |
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| *Address: Carmichael & Blue Hill Roads, PO Box N-3039, Nassau,        |
| Bahamas*                                                              |
|                                                                       |
| *Contact: Bert Fox, Operations Manager*                               |
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| *Tel: 242-361-5220-4; Fax: 242-328-5583; Email: svfsltd@batelnet.bs*  |
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-   The Super Value Food Store Chain has 10 stores, all located in
    Nassau. Four of the stores are between 27,000--33,000 square feet,
    five are approximately 8,000 square feet, and one is 12,000 square
    feet. Four of their stores have deli sections.

-   The most popular deli meat items in their stores are Black Forest
    boiled ham and Butter Ball oven-baked turkey breast. Although Bar-S
    hams are also popular, Super Value has discontinued this line due to
    high prices.

-   Around 70 percent of their deli meats are sourced from Florida
    consolidator Fleming. Purchases are typically LCL on a frequent
    basis. They do not buy directly from manufacturers due to
    insufficient volumes. The other 30 percent of their purchases are
    sourced from Pritchard and Bahamas Food Services. Price and quality
    are the main factors influencing their purchasing decisions.

-   Advertising is through newspaper, radio, and TV, although deli
    products do not generally benefit from this. Stores run limited
    in-store promotions and bi-weekly advertisements for basic foods,
    (e.g. corned beef).

-   During Christmas, popular meats are turkey and ham, whereas lamb is
    popular during Easter.

-   There has been a significant change over the past five years in the
    market for deli/processed meats. There is a much wider range of
    products. Also, deli fast food shops have grown in popularity (e.g.
    Subway). Their own stores opened their first deli section in 1987.
    After 1989 they opened the 3 other deli sections in their
    "up-market" stores only.

-   They would like to see the local distributors catering more to the
    deli end of the market; the specialty product offering is limited.
    Manufacturers and their representatives should be more aggressive in
    terms of in-store promotions and sampling.

-   In the past, they have had problems with suppliers who sold them
    damaged meats, which had been frozen and defrosted at the time of
    sale. They no longer deal with those suppliers. The "late and close
    dating" of products is also an issue with overseas suppliers.

-   Super Value periodically attends trade shows in Florida and has also
    attended the FMI show in Chicago.