The future of almost 100 workers is in the balance as Trimart Supermarkets has announced that it will be relocating its Haggatt Hall branch.
The flagship outlet will be moving to new premises owned by parent company ANSA McAL Barbados Ltd.
Staff were informed about the move at a meeting this morning and sources indicate that officials are hoping the new supermarket will be open by September. Officials say measures are being put in place to assist employees during the transition phase.
Chief executive officer and president of ANSA McAL Barbados and chairman of Trimart, Nicholas Mouttet explained the decision.
“What we are actually doing is reinvesting millions of dollars in Barbados by building a world class supermarket on one of our own properties, however we need to complete the approval process before announcing further details of the new location and when it will be up and running. There will be some down time when we will be constructing and outfitting this new store but we now have to vacate Haggatt Hall by the end of February and that means regrettably that we will have to release our staff at that branch until the new area is completed,” he stated.
Those workers who are currently employed at the Haggatt Hall location will be displaced by its temporary closure and it is expected that many of them will be rehired when the new state-of-the-art supermarket reopens. The company will be offering career counselling and retooling sessions to those employees who may wish to move on before that happens.
Managing director of Trimart Supermarkets Geoffrey Evelyn explained, “I have been speaking to our suppliers to assure them that this is only temporary and for Haggatt Hall only. We will wrap up any outstanding business with them, all remaining transactions will be honoured and our other locations will continue to operate because we will certainly be working with these suppliers in the very near future.”
In the meantime, customers are being encouraged to use one of the other Trimart Supermarkets at Mile and a Quarter, Rendezvous and St. Martin’s.
In clarifying the move at this time, Mouttet emphasized “We have every confidence in the business and intend to remain in the retail grocery business but it is time to take it to another level.” (PR/NB)
