More local products could soon be on the shelves of major retail stores.
Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, shared that the Barbados Trust Fund Limited and FundAccess, with the support of her Ministry, had begun negotiating shelf space in major retailers for local products that meet the standards and requirements.
“But we’re now going to be having a dedicated drive to make sure that products, once they reach a certain level and they have a certain scale… [will be available] in established stores, to find Barbadian excellence in the supermarkets and wherever we shop, on a normal basis.
“It cannot be that only in farmers’ markets, and only at times at Bridgetown Market you can find these products; that’s not what we’re here to do. We’re here to make sure there’s sustainability, that there is growth, and that people are able to scale and expand their business, and that people are able to see that Barbadians are able to produce excellent quality products that are suitable for anywhere in the world,” Senator Cummins stated.
Giving the background to her Ministry’s involvement in the marketplace, she explained that the Local Organising Committee had asked about the possibility of working together to present the marketplace.
She has endorsed the initiative, saying its vision is broader and aspects of it could be tweaked at the end, so it could be held next year for various events in Barbados.
The Emerging Entrepreneurs Broad Street Mall Marketplace will continue on Saturday, June 15, 22, and 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is being held between the traffic lights at Republic Bank (Barbados) and those at Royal Bank of Canada, on Broad Street.
Over 100 businesses will showcase their products and services at the marketplace, and they are expected to capitalise on the activity associated with the 2024 International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup. A variety of items will be on sale, including clothing, accessories, food, confectionery, condiments, natural wines, and beverages.