Recession will pass says supermarket head

JTA Supermarkets Limited managing director, Christopher Mack, stated during the official opening ceremony of the supermarket’s fifth store at the JTA C3 Shopping Centre, Corinth Village, San Fernando yesterday.

“This new store is a proud statement that JTA is confident and positive about the future of our country and will do what we can to invest in the growth and development of our local services sector,” Mack said.

And speaking to reporters afterwards, he explained that customers would patronise those businesses who were giving them value for their money despite the economic recession.

“Anybody who studies economics knows that the boom days, as well as the recession, it goes in cycles so I think it is important in this economic times that all businesses have to be prudent,” Mack said, adding, “all businesses have to be prudent and certainly we are prudent having lasted all these years so without a doubt once customers see that there is value they will come and they will patronise.” “It’s just a very exciting time and as I said, regardless of the recession, that too shall pass and I think it is important that we give back to our customers,” he added.

“From as far back as the 1930’s, we have successfully managed through the turbulent Second World War, then through the many booms and recessions that have followed, yet we have continued to grow from strength to strength,” he said. And regarding the Corinth Village supermarket, he said customers could expect to shop in one of the largest supermarkets in Trinidad and Tobago at approximately 50,000 sq. feet.

“What you see here today is certainly a world class facility, we spent a lot of time and effort raising the bar to ensure that our loyal JTA customers have a great supermarket experience especially in a time when you have recession in terms of all the JTA prices and values,” Mack said, adding, “we have a lot of bulk specials so really catering to any customer and I think the important thing, in terms of the supermarket experience, it’s about having a world class supermarket experience.” The supermarket also features an in-store pharmacy; fresh meats and produce; bakery and deli; wine and spirits; health and beauty; home section; fresh flowers; bulk offerings; prepared foods and a juice bar.