A government-supported co-operative grocery store is set to open next year in an old school building, aimed at increasing competition in the food market.
During the announcement, Public Works Minister Lieutenant Colonel David Burch stated that grocery stores have not passed on the customs duty cuts implemented by the Government two years ago to consumers. He remarked, “I anticipate there will be backlash from the grocery store sector, but we have little choice when they refuse to work with us to lower their prices.”
The proposed co-operative grocery store is expected to directly tackle this issue by providing affordable food options to consumers.
**Grocery Co-op Aims to Lower Food Costs**
Colonel Burch was updating the House of Assembly on the utilization of old school buildings, including TN Tatem in Warwick, which closed in 2020 and has since become a vibrant hub for small businesses and community organizations.
He also announced plans to convert the Gilbert Institute, which is set to close next year, into a seniors’ care facility in response to the high demand for such services.
Heron Bay Primary School is also on the closure list, and Burch mentioned that various options for its future use have been explored. “The Government has opted to create a sustainable, government-backed co-operative grocery store to foster competition in the local food market, reduce overall food prices in Bermuda, and generate investment and wealth opportunities.”
He emphasized that the co-operative grocery initiative is a crucial component of the Government’s broader strategy to reduce the cost of living, specifically addressing the rising expenses faced by residents.
Burch noted that public dissatisfaction with the increasing cost of living in Bermuda has been most evident in the soaring food prices. He added, “In July 2022, the Government provided duty relief for 33 essential food commodity items, aimed at reducing costs for consumers.”
Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.
User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.
TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.
TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.