GL foodmarket now part of CFL

Consolidated Foods Ltd. (CFL) has added gl foodmarket to its operations effective June 1, 2013. Purchase of the retail outlet was concluded last week with the previous owners Peter and Company, a member of the Goddard Group St Lucia.

CFL plans to retain the gl foodmarket concept and according to company epresentatives, will not operate the outlet as a Super J IGA store. Further differentiation of its stores in the north is also being considered, with the transformation of the Super J Rodney Heights store into a different retail format under discussion. This differentiation, the company believes, is important to diversify its company portfolio, while catering to various customer segments within the market and providing a range of grocery shopping experiences to customers.

In the last three years, growth of CFL’s operations through investments both in St Lucia and the OECS sub region has been a strategic priority. This is evident from investments made during the period, including the opening of a new Super J IGA supermarket in Cul De Sac, as well as the rebranding of two supermarkets in St Vincent and the Grenadines to Super J IGA stores and the opening of a Save a Lot store in that island.

It is therefore in keeping with this growth path that when approached by Goddard Enterprises Ltd., the operators of glfoodmarket, that CFL decided to accept the offer to purchase.

With a vision to be the most successful supermarket chain in the region, CFL has transformed the industry in St Lucia through a wide range of retail technological innovations. The company, which marks its tenth anniversary in 2014, will continue to improve the efficiency of its operations by maximising opportunities for growth and development of its over one thousand two hundred employees, 200 of whom own ten percent of the company. This will be implemented alongside enhancements in product quality, service excellence and customer satisfaction. CFL’s tradition of dedicated and strong community support also remains a major strategic priority for the company.

The addition of glfoodmarket brings to eleven the number of stores owned and operated by the company, which also operates Super J IGA supermarkets and Mega J.

With current economic and market realities gl could have closed down, which would mean loss of jobs for the gl foodmarket team. CFL’s intervention and the steps which will be taken are critical for continued growth as well as for ensuring the survival of many local suppliers and vendors.