Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Bakewell boss pledges to continue to invest in Guyana
– to open new food court, Rituals coffee franchise
With plans to open a food court in downtown Georgetown, put three food kiosks at the airport and introduce Caribbean coffee house ‘Rituals” to Guyana, businessman Naeem Nasir says he will continue to invest in this country despite the global financial crisis.
Mr Naeem Nasir, right, exchanges the agreement with owner of Rituals coffee, Mario Sabga Aboud, paving the way for the setting up of the Caribbean coffee house franchise in Guyana.
Nasir yesterday signed an agreement to bring the Rituals coffee franchise to Guyana at his company’s Triumph, East Coast Demerara main office.
It was there that he also announced that this company is opening a sprawling food court in the Guyana Post Office headquarters in downtown Georgetown, which previously housed the Savage Street, Robbstown branch of Republic Bank. The food court will feature a buffet-styled roti hut, offering a range of curries and roti, along with a branch of Edy’s ice cream, a pastry shop, a sandwich shop and a pizza shop.
Nasir said that the opening of the food court will change the landscape of eating houses in the capital city.
A Rituals coffee shop will also be set up at the arrivals area of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, and another just outside the departure lounge. Branches of Roti Hut and Edy’s Ice Cream will also be set up just outside the departure area of the airport.
“In a world where everything seems to be collapsing, we as a company will continue to invest,” Nasir said yesterday.
He said the space which housed Republic Bank and which will be converted into a modern food court was leased from the post office and the agreement was only signed on Tuesday. According to the terms of the lease, the food court will have to be set up within three months.
The Rituals kiosk and other eating houses will be set up before that, Nasir indicated.
Nasir did not disclose the amount of this new investment by his company, but said an estimated 70 workers would be needed.
Nasir’s collaboration with Rituals coffee, which started in Trinidad and Tobago, has already borne fruit.
Nasir’s company, known locally for the Bakewell line of flour products, has already collaborated with Rituals owner Mario Sabga Aboud to open a coffee shop in Barbados.
Nasir said now his company plans to open a Roti Hut in Barbados within a month.
Rituals coffee, which now has 36 locations in Trinidad alone, caters for the tropical climate of the Caribbean and iced coffees and chillers top the menu.
To maintain the standards and quality of the brand, workers who will be manning the different Rituals locations here will have to be trained in Trinidad, as per the terms of granting the franchise.
Ramesh Ghir, Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, welcomed the initiative of Nasir’s company.
He said the setting up of the shops will help to change the image of the airport.
He said one of the reasons people still carry foods in baskets to eat while they wait on relatives and friends is because they don’t have an option they desire in buying food.
The Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation, Bishop Juan Edghill said he was happy about leasing the property to Nasir for the establishment of the food court, since it will mean increased revenue for the corporation.
Edghill said Nasir had applied for the space even before Republic Bank exited, and after the space was advertised for leasing, the Corporation chose Nasir’s idea over other business proposals such as a call centre and office complex.
Nasir said that for too long Guyana has come to accept second class quality for first class quality when it comes to eating houses, but he said his company’s plan will change this for the better.
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