ANSA McAL to ship locally made products across the Caribbean

Oct 18, 2025 News

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(Kaieteur News) – ANSA McAL Distribution Inc. announced that it will partner with local agencies like the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) to coordinate the export of several containers of locally produced goods to its regional markets.

This announcement was made on Friday by the company’s Chairman Anthony Norman Sabga immediately after President Irfaan Ali urged the regional company to ensure that Guyanese products are available across all its regional markets.

President Ali, who joined the company at a sod-turning ceremony for the company’s new mall at Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara, emphasized that local entrepreneurs and farmers deserve greater recognition and opportunities for their produce.

The president expressed disappointment that Guyanese products are often missing from supermarket shelves across the Caribbean. He noted that while Guyana allows free access to regional imports, distributors operating in the country must also contribute to its economic growth.

In his address, President Ali noted that ANSA McAL possesses one of the largest distribution networks in the region. He challenged the company to use its influence to promote Guyanese goods, stating, “ANSA McAL has the greatest distribution footprint in the region. Their products are in every supermarket; you have three malls outside of this one would make four. Guyana has taken the deliberate decision to invest heavily in agro processing, in packaging. I challenge ANSA McAL today with the support of the Guyana Marketing Corporation to distribute in every one of your supermarkets Guyanese product.”

The president stressed that he has a duty to advocate for Guyanese producers and expressed disappointment in their limited market access. “I have a duty and responsibility as president to look out for Guyanese. And I am disappointed, every time I don’t see Guyanese products on the shelves. We have made our fair contribution to this region, we have made a remarkable contribution to this region and everything that we are doing is for this region,” he said.

Remove trade barriers in Trinidad and Tobago

Addressing trade restrictions, President Ali called on Trinidad and Tobago to remove barriers that prevent Guyanese goods from entering their market.

“You must remove those barriers in Trinidad and Tobago that keep our goods out of your shelves. We have simplified doing business in Guyana, let’s work with you. The Guyana Marketing Corporation will consolidate. If we have to start with one or two containers, we will consolidate the containers, but let the small man get a chance to breathe and grow and build,” he stressed.

The president also encouraged ANSA McAL to integrate Guyanese raw materials into its production and distribution chains.

“We are producing honey at unbelievable scale now, we want ANSA McAL to use our honey in your processing, in your value creation. And I say this as friends and partners so I would like to see a clear strategy as to how ANSA McAL distribution arm will allow our agro-processors and products of Guyana to be on your distribution chain. And we can start with your three malls, if you can dedicate spaces for Guyana products. We have now started origins a fashion show and we want our products, our clothing, our indigenous products which has a high social value because the markets are social sensitive, and social conscious is an aspect pf buying.”

President Ali urged the company to lead by example, contributing more visibly to Guyana’s development. “We want you to lead the way. We want you to show every Guyanese physically that you will take us on this journey of expansion and product positioning,” he said, noting that Guyana must be seen not merely as a retail hub, but as an integral part of regional value creation.

He further outlined Guyana’s growing potential to supply the Caribbean market. “We want ANSA McAL to take all of our prawns that we are producing and take it in all their supermarkets around the Caribbean. We want you to take the meat that the modern abattoir that is capable of processing 100 animals per day, the meat from there and distribute it from across the region. These are not abstract ideas. We are already building these things. Red beans and black eye. No longer do we have to ship that in the Caribbean. The next 18 months we must be in a position through Guyana to supply the entire region but for that to happen you have to embrace the vision. The major distributors in the region must be alerted of this plan and if we don’t get the support, we’ll have no other choice than to build infrastructure by ourselves,” president Ali stated.

In immediate response, Sabga declared that ANSA McAl will work with local agencies to expand its distribution of Guyanese products.

“I would like to suggest that … team with your people look at developing jointly in a farmers’ market, and maybe booths and stores to the indigenous people can showcase their products and so forth. We already have rice from Guyana in our distribution system and I think we are the largest rice distributors in the Caribbean.  I am requesting that the company immediately work with the agencies, the president says… organize a few containers of Guyanese made goods and immediately ship it,” he said.

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• Ansa McAl, Guyana Marketing Corporation, products, regional markets

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