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Massy Stores distributes over 70,000 free reusable bags regionally in its #NoPlastic drive
Massy Stores is conscious of how our actions impact the environment. Across the region, we promoted the use of environmentally friendly reusable bags by introducing a nominal fee on single use plastic bags to share the responsibility, with our customers, of reducing the distribution of plastic in the environment. To date, utilization of single-use plastic bags has reduced by as much as 60%-90% across our stores.
The #NoPlastic initiative also included a more focused drive to recycle waste. In Trinidad and Tobago, we partnered with Kansmacker International to install reverse vending machines at key locations. These machines enable the proper disposal and recycling of plastic and glass bottles, as well as aluminium cans and reward customers with Massy points. Similarly, in Barbados, a recycling trailer was installed at one of our largest supermarket locations to facilitate recycling of plastics, aluminum cans and glass bottles. In St. Lucia, we also offered Massy points to customers who surrendered plastic and glass waste at the weekend recycling pop-up depots located outside our stores. Through the pilot phase of the project 5.3 metric tons of waste was recovered.
Massy Stores has also been reducing the use of Styrofoam packaging across our regional operations. While the legislated ban in Guyana and St. Vincent & The Grenadines has already ensured the complete elimination of Styrofoam in those territories, our other regional operations have voluntarily begun the transition in this direction. Sourcing appropriate biodegradable packaging is a process already in train.
Education and collaboration continue to fuel the change in the communities we touch across the Caribbean.
Sidebar Quote:
“We acknowledge that we may not get the desired end-result in one day. Full implementation across all territories and across all 49 locations will take time. We can only achieve this goal through a phased approach as there are many aspects involved. We remain committed to doing our part, sharing best practices across the region, listening to our stakeholders and collaborating with our diverse, valued customers to be A Force for Good.”
-Thomas Pantin, Chairman, Retail Line of Business, Massy Group
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On World Earth Day (April 22, 2018), Massy Stores announces its deepened commitment to reducing the distribution of plastic bags at all Massy Stores locations across the five countries in which it operates – Barbados, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago – *to reduce the negative environmental effects of plastic waste in the Caribbean.
In order to mitigate the dangerous effects of plastics on the environment, research has indicated that two solutions can be used, i.e. increase the manufacturing of biodegradable plastics and continuously engage in recycling.
Massy Stores has used both initiatives to reduce the negative environmental effects of plastic waste and has begun to procure biodegradable bags. The company has also partnered with recycling companies, such as Plastikeep in Trinidad and Tobago, which focuses on the collection and exportation of plastic waste.
As the world tries to solve its dependency on plastics and counter major environmental effects, Massy Stores has taken great strides to find a permanent solution to reduce plastic waste and its demand for plastic bags. Thomas Pantin, Executive Chairman, of Massy’s Retail Line of Business said, “W e started to take a closer look at the negative impact of plastic waste a few years ago. As a responsible, leading retailer we are determined to play a role in the reduction of waste. Along with citizens of every Caribbean country in which we operate, we are collectively accountable for actions which impact the future of the Caribbean.”
Mr. Pantin continued, “We started this journey by procuring bags made of a biodegradable plastic, but it is imperative that we take a stand to reduce our overall consumption of plastic, which is why we introduced a campaign to help end ‘double bagging’. Our focus is now on encouraging customers to bring their reusable bags, with the intention to phase out the demand for plastic bags. International No Plastic Bag Day which is observed on July 3, will be used to activate a number of promotions across the region to support this change.”
The decision to reduce plastic waste is part of the company’s broader commitment to find ways to operate more sustainably and become more environmentally friendly. Across the region, Massy Stores has begun changing its lighting systems to LED to reduce energy consumption. In Barbados, at the Sunset Crest and Warrens locations, solar (photovoltaic) systems have already been installed. Frere Delmas, Country Manager, Massy Barbados said, “We have even started to reduce consumption of paper by utilizing paperless statements for customers who use Massy Card Credit Cards.”
In St. Lucia and St. Vincent, Massy Stores has already switched to ozone-friendly gas to fuel the air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Additionally, Massy Stores in both territories has replaced Styrofoam packaging with biodegradable product packaging. In Barbados, the removal of Styrofoam packaging is at 65% implementation, and in Trinidad and Tobago, pilot programs have started with full implementation expected in the latter half of 2018.
Mr. Pantin said, “We acknowledge that we may not get the desired end-result in one day. Full implementation across all territories and across all 49 locations will take time. We can only achieve this goal through a phased approach, as there are many aspects involved. We remain committed to doing our part, sharing best practices across the region, listening to our stakeholders and collaborating with our diverse, valued customers to be A Force for Good.”
As Massy Stores Supermarket at Sunset Crest inches closer to its opening date of November 17, all hands are on deck to ensure that the store lives up to its billing as the best one to date.
With the supermarket operations team now in full command of the internal space, the various departments have been working around the clock to get the store in order – testing the various systems and fine-tuning any issues as well as ensuring that the shelves are fully stocked – to greet the first customers when its doors open to the public next Friday.
“At this stage, we are simply addressing those operational issues that would normally be associated with getting a new supermarket ready,” says Richard Cox , Director of Operations at Massy Stores.
“As expected this is a huge undertaking, especially as we are starting from scratch and, added to this, we have also significantly increased our square footage in terms of retail space at Sunset Crest; but our team is up to the challenge and we will be more than ready to meet our opening target date,” he added.
At the same time, with the weather as a key factor, workmen are working feverishly to complete all of the external works to the building façade, the carpark area and other hardscape features – thereby paving the way for the installation of additional landscaping on the property.
During one of his recent visits to the store with his corporate team, Country Manager of Massy (Barbados) Ltd, Frere Delmas noted that he was pleased with the significant progress made in getting the store to a state of readiness and expects that both the internal preparation and the external works will culminate in harmony.
“At this point we are on schedule and, barring any unforeseen challenges, I am assured that we will meet our mid-month deadline. We have a fantastic team, which is our staff, going above and beyond to make it happen in terms of the internal preparation and we also have a great construction crew working to ensure that the finishing touches are completed on the exterior,” Mr. Delmas said.
Mr. Delmas, who is also Chairman of the Integrated Retail Business Unit for the Massy Group, stated that beyond an enhanced supermarket offering, the new Sunset Crest Store will be a hub for all of Massy’s retail businesses available in Barbados, namely Massy United Insurance, Massy Card, Massy Home, Massy Stores Pharmacy with such ancillary services as Western Union and SurePay.
“Massy Stores Supermarket at Sunset Crest will be a unique shopping destination offering an unsurpassed experience to all who visit and shop here. As a brand, Massy Stores is constantly building on its value proposition to its customers so this store will have some additional options as well as an expanded range of products and services when compared with other food retail entities within or outside our network,” he said.
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The re-energized team of the soon-to-be-open Massy Stores Supermarket at Sunset Crest has committed to making that store a “beacon on the west coast of Barbados” for excellence in customer service by creating an overall “platinum” shopping experience.
The 190-member team, dubbed the “Platinum Team”, participated in a period of intensive training in preparation for the store’s grand re-opening this month.
“For the past few months, our team has been going through a fair amount of preparation…,” says Massy Stores Director of Human Resources, Dionne Walcott.
“As it relates to training, we took a holistic approach focusing on all aspects of training. We not only paid attention to customer service, but we also concentrated on productivity, HSSE (health safety, security and environment) and on specialized training for those persons working in our deli, bakery and meat sections as well as placed special emphasis on team-building – which we felt was important as the staff would have experienced some dislocation during the construction period. And, having gone through that period of training, I would say without a doubt that the team is ready for this new venture,” Mrs. Walcott added.
In referencing some of the staff’s sentiments and how these intersected with the Massy values, she highlighted one of those priceless moments: “During the training, one of our cashiers, Evril Babb, spoke to the responsibility of all team members to give excellent service in the new Sunset Crest store – without any prompting from anyone, that is truly how she felt. It was heartwarming to see how she was able to rev up that team and hear them speak to the commitment of giving excellent service at Sunset Crest,” she pointed out.
Veteran supermarket manager, Derek Deane, has the honour of leading this revitalized team – comprising many of the previous staff with a few fresh faces – as its new General Manager. With some 35 years’ experience within the supermarket industry, Mr. Deane started his career at the then JBs Supermarket rising to the position of General Manager before moving on to take up new opportunities in this sector, first in Antigua and then again Barbados.
“I am coming back home – my life has come full circle,” he said of his return to the Group. “I am enthusiastic, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead knowing that I have the backing of a fantastic team to do it,” Mr. Deane added.
He noted that his team was upbeat and expressed full confidence in its ability to deliver on the commitments made both individually and collectively.
“We are ready! Our aim is to give 100 percent in service excellence to our valued customers with the goal of being the premier shopping experience,” Mr. Deane said.
The transformation of Massy Stores Supermarket at Sunset Crest is in the final stages of preparation before its big reveal in a matter of weeks.
Managing Director of Massy Stores (Barbados) Ltd., Randall Banfield expressed satisfaction about the extraordinary progress made to date, noting that the 11-month project was a construction feat for the Massy Group.
“We had a lot of push-back in the beginning …and it was difficult to conceive how we could demolish a store and rebuild a new one without it having a severe impact on our staff and our customers – especially during the high (tourist) season. But we managed to keep the old store open until April 30 – to adequately cater to our clientele and reduce the impact to our staff; and now we will be able to open in time … well before the next tourist season,” Mr. Banfield disclosed.
He credited the Massy project team, led by Regional Property Development Director – Sarah-Jane Kidman, the main contractors – Moorjani (Caribbean) Limited, as well as the various subcontractors for the tremendous synergies and cooperative efforts throughout the construction process in getting the project to where it is today.
“This is not a small feat; this is about how Massy managed the project. In fact, we were told from the outset that this project would require a minimum of 18 months to complete, but we had a great team and we had a plan in place and we worked accordingly, despite the setbacks caused by weather and other shipment delays for equipment.
“So, all credit to the various teams working together – from the demolition team in mid-January to the teams who did the building and outfitting in the latter stages. We knew we could do it, and almost 11 months later in total, we have proven that it is indeed possible. We remain on budget and I am assured that we are on schedule,” he added.
Mr. Banfield also noted that this project was also an opportunity for Massy to publicly demonstrate its corporate values.
“One of our big values is Growth and Continuous Improvement. When we look at our network of stores in Barbados, our store at Sunset Crest certainly stood out for us as an opportunity to demonstrate Growth and Continuous Improvement in action.
“Our old store could never deliver the range of products and services that we feel the Massy customer and the Massy employee deserves. Everything we have done at Massy Stores Sunset Crest is geared to enhance customer service and increase comfort for our customers and for our staff,” the Massy Stores CEO said.
As the project moves into its final weeks, Mr. Banfield stated that he was excited about how the store has taken shape. “This week will be a huge one for us as the contractors have handed over the main supermarket space to us. This will allow us to start outfitting the store, complete the instore signage as well as test our refrigeration and other systems as we prepare to add the finishing touches,” he stated.
Massy Stores Sunset Crest will open mid-November.
