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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.
Massy Communications Ltd. has signed a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with TSTT for the sale of 100% of its shares to the local telecommunications entity, subject to the approval by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad & Tobago (TATT). The signing of the SPA was announced at a jointly-held press conference on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.
Since 2006 Massy Communications, formally Three Sixty Communications, has been quietly building out its telecommunications network and expanding its services, to currently offer a range of services which include:
- Fibre Optic (FTTH) Infrastructure deployment which is utilised to deliver High Speed Internet and IPTV to residential and SME customers.
- Dedicated Internet/IP transit
- Clear Channel Domestic/ Metro Ethernet and International Private Lines
- International Wholesale Termination and Enterprise Voice Solutions
In 2015, the Massy Group made the bold decision to significantly invest in the expansion of the fibre network. Since then, Massy Communications has aggressively deployed next generation FTTH (Fibre To The Home) infrastructure which now covers approximately 34,000 homes passed throughout Trinidad and spans over 900 fibre route kilometers. In 2016, utilising this FTTH network, Massy Communications launched its High Speed Internet and HD IPTV service to residential and SME customers in various parts of Trinidad. By delivering the most technologically advanced broadband and HD TV solution to customers, citizens of Trinidad have access to fast, consistent and reliable internet speeds with the ability to video stream with a stable uncongested network as well as market leading upload speeds.
Given the competitive landscape for high speed broadband and TV services in Trinidad and the intense capital costs of deploying fibre optic networks, some industry participants have been seeking collaborative ways to avoid duplicative capital expenditure. Massy Communications and TSTT initiated collaboration with a network sharing agreement which has quickly advanced to a business combination. Massy Communications and TSTT are both successful locally owned companies with a commitment to the advancement of telecommunications industry in Trinidad and Tobago. We both recognize the importance of deploying high speed telecoms services to the economic growth and entrepreneurial development of the nation. We are both similarly focused on the development of local content and local talent.
This business combination will enable further growth and expansion for the company to better meet our customers’ needs now and in the future. The business combination will also accelerate TSTT’s deployment of its next generation network. The company brings to TSTT a state-of-the-art, all fibre optic network and reputation for reliability and high quality customer service. This transaction is a win for Massy Communications, its employees and its customers as much as it is a win for TSTT, its employees and its customers. Together, the two organizations will be a much stronger and more effective competitor in the high speed broadband and HD TV segment of the sector.
“Massy is proud of what our local employees have achieved in building the company to this point. Moving into the residential market, into a relatively new, highly competitive telecommunications space was a big leap for us and we’re extremely proud of what we achieved in a short space of time. We reached a point where it was important to grow this business and we believed that the best path for success was through a partnership with another telecommunications provider who could help realize the potential of what we created.” commented Gervase Warner, President & Group CEO, Massy Group.
All Massy Communications subscribers will continue to access the high-quality products and services and the exceptional customer service support to which they have grown accustomed. All existing and new subscribers will also enjoy the benefit of using their Massy Cards to earn Massy points when they pay their bills or to redeem Massy points to pay their bills
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Thanks to Massy, the Holetown monument has been restored to its pristine state and once again stands proudly in its place as the icon of the Holetown Festival and its community.
The Holetown monument, which was recently restored with the support of Massy United Insurance, Massy Stores, Massy Distribution and Massy corporate, was officially handed over to the Government and people of Barbados over the weekend during a special ribbon cutting ceremony which preceded the opening ceremony for the 40 th anniversary of the Holetown Festival.
Like the monument, the annual festival also commemorates the landing of the first English settlers on the island; therefore, the double ceremony to mark both occasions, was quite apt.
Before symbolically handing over the monument to the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, The Honourable Richard Sealy, Country Manager for Massy, Frere Delmas noted that this Massy C.A.R.E.S. project was just part of the multi-million dollar investment which the Group was undertaking in that community.
“I hope that this $80,000 community project and the close to $50 million investment which we are spending in the redevelopment of our Massy Stores, Sunset Crest, will greatly improve the value and appreciation that visitors, residents and the wider community have for the Sunset Crest/ Holetown area,” Mr. Delmas said.
He also thanked Managing Director of Massy Distribution, Glenn Taylor for proposing the idea and being the project champion for the monument restoration.
In this earlier remarks, Mr. Taylor pointed out that the landmark was significant to our history. “…It marks the spot of the first landing of Englishmen on the island in 1625 and it also represents the first place of law, order and justice in Barbados as the first Militia was based at the site. It is steeped in history from which we cannot escape,” Mr. Taylor stated.
Minister of Housing & Lands, Denis Kellman, under whose responsibility the monument falls, thanked Massy for restoring the heritage site, noting that the responsibility to conserve and restore our nation’s heritage cannot simply be the sole duty of Government, especially where these physical manifestations of our past are so numerous.
The Holetown restoration project begun in October 2016 and was completed in December of the same year. It involved a thorough cleaning and repainting of the monument; construction of a new platform; the re-lettering on the plaques; removal of the original wall from front of the monument and the building of steps and a wheelchair ramp to allow for full accessibility. Additionally, the two original cannons were fully restored and are now mounted on beautifully handcrafted and historically accurate wooden carriages with intentionally minimalist landscaping undertaken. Massy Distribution has committed to the monthly upkeep of the site.
On February 1, 2017, the Massy Group further delivered on its strategy of regional diversification through the Massy Motors acquisition of two large automobile dealerships in Colombia – Autogalias in Bogotá and the Grupo Automontaña in Medellín, which incorporate four dealerships. Through this acquisition, Massy Motors will now represent a number of world-class automotive brands, namely Renault, VW, Volvo and Hyundai along with Mazda, Kia and Foton in Cali.
The acquisition significantly expands Massy Motors’ operations in Colombia, and is expected to double the volume of sales. According to David O’Brien, Executive Vice President, Massy Group “this means that in 2017, Massy is likely to sell more cars in Colombia than we do in Trinidad.” Mr. O’Brien is enthusiastic about the caliber of the management team in Colombia citing the fact that the now Massy-owned Renault dealership was “Dealer of the Year 2015” and Automontaña was one of the largest Mazda dealerships in the country.
Alberto Rozo, Massy’s Country Manager – Colombia, welcomed the 300 employees of the Automontaña and Autogalias groups, saying “we welcome you all into this family, where support and collaboration are key pillars for our teams. When the Massy Group arrived in Colombia in 2014, we were clear that our business vision is long term.”
In 2014, Massy Motors first entered the Colombian market with the purchase of the majority shareholding of Massy DeLima Grupo Automotriz S.A.S. which operates the two dealerships in Cali, representing Kia, Mazda and Foton trucks.
“Since then we have demonstrated that the values and focus of Massy Motors can deliver positive results in this market. We built the foundation of the business in Colombia through strong supplier relationships, upgrading the showrooms and employee facilities focusing on customer satisfaction, particularly in after sales services. That model, which we created, has served us well as a foundation to improve our performance and position us as a strong player in the automotive sector in Colombia,” Mr. O’Brien revealed.
He added that “Over the 2016 Financial Year, we experienced exceptional growth in sales. Sales in Mazda improved by 61% and Kia sales remain steady and strong. We are looking forward to applying our values-based model to the newest members of the Massy Motors family in Colombia.”
The Massy Group currently owns and operates Massy DeLima Grupo Automotriz S.A.S., with two dealerships in Cali, as well as Autogalias in Bogotá and the Grupo Automontaña in Medellín. The Group also acquired Wood Group Colombia in 2014, to form Massy Energy Colombia, which provides production, maintenance and engineering services to clients in the oil & gas and mining sectors in Colombia.
David O’Brien (second from left), Executive Vice President, Massy and Alberto Rozo (third from right), Country Manager – Colombia, Massy, along with other Executives of Autogalias and Grupo Automontaña and other Massy Executives in Colombia.
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Massy’s retail locations in St. Lucia, formerly branded as Super J IGA, Mega J and gl foodmarket, have been rebranded to MassyStores.
The change was announced at a public launch on August 4, 2016.St. Lucia is the fourth territory to undergo the re-branding exercise in the region. Eleven stores, nationwide, are now part of the Massy Stores family which includes a total of 46 retail locations across the region.
To commemorate the occasion, Martin Dorville, Managing Director of Massy Stores St. Lucia said, “Under the Massy Stores brand, we have reinforced our commitment to remaining innovative, competitive and committed to growth while responding effectively to the needs of our customers and valued employees.”
Massy Stores St. Lucia includes:
- 9 Massy Stores Supermarkets
- 1 Massy Stores Gourmet and
- 1 Massy Stores Mega
Massy Stores Supermarkets
The nine Massy Stores Supermarkets are located across the island and offer a wide range of grocery and non-food items as well as many convenience services such as pharmacies, ATM services, customer service desks and bill payment facilities. All but one house an in store deli and bakery, providing an assortment of freshly prepared meals and baked goods daily.
Massy Stores Gourmet
Massy Stores Gourmet, located in the upscale Baywalk Mall in Rodney Bay. The first of its kind in the regional Massy Stores family, the gourmet format features a select range of health, organic and artisnal products from globally recognized brands. The store offers a yacht restocking service with free delivery to yachts berthed at the Rodney Bay Marina.
Massy Stores Mega
Located in the north of the island is the third store format, “Massy Stores Mega.” The 50,000 square foot “club store” offers value items and savings to customers on bulk grocery, office supplies, home improvement products and more.
Apart from the wide selection of grocery and household items, a range of important convenience services are also housed within Massy Stores Mega, namely:
- a pharmacy
- Bank of St. Lucia kiosk
- specialty bakery
- eye care center
- ATM service
- post office boxes
- ACE hardware products andan exclusive ACE color matching centre.
Recently Massy Stores Mega expanded its range into large appliances, furniture, home furnishings and small appliances as well as Hire Purchase and free delivery on certain purchases.
The inclusion of eleven stores into the Massy Stores family is a remarkable achievement for the Group overall. In the last year, the Group invested $11 million in the remodeling of 4 stores. “This investment in St. Lucia highlights Massy’s commitment to growth in the region and providing high value, integrated retail offerings to customers,” commented Thomas Pantin, Executive Chairman of Massy’s Retail Line of Business.
Massy Card
A major new development in the rebranding is the introduction of the Massy Card in St. Lucia. The new Massy Card will replace the Mega J, Super J and gl foodmarket loyalty cards. Customers will only need one card to earn points and other rewards as they shop at Massy Stores and Massy Card Partners.
The Massy Card is free and many of the great loyalty card features and benefits remain, such as earning points on every transaction; using points to purchase groceries at your “Home Store”; or redeeming points for Massy gift vouchers to purchase goods and services at the many participating partners. With the new Massy Card customers will be able to keep up-to-date with their Massy Points balance and receive alerts on exclusive offers directly to their phone with the Massy Card Mobile App.