By ANNELIE NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

AML Foods yesterday revealed it will break ground on the replacements for its fire-devastated Solomon’s Old Trail and Cost Right Nassau stores on April 13 as it turns to technology to ease the transition to eliminating VAT on uncooked foods.
Franklyn Butler, the BISX-listed food retail and franchise group’s chairman, pledged that the stores will be rebuilt at the same location “bigger and better” with an opening date targeted for early 2027. AML Foods has received around $25m in gross insurance proceeds due to the fire.
“We'll be having a ground breaking on April 13,” he said. “I know it's political season, but we want all of our every day customers, you want to know what's happening. Pease come on, check us out. It'll be right at the site where we had the fire one year ago.
“And we anticipate that early in 2027 we will have the reopening of the Cost Right store right at the current Old Trail site. And that store is going to be bigger and better, and we're looking forward to serving you, our valuable customers, again where you get more for your money.”
Mr Butler signalled that AML Foods may have a competitive advantage over rivals in making the transition to zero VAT on uncooked foods. He said the group’s stores have electronic labels where the prices will be changed digitally with effect from this morning.
“We have all electronic labels throughout our store as we walk through, and so tonight, around about midnight, all of our shelf tags will reduce,” Mr Butler added. “So all of our price tags are connected wirelessly, and so we're able to just use our computer system to put through price changes. We don't have to price every item.”
Mr Butler said AML Foods sources product from Bahamian farmers and fishermen, supporting the Davis administration’s push for food stability. “In addition to that, Prime Minister, one of the things we're very proud of is our commitment to sourcing from locals,” he said.
“As you know, the Cargill family, you talked about the Golden Yolk programme, which is one of the things that's very dear to your administration. We buy all of his eggs. So everything he produces, I can tell you, he has no ability to sell to anybody else because he can't produce enough.
“And what you saw today in the store may have been non-local eggs, but that's because he doesn't have enough. But I want to assure you that, as chairman of AML Foods, we're fully committed to supporting Bahamian farmers, Bahamian fishermen. So we do use some of the brokers, like Tropic Seafoods and Paradise Fisheries, to stock our fresh fish in our stores,” Mr Butler added.
“And so, Prime Minister, I want you to know that all the work that you are doing, and your colleagues and your administration are doing, we are happy to support and to make sure that the Bahamian consumers across the length and breadth of The Bahamas, wherever we have stores, because we have stores now in Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, of course, here in New Providence, and, of course, Exuma. We want to make sure that we're giving them all the best local products, and, of course, the best value as we think about what your administration has done in the reduction of VAT.”
Philip Davis KC said retailers, including members of the Retail Grocers Association, “have committed to working with us to ensure that these savings are passed on directly to you, the consumers”.
“A government can act where it has the power to act, and this is one of those areas,” Mr Davis said. “I want the Bahamian people to know we did not do this alone. We did not do this alone. I had the pleasure of meeting with the Bahamas Retail Grocers Association, along with Mr Franklyn Butler, who is the chairperson of AML Foods, and I'm happy to say that our retailers have committed to working with us to ensure that these savings are passed on directly to you, the consumers.
“That is the kind of partnership this country needs from a government and the private sector - the Government and the private sector working together so that people could save more of what they spend.
“And, during my walk around in this store [Solomon’s Fresh Market Harbour Bay], Mr Butler and I discuss the removal of Customs import duty off fresh vegetables, fruits. And he demonstrated to me how that has impacted, and has left more money, in shoppers' pockets. And so I'm happy to see that this partnership will continue to work, to work to ensure that we bring some relief to our Bahamian people. And I'm committed to working with the Retail Grocers Association to find ways and means to make sure that we do that,” Mr Davis added.
“So I also want to say this. Cutting VAT is only one part of the job. Making sure the benefit reaches the public is the other part. The savings from this change must be passed on to the Bahamian people, because this is your relief. My government has worked step by step to ease the strain on Bahamian households. So, we reduce VAT. We raise the minimum wage, remove import duty on many food items, and now we are removing VAT on unprepared food altogether.”