ROSSIGNOL Butcheries, Guyana, a modern butcher shop that features high quality meats, freshly baked bread and pastries, among a set of other choices, has officially opened its doors to the public at its Lot 76/77 Church Street, Alberttown location. Rossignol Butcheries is a Surinamese company that had set eyes on the potential of the Guyanese market many years ago. The owner of the Rossignol franchise subsequently purchased the land on Church Street five years ago.   
Over US $1.2M was spent in Guyana on purchasing the land and constructing the facility, which is being managed by five partners, three of whom are Gerrard Van Dijk, Rene Gosen, and Byran Renten.
The majority of the meats found at Rossignol’s (beef, mince, pork, chicken, etc) is bought locally, but a small portion of specialized cuts are imported, either from neighbouring Suriname or the United States. Their breads, also, are imported from Suriname.   
The company has on hand 14 local staff members and expects to expand this number, once its operating hours are increased. “Rossignol Butcheries Guyana offers a unique concept to the Guyanese consumer… High quality meat in a sophisticated environment, with a strong focus on customer service,” said Renten.
According to him, high hygiene standards have been set, and salaries are already above the new minimum wage. “We are convinced that our market will be an incentive for other butcheries and supermarkets in improving the quality of our meat and customer service,” Renten said, adding:
“Rossignol Butcheries is not the only Surinamese Company that has set its eyes on Guyana but already, other companies are interested in partnering with us in investing in the Guyanese market. It is a testimony to the excellent performance of Guyana as a country for the last ten years and we congratulate the Government of Guyana for the leadership in making this happen.”
However, not everything has been running smoothly for Rossignol’s. For example, they are still waiting to be connected to the power grid, and hence have to use a generator on a 24-hour basis, which raises their operating costs and at the same time disturbs their neighbours.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) supported the project with a loan of $160M, and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, John Tracey said it did not take a lot of convincing to partner with this company.
“I saw only one of their outlets in Suriname, and I felt if they could do this in Guyana, it will be a success story,” Tracey said.  
What should be celebrated, he said, is the rising of the standards in this industry. “From what I have seen, the standard is much higher than we have ever seen in Guyana of this sort of service,” he said.
“We should celebrate that there has been a transfer of capital across borders which is no easy thing, and the transfer of technology. It is also a vote of confidence in our country.”
Tracey said officials of Rossignol Butcheries have thoroughly researched the Guyanese market and have had the courage to make an investment which is the mark of true entrepreneurship.
Suriname Ambassador, Mehroen Nisa Kurban-Baboe spoke about the immediate benefits the facility would bring to both the people of Guyana and Suriname. “The mere fact that the Guyanese society can enjoy this piece of Surinamese culture is an example of regional integration at work,” she said.  
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said the company raises the standard of meat and food in general in Guyana. “Guyana is a good place to invest,” he said,  whether it has to do with local or foreign entrepreneurs.
“There is no doubt that the size of the population has risen, and people are demanding better standards. This business is adding to the service industry of our country. We are grateful that you have come,” Ramsammy told officials.
Present also at the function were Suriname’s Minister of Trade,  and our own Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr  Robert Persaud.