– The growth of Chinese Supermarkets

CHINESE-owned supermarkets are on the increase on the East Coast corridor, so much so, they may be giving the grocery shops a run for their money in terms having more local products on their shelves, as well as creating employment for locals.

The Pepperpot Magazine visited several of these supermarkets and interacted with some of the owners, most of whom communicated through their local employees, due to a professed limited knowledge of the English Language.

At the recently-opened ‘A Wen Supermarket’ at Public Road, Richardstown, Lusignan, they have on their shelves more locally-produced products on sale and also have from groceries to household and hardware items in their spacious supermarket.

This business which opened about two weeks ago and is fully stocked. The owners’ hail from Suriname and are already planning to open another branch at Public Road, Non Pariel, also on the East Coast Demerara.

The ‘A Wen Supermarket’ have a chain of other large supermarkets at Plaisance Public Road, and Vigilance Public Road, also villages on the East Coast Demerara.

The facility at Vigilance opened about a month ago while the one at Plaisance opened its doors for business sometime last year with a few local staffers.

There are also four other Chinese supermarkets scattered along the East Coast under the name of Gian Supermarkets at Success Railway Embankment; Annandale Market Road; Courbane Park Public Road; and two others at Mon Repos Railway Embankment.

Also, at Mon Repos Railway Embankment is the newly-opened ‘Lin Household and Hardware’ which stocks from building materials to groceries, all at competitive prices that resemble the prices at your average ‘corner’ shop.

Located at Industry Railway Embankment is the ‘Hong Zing Supermarket’ which also has a Chinese Restaurant operated by Chinese and has a few Guyanese employees.

Along Coldingen Road there is another Chinese-owned supermarket which offers customers the wholesale price when they make a purchase of three and more items.

In the nearby village of Enterprise is yet another Chinese Supermarket which retail groceries and haberdashery.

At ‘Moon Supermarket’ located at La Bonne Intention Public Road, East Coast Demerara, the Guyanese employees said the businesses opened its doors about four months ago and they have in their employ four female staffers.

The establishment of these Chinese-owned supermarkets creates employment for many young people and provides locals with a variety of products to choose from including all locally produced and also imported items.

When the Pepperpot Magazine visited these Chinese Supermarkets, the report was mostly fair as it relates to the favourable treatment of their employees, but some complained that they are made to work “around the clock” without being paid overtime. Others said that they are being treated fairly but think they are underpaid for the hours they have to work.