Real value for money

THE Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) and indeed the Guyanese public as a whole have always welcomed the launch of any locally made products which achieved standards comparable to the best imported from abroad since such quietly awakened a sense of national pride. Guyanese, a much-travelled people, are pleased to discover that many of the foods they find in the developed countries are the same as they produce in their homeland, and sometimes better.

A few weeks ago, Banks DIH the main producer in Guyana of industrially baked biscuits launched two new biscuit products – Midwest Tea Biscuits and Midwest Cookies and upgraded their Triskits range with improved packaging and baking techniques. The Triskit range, we may remind readers, consists of the delightfully crisp oval-shaped vanilla cookies and the whole wheat and white round crackers which are already widely accepted locally and in some Caribbean markets. The motto of the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) is “Value for Money” and they would not recommend or endorse a product simply because it was locally produced; the local product must either be equal to or superior to the foreign one and should be sold competitively.

Accordingly, we asked 20 of our members who were experienced in pastries and biscuits and who had the necessary enthusiasm, to sample the newly launched Midwest Tea Biscuits and Midwest Cookies and the upgraded Triskit range and give their studied responses so that the association may be able to give a fair assessment of the new products for the benefit of consumers.

The 20-person panel posed four reactions to which they had a week and a half to respond: Firstly, whether the taste and enjoyment were positive; secondly, how did the local product compare with the equivalent foreign imports; thirdly, the packaging and presentation of the products; and fourthly, whether in view of the large assortment of foreign biscuits imported, there was need for a new local brand.

The panel gave a very high rating to both the Midwest Tea and Cookies as well as to the upgraded Triskits:- The new Midwest range was inviting. They were not too sweet as some foreign imports were and could be used as a snack at any time of day. The Midwest cookies went well with coffee. The Triskit range maintained their previous quality and was further improved with their new presentation.

At the risk of being accused of hyperbole, the new packaging was revolutionary and this was the general feeling of all samplers. The Midwest Tea was in a handy blue and gold packet containing five cellophane wrapped packs of five biscuits each. The Midwest cookies were similarly packed but in a ruby red packet. Prominently placed on each packet was a health warning that no transfat was used and telephone number and email which consumers could contact. Expiry dates were clearly written as well as the ingredients of the biscuits. The Triskits were equally attractively packed using much blue.

The tea biscuits were cut into rectangular shape while the cookies were square and on each biscuit was embossed clovers indicating luck, faith, hope and love. The Triskits were cut into circular shape and were in handy packages. The use of smaller packets allows the consumer to consume only what he or she requires, leaving the rest of the packets unopened and fresh.

All samplers felt that the launch of the new biscuits and the upgrading of the Triskit range was timely and necessary, since consumers could now enjoy fresh biscuits and that the market would now have a Guyanese product equivalent to the best imports within its range.at a competitive price. Actually, an assortment of these biscuits could make a very fine Christmas gift.

In this column, in the past, we have mentioned Guyanese made products which are world class and so acknowledged in foreign markets. Yet Guyanese are often oblivious of the world-class bargains they have at their door-step. For example, the DDL rums, especially the 15-year old and 12-year old are found in all the world’s major airports and famous bars. Yet one may find Guyanese occasionally buying inferior foreign rums.
Similarly, the sweets, curries, spices and pasta produced by the Edward B. Beharry Co have the highest ISO ratings and are sought after in foreign markets.

Despite the very competitive prices, consumers could still be found buying foreign inferior products.
Coconut oil has become one of the oils most in demand in the world both because of its health value and because it could reverse dementia. Two companies in the Pomeroon produce high grade refined and virgin coconut oil yet consumers buy inferior foreign vegetable oil.

The same trend applies to turmeric grown in the North-West District (Region I). Turmeric has now been recognized as a healthy food and at the same time, an antidote or treatment for several diseases including Alzheimer and its demand is growing exponentially in the Developed Countries. Yet its use locally is growing very slowly.