– to open food courts at airport, post office

Bread and pastries company Bakewell continues to expand its operations with the acquisition of the Rituals Coffee House franchise as well as leases to open food courts at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri and in the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) building.

This was disclosed yesterday at a press conference held at the company’s new head office at Miller Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, hosted by executives of the company as well as the heads of the CJIA, GPOC and the Trinidad and Tobago-based Rituals Coffee House.

According to CEO of Bakewell Naeem Nazir the company is working towards bringing the food business in Guyana to a new level. He said a contract was recently signed between his company and the CJIA to establish a food court at the airport. As such a Roti Hut eatery will be opened in the departure lounge while a Rituals Coffee House establishment will be located in the arrival lounge of the airport and both locations will be opened 24 hours a day.

Nazir also said that the partnership with the GPOC will see a food court as well as a Rituals Coffee House outlet established in the Savage Street section of the post office where a Republic Bank branch was once housed. He said the food court will be unique as customers will be able to eat a variety of foods for a standard price, since these will be available buffet style. He said the lease also covers the establishment of a ladies store, an ice-cream shop and a pizza shop.

In brief remarks, CJIA CEO Ramesh Ghir told the media that the establishment of the eatery at the airport will be of benefit to the travelling public since many persons traverse the airport with very few options in terms of food.

As such he is happy with the partnership since it further modernizes the services offered by the airport. Ghir also used the opportunity to announce yesterday’s opening of a Republic Bank facility at the airport.

GPOC Chairman Bishop Juan Edghill said the process for awarding the lease to Bakewell followed the required procedures and the partnership will be beneficial to the GPOC. He said the GPOC was approached by Bakewell soon after Republic Bank left the location.

Meanwhile, CEO of Rituals Coffee House, Mario Sabga-Aboud, said his company has established coffee chops at approximately 54 locations across Trinidad and Tobago. He said the company was established about five years ago in the Twin Island republic and is currently expanding to other Caribbean countries such as St Lucia, Grenada and Jamaica to name a few.

The contract for the Rituals Coffee House franchise was signed between the two entities at yesterday’s press conference.

The establishment of the food entities will occur within the next three months and approximately 70 persons will be employed.