And according to bar owners across the country yesterday, customers are already “holding their heads and bawling”.
Carib Brewery yesterday announced that rising production costs have resulted in a $1 retail price increase.
Heinekin Trinidad Ltd will also impose an increase.
Bars owners yesterday received a letter from Carib Brewery informing them of the change.
The company said the costs of raw materials and the cost of bringing these materials into the country have risen steadily over the past five years. Also on the increase for several years was the cost of local labour, transport and packaging.
“Carib has been absorbing these costs for the past five years,” a company representative said. “Local operating costs have risen significantly and regrettably, it is no longer possible for the company to continue this way.”
Carib also gave notice that it will be paying $2.80 for plastic crates instead of $8.80.
It will continue to pay 30 cents for bottles.
Customers have until May 5 to redeem their crates and bottles at the old price.
Bars may add on another dollar or two to their retail price.
“People bawling,” said one Henry Street bar-owner. “A man say ‘the only thing I had was a cold Carib and they want to take that from me, too’.” Heinekin echoed the reasons that had been given by Carib for the increases – high operating costs.
“Local and global economic conditions have greatly impacted the daily cost of operations. Raw materials now cost more and locally, labour and sugar prices have gone up,” general manager Sandy Koning. “We have tried to absorb these costs for three years.”
The Nassau Guardian
