NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce President James Carey labeled the shutting down of Sawyer’s Fresh Market in Lucaya and the subsequent layoffs of a number of employees as an extreme move by executives and a step backward for Grand Bahama.
The Supermarket made the announcement last Friday. Carey noted that the location in question was one of the franchise’s newest locations, and he could not understand what led to the shutdown or why the company had not released any additional information.
He also questioned the company’s financial standing, which recently opened a new location in Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island.
Carey said that he hopes to gain more information on the reason for the closure in the new year.
While it remains unclear how many individuals have been impacted by the move, a laid-off staff member speaking to Eyewitness News anonymously estimated at least 40 individuals were given letters. The individual also said that employees were not necessarily optimistic about the franchise re-engaging them within the three-month time frame given by executives.
The individual said that the franchise had been struggling to maintain adequate store inventory for some time and insisted that the franchise’s future is concerning.
On Friday, the company posted a release on its social media announcing the closure of its Lucaya location to “focus all efforts” on its Oak Street location. It was also noted that the company had planned to reengage employees who had been laid off as a result.
Eyewitness News understands that those employees have all been given letters to collect unemployment from the National Insurance Board.
