Patties imported from the United States, which a few months
ago were at the centre of a media firestorm after it emerged that they were
competing with Jamaican-made patties, are no longer available here.
The patties, which had been imported by local wholesale chain, PriceSmart, have been pulled from the shelves due to what the patty-manufacturers, Caribbean Food Delight say is slow demand.
Controversy was unleashed when the Jamaica Manufacturers Association expressed alarm that the patties were being imported despite the booming patty industry in Jamaica.
The storm was not doused when it was disclosed that the importer was a respected Jamaican family living in the United States.
Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Food Delight Vincent Hosang confirmed to RJR News on Monday morning that the patties are no longer available here.
But Mr. Hosang was at pains to downplay any suggestion that the latest development was as a result of the controversy.
"Prior to the controversy in Jamaica about Jamaica importing patties into the island, our customer which is PriceSmart had decided before that that they don't think they would be able to get their margin because the dollar was so devalued,
"So they had decided even before the controversy that they don't think that they were gonna continue selling it in Jamaica. They are however doing a very good job in the other Caribbean islands like Cayman, Virgin Islands and South America," Mr. Hosang said.
He said however that the Company which employs several Jamaicans living in the US continues to expand.
"Not having our patties in Jamaica it doesn't really bother us because that is only a very, very minute part of our business. We serve all the big companies like Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam's, E.J. and so forth. Sam's Club alone gives us 110 additional stores," he said.
The company, one of the largest frozen food factory in North America, is popular among Jamaicans as a good corporate citizen.
It is best known for feeding Jamaican student athletes who travel to the annual Penn Relays in Philadelphia.
The patties, which had been imported by local wholesale chain, PriceSmart, have been pulled from the shelves due to what the patty-manufacturers, Caribbean Food Delight say is slow demand.
Controversy was unleashed when the Jamaica Manufacturers Association expressed alarm that the patties were being imported despite the booming patty industry in Jamaica.
The storm was not doused when it was disclosed that the importer was a respected Jamaican family living in the United States.
Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Food Delight Vincent Hosang confirmed to RJR News on Monday morning that the patties are no longer available here.
But Mr. Hosang was at pains to downplay any suggestion that the latest development was as a result of the controversy.
"Prior to the controversy in Jamaica about Jamaica importing patties into the island, our customer which is PriceSmart had decided before that that they don't think they would be able to get their margin because the dollar was so devalued,
"So they had decided even before the controversy that they don't think that they were gonna continue selling it in Jamaica. They are however doing a very good job in the other Caribbean islands like Cayman, Virgin Islands and South America," Mr. Hosang said.
He said however that the Company which employs several Jamaicans living in the US continues to expand.
"Not having our patties in Jamaica it doesn't really bother us because that is only a very, very minute part of our business. We serve all the big companies like Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam's, E.J. and so forth. Sam's Club alone gives us 110 additional stores," he said.
The company, one of the largest frozen food factory in North America, is popular among Jamaicans as a good corporate citizen.
It is best known for feeding Jamaican student athletes who travel to the annual Penn Relays in Philadelphia.
All feeds
