Pure National Limited claims that after a significant fire at its plant in November, the exorbitant expenses of importing ice from outside have forced them to raise ice prices.
In a recent news release, Khary Robinson, the Pure National Director, remarked, “Unfortunately, the costs associated with importing ice — ranging from trucking to shipping and government clearance — far exceed our local production costs.”
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Robinson claimed that to offset the higher sourcing and shipping costs, Pure National was forced to raise prices by $100 to $200 for every bag.
The leading ice manufacturer in the English-speaking Caribbean, Pure National Limited, stated that it has been dealing with serious operational difficulties since the fire destroyed its plant’s capability for both production and storage. There is now a significant ice shortage in Jamaica because of this disturbance.
Pure National indicated that in order to fill the supply gap, it looked to a major US producer that complies with FDA and Bureau of Standards Jamaica health regulations. However, the company stated that the cost of importing ice has increased costs considerably, necessitating the necessary price adjustments.
In acknowledging the wider ramifications of the supply interruption, Robinson pointed out that local vendors have found it difficult to cover Pure National’s absence. He explained, “Our rigorous quality standards and significant production volume are meaningfully more than we can garner locally.”
The leadership of the firm emphasized that the price rise was intended to preserve supplies during this crucial time rather than to generate profit.
Theresa Lindo, CEO of Pure National Limited claimed, “We want to make it clear that Pure National is not seeking to profit from ice sales during this rebuilding period.”
“Our primary focus is on ensuring that we provide safe, high-quality ice to the market that has been served by our brands – Happy Ice and Pure National Ice – for over 30 years. It’s important to understand that we do not control final pricing to the consumer since our sales are to retailers who set their markups as they see fit for their business.”
Robinson went on to discuss the ice market’s pricing volatility, blaming it on the existing imbalance between supply and demand.
Robinson stated, “We understand that pricing has become erratic as there has been instability in supply and its inability to meet demand. However, we are gaining traction and support from all stakeholders, including government entities, to stabilize pricing as quickly and steadily as possible.” He added, “Our ultimate goal is to rebuild the most superior production facility in the region, which will allow us to regain our lower production costs and stabilize ice pricing back towards previous levels.”
Lindo stated, “From 2019, we have consistently made substantial investments in our state-of-the-art facility to deliver the highest quality ice and water at the most competitive prices, and we are committed to rebuilding and restoring our production capacity.”
Lindo advised customers to prioritize their health and safety while buying ice until Pure National recovers.
“Ice is food, and how it is produced is vital to your health,” she explained. “We encourage everyone to consume ice only from trusted sources as we work tirelessly to resolve these issues and meet the demands of our valued customers.”
