Glenda Anderson, Staff Reporter
THE DAYS of relatives oveseas 'packing a barrel' or box with food supplies to send to relatives back home in Jamaica may be coming to an end: At least one retail food outlet has moved to offer overseas customers the option of shopping for grocery items online.
Webmaster and manager of SuperPlus Food Stores' online facility, Madelaine Lim, says the concept started last April with 10 customers, but by the beginning of the year the number had grown to 400.
"We've had a lot of customers especially from New York, but also from places like Japan and London, with a lot of repeat as well as new customers," she says.
The idea, she says, came from her husband, Steve Lim, who had been on a business assignment in Jamaica and at the end of his contract he was hired by SuperPlus to manage the venture.
Membership is not a requirement, and customers are invited to log in, browse and make Internet orders .
"There are over 400 items listed for sale and every week we try to add some new items. Persons simply click on the items and add them to their basket. Payment is done using any major credit card.
"The feedback we've been having is that it's more convenient, and less expensive too because all we ask is a processing fee of US$10, and the order is processed within 24 hours," Mrs. Lim said.
The chain has also been tapping into the popular remittance process.
New York customers may make and pay for their orders at Caribbean Outpost in New York, as a re-mittance transaction.
Lee-Anne Steele, project and research officer, for In-ternational Markets at Grace, Ken-nedy Remittance Services, explained the process.
NEW PRODUCT
"Caribbean Outpost has recently introduced a new product offering to its customers in New York. Customers can now walk into our location and purchase SuperPlus products for their friends and relatives in Jamaica.
Customers may order from a catalogue and hand in the completed order form to the Caribbean Outpost representative. Within 24 hours, SuperPlus contacts the recipients in Jamaica to inquire which location would be easier for pickup. The order is prepared at that location and the recipient simply shows up (with some form of identification) and picks up their prepared order."
