Despite competition RML holds onto market share

Published: Friday May 9, 2008

General manager of Readymix West Indies Limited (RML) Manan Deo, said yesterday his company uses only local labour for its projects despite a shortage of labour in T&T.

Deo made the statement while reporting to the company’s shareholders at its 49th annual general meeting at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

He said RML sources its labour from local communities.

“Generally we have been able to obtain our complement of labour in Trinidad. We look at that skillset that is required and by and large from the communities that we operate in we have been able to source our labour,” he said.

Deo said there was no significant change in RML’s marketing and share of the market for the financial year 2008.

He said while the overall market size grew from 2006 to 2007, RML’s share of the market remained basically unchanged.

However, Deo said RML must maintain and improve its share of the market this year and in the future in the face of increasing competition.

“In Trinidad we expect new competitors in the market...We have had more than 10 competitors for the last few years. One of the major ways in which we increase the share of the market is through quality.

“To deal with the competition we have strengthened our marketing department in terms of how we relate to our customers. The number of customer service representatives or co-ordinators, they target these projects...so that we sell our projects...not only do we want to defend our market share, we want to improve our market share,” he said.

Deo said heavy traffic jams have not affected the operations of the company because of its flexible operations.

“Our major plant is in Laventille, what we have to start to do is to start before the traffic and go on to 8 pm. We have to work with the needs of our customers,” he said.

Deo said that for the rest of 2008 the company’s plans are on course in the areas of growth for T&T and its St Maarten operations and the completion of the Waterfront Development Project.

“Every project has a finite life and we started the Waterfront Project at the end of 2005 and basically it has come to an end and basically we move on to another project.

“We believe that once we address these issues from the side of the market, from the marketing side, from the distribution side...we’ll be able to ensure our shareholders and directors of growth and performance,” he said.


Source:
Trinidad Guardian Newspapers
Raphael John Lall
http://www.guardian.co.tt/business2.html