Milford Williams, Gleaner Writer
Left: CHIN - Right: Student customers at the Juici Patties outlet at the University of the West Indies Mona campus on Wednesday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
JUKIE CHIN, chief executive officer of Juici Patties, wants everyone in the region to start eating his patties.
The opening of his newest store at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, is a key element in that strategy as the homebound Caribbean students will give him an automatic market when the company dips its feet into the Caribbean Sea.
"This is a project we always wanted to do," said Chin. It presents a good opportunity for overseas based persons to become familiar with the product and even to spread the word locally among those not yet initiated.
Juici Patties has been undertaking massive expansion across the island over the past few years, and with the store count now at 48, eaters can be sure to find its meals nearby. However, Chin says growth has come at a high price.
"Business has been growing every year since its inception. We've reinvested and done well, but we have also borrowed a lot of money to expand," he stated. "We have debts to service. We're managing, but debt remains a big factor."
BUILT FROM SCRATCH
The UWI store is the fifth to be built from scratch in the past five years, Chin told the Financial Gleaner. "Only recently we've taken the decision to build our own stores. He pointed to the fact that of the stores now in operation, about half of them are owned by franchises who identify locations and undertake all the financing.
Both students and workers have welcomed the new facility with enthusiasm, adding that it provides them with variety and affordable meals. The development comes as part of UWI's plan to cater to the needs of students by providing more dining options for the up to 13, 000 students, staff and visitors who use the campus, especially during weekdays.
The store is located at the intersection of Queen's Way and the Ring Road on property within the department of physics. This was deliberately done to cater for students in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences who had no dining facility nearby.
With Chin intent on opening other stores in the region, the prospects seem bright based on the favourable responses gathered from some foreign students. Among them is Trinidadian second year medical science student Tricya Boodoo. She said when friends first introduced her to the store she was only familiar with the chicken meals, now she has developed a liking for other items, especially patties.
EAT HEALTHY
"This store sorts out my lunch problems," Boodoo declared. "Meals are affordable and there is an option to eat healthy."
Although a Jamaican from Kingston, Derven Pullard is not familiar with the Juici Patties brand. But with the now outlet on campus, "they can expect to see me soon," he said.
Chemistry major Kimberly Whyte from Ocho Rios said, "Juici Patties has a high standard and they've maintained that for years." She is a loyal customer who has been dining there since she was in primary school.
To ensure it meets the needs of the university populace, Juici is having to make adjustments. The store opens as early as 6:30 a.m. and closes at 10:30 p.m.
"According to early indicators we may have to extend beyond 10:30 p.m., because we realise that many customers still come in for meals around that time," said store manager Lisel Fairweather.
Chin said the 3,000 square foot facility is a plus for Juici Patties since UWI is the largest tertiary institution in the island. However, there are no immediate plans to target other tertiary institutions.
