From coconut oil to flour, US$8.5M local company capitalising on ‘agri’ plans

Processing about 120,000 coconuts daily, Guyanese company ‘Only Coconuts’ is capitalising on the local and regional focus of growing more food and slashing a costly food import bill.

In fact, the company’s Vice President, Lesley Ramlall said its US$8.5 million Marudi Creek, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway facility is the largest coconut processing plant in South America. Because of this, he believes Only Coconuts is well-positioned to meet growing demands.

“Our aim really is to be a supplier of the entire Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region.

“We do have the capacity,” Ramlall told the News Room.

The large volume of coconuts used daily is supplied by farmers in the Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) and Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne).

Already, the company makes virgin coconut oil, refined coconut oil, desecrated coconut, coconuts and coconut flour. Soon, it will venture into coconut milk and possibly, coconut cassareep if the market exists.

Those products are distributed in most major supermarkets locally, corner shops and other small businesses. Ramlall also said the company exports its products to Suriname, Barbados and Canada.

Linkages have been established with Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, France and Panama.

Days ago, while participating in Barbados’ Agro Fest, the company inked a new partnership with a Barbados distribution partner, Armstrong Enterprise. Through this new partnership, Only Coconuts hopes more of its products can be shipped across the Caribbean.

With CARICOM leaders committing to slashing food imports into the region by 25 per cent by 2025, Ramlall said the region can spend less if more countries utilise the variety of coconut products the company produces.