Why we are working, says ice cream dealer

Ruth Jenevie, an ice cream dealer, has revealed her firm has continued to work hard in a harsh business environment saying they want to blaze a new trail by being the first firm to produce yoghurt and ice cream in Bayelsa State.

Presently, all the yoghurt and ice cream sold and distributed in Yenagoa are brought in from Aba in Abia State and Onitsha in Anambra State by retailers thereby increasing the cost price.

Jenevie explained that in spite of the challenges confronting her firm in its operations in the state, they were resolute in plans to establish a yoghurt and ice cream production factory in Yenagoa in the near future.

“It is our plan to begin yoghurt and ice cream production in the state in the near future because the demand for the product has risen in the past few years and there is need for a plant in the state that can meet local demand,” she said.

She said they were making plans to formally register the business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to enhance their chances of making it big and dominating the retail business in the state.

She disclosed that lack of adequate power supply was one of the major challenges confronting their operations and they have to spend so much to fuel an 18KVA diesel generator to power freezers.

“The absence of power is cutting into our profits do much that we are only barely able to break even. But we are not deterred as we believe that we will continue to grow stronger as we remain in business,” she stated.

Jenevie also disclosed that the activities touts was also adversely affecting the business pointing out that they have had to pay more as touts always demanded for one fee or the other.

She said: “It is difficult to get trucks to deliver supplies to Bayelsa State because of the activities of touts who make so many demands on our suppliers whenever they come into the state to make deliveries.”

On the rainy season that starts early in the state, she explained that it does not seriously affect sales as yoghurt and ice cream was actually more in demand by school children.

SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa