The Tastee store in Stony Hill.
Sabrina Gordon, Business ReporterPatty company Tastee Limited is pushing ahead with expansion plans which include a new outlet in Port Maria within three months.
The new store will grow the network to 31 outlets.
"I do believe there are still parts of the country that provide growth opportunities, for which we do not have a footprint and it is those areas where we will strategically seek to enter," said Ryan Foster, group chief operating officer at Tastee.
Foster said the company will spend up to J$40 million to set up the Port Maria store, which will occupy a space of about 2,500 square feet.
J$250 million in expansions
Since last year, the fast-food company has added three stores located in Linstead, Morant Bay and Ocho Rios; and has expanded its concessions or contracted services to eight schools where it operates full canteen services, supplying meal products.
Foster said the company invested over J$250 million in expansions and created jobs for over 300 persons last year.
"All these initiatives are aligned to our growth strategies," he said.
Tastee aims to grow through expansions as well as the concessions.
"Where there is a demand, we will definitely seek to fill that need once the product is complementary to our core market. We have expanded our menu offerings in the past 12 months to incorporate cooked meals, soups, breakfast offerings and have now gone into making our own pastries," said Foster.
Tastee has been serving the local market for over 40 years and has annual turnover of J$800 million, according to information on its website.
Along with its Kingston operations, the company opened a [color:596b=blue !important][color:596b=blue !important]Montego [color:596b=blue !important]Bay factory which supplies products to its stores in Falmouth, Trelawny, as well as Ocho Rios and Brown's Town in St Ann, and Mandeville in Manchester.
Tastee, which recently received its HACCP certification, said it plans to enter the United States and United Kingdom markets at some point in the future.
"We will continue to look at areas whether locally, regionally or internationally to expand into, not only for growth opportunities but also as a means to diversify revenues and our business exposure," Foster said.
Tastee currently operates 30 outlets, comprising 11 franchises, 10 companies that are distributors of Tastee patties exclusively; and 16 school canteens.