Durrant Pate/Contributor

Omni Industries Limited has dispatched its first shipment of locally manufactured products to Barbados, as the Jamaican thermoplastics producer accelerates its push to become a key regional supplier. 

The shipment, sent out recently from Omni’s Twickenham Park facility in St. Catherine, comprised of 4,600 five-gallon paint buckets and lids destined for a leading regional paint manufacturer, represents an introductory order. It also shows Omni’s new partners that the Jamaican company can deliver on schedule and at the standards the market expects.

“Barbados is a key market we have been eyeing for some time,” explains director of sales and marketing at Omni, Vincent Clarke, who added, “Customers there, like across the Caribbean, want strong, affordable products they can depend on. The benefits of buying from us right here in the region outweigh sourcing from other parts of the world, in terms of price, logistics, and the trade advantages that come with CARICOM.” 

Consistency & quality

In May of this year, Omni opened routes to Guyana, initially shipping an introductory order of construction buckets and garden hoses. The company has since completed a second shipment to the emerging oil and gas market, which included a wider mix of products, a sign that demand for the company’s offerings is broadening.

Management’s objective is to grow exports to about 20 per cent of revenues over the medium term, supported by ongoing plant upgrades and product development. Omni’s warehouse manager, Daniel Chambers, declares the company is on its way to achieving this goal.

According to him, “Every container we prepare has to move smoothly from factory floor to port, and that’s where we’re putting a lot of focus. My job is to make sure inventory is ready, orders are fulfilled properly, and logistics line up so the products arrive in good condition. This consistency is what will help us achieve the long and short-term objectives we’ve outlined.”

Omni is confident that the relationship with its new export markets will continue to expand in the coming years. The company also has Nicaragua on its export radar, drawn by the country’s growing construction sector and demand for durable, affordable building and packaging materials. 

Management sees opportunities there to replicate the same regional supply model now underway in Barbados and Guyana.