Lack of raw material threatens production at Bello

Michael Fagan (center), Managing Director at Bello says the company is seeking to expand into new markets but lack of raw material threatens production

Lack of raw materials is threatening the production and services at Dominica’s Bello factory.

Managing Director of Bello Michael Fagan says insufficient production from farmers is posing a major threat to its products particularly coffee and hot peppers.

He says while the company will give Dominica priority, it may have to import its raw materials from overseas.

“We will still have to supplement raw materials from outside of Dominica if we are not getting but we want to maintain the quality and we get the best quality from Dominica. A major threat to us right now is with our coffee product where much of the coffee might be going out the back door to the French island but we are willing to work with the farmers on price. We feel that we should be given priority because we are right here in Dominica,” he said

Fagan says the company has developed new markets for several of its products and is urging local farmers here to increase its production to accommodate the new venture. “I just want to appeal to the farming community, as a partner, that we are interested in paying [for] peppers and the same goes for yellow limes and Arabica coffee beans as well as plantains and breadfruit. We are re-building our market outside of Dominica and we’re looking forward to working with the farming community to get increased raw material supply,” he said.

He continued, “We want to maintain the integrity and the quality of the product and we get the best product from Dominica. We are willing to supplement initially, but the long term goal is to buy everything in Dominica, including pepper and passion fruit.”

He says Bello is willing to negotiate a suitable price with farmers in that regard.

Despite the lack of raw material Fagan said the company is seeking to position itself as a major player, once again, in the United Kingdom (UK) market as well as new markets in other European and South American countries.

This is in an effort to rebuild the company’s markets which once saw demand of six containers monthly.

The company has agreed to provide one forty-foot container per month of products to the UK.

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32 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    October 2, 2012

    :lol: good job uncle

  2. Anonymous
    February 3, 2012

    admini may i get bello number please

    ADMIN: Follow this link: http://belloproducts.com/contact.html

  3. Youthman
    May 25, 2011

    :-? why is it hard for this company to get its materials when it was founded based on the knowledge that, their matrials are right heere in their own country.? This should not be. We know that the french currency wen exchanged in EC does bring income is very good but supporting your country”s businesses with your produce should be a proud thing. Farmers should not be selfish and give selling out of state number one priority. Make you and your country a proud people.

  4. Reviewer
    May 20, 2011

    I would like to quote: : “To help advance efficiency practices, profitable enterprises in socially desirable ways” The real issue here is simple.It does not take a brain surgeon, rocket scientis or wizard to solves Michael/Bello’s problem.
    All Michael has to do is hire a Productivity Consultant.that simple. a smal salary of $4000.00/month

  5. Justty
    May 20, 2011

    Mr Fagan……send the container to the UK i will definitely support.. I am feed up of buying St Lucia and bajan pepper sauce and they are so tasteless.

    • Piper
      May 20, 2011

      OK….Bello pepper sauce is tasteless. Here is what you do. When you wake up tomorrow morning, used it to wash your face.

  6. Bushmaninda
    May 20, 2011

    At 60 cents per pound for peppers, I say get it somewhere else. I can do better with some other crop. It is not worth my time to grow peppers at that price

  7. God's child
    May 19, 2011

    thats just smoke screen,i remember bello had that same apply for produce,i went to them to inform them of what i have,they took my name and the prouce that i had ie ginger.sorrel and pawpaw,to date i have not received a call from the company asking me what sell or buying imaginethat.trust me that is the same thing that will happen if farmers go producing.as a farmer these are things we face.people wants produce when we go producing for them they purchasing from you twice and the thrid time you not hearing from them even when you bend backwards and accept their low prices

    • Trouble intended
      May 19, 2011

      Farmers need representation to have contracts with Bello for a certain price. The farmer in turn would have to produce a certain quality and quantity. Is there a union representing farmers in this?

  8. :-)
    May 19, 2011

    THAT’S A SHAME IN THE NATURE ISLAND OF THE CARIBBEAN! They spending how much money on campaigns and their Agriculture sector is dying of MALNUTRITION! Shame!

  9. Manufacturer
    May 19, 2011

    This shows the absolute need for organized farmers and structured agro-processors to work together. The newley formed Dominica Manufacturers Association will hopefully meet prompty with the farmers organizations. The problem that PW BELLO is facing today cannot be treated in isolation but with a over vision for the Country.

  10. FARMER BOY
    May 19, 2011

    Now is the time for the productivity consultant to go to work- Go Pary Go Pary.

  11. Trouble intended
    May 19, 2011

    So I guess I can stop hoping and praying to see Bello pepper sauce and other Bello products on Supermarket shelves in the US. Everyday I going in store looking for Bello,,,NADA!!!… Is damn lazy some Dominicans lazy…Shytt man!!!

    • Pay us $$$$$
      May 19, 2011

      When Bello start paying us the rite price, we will go back to the farm.

      • Anonymous
        May 19, 2011

        agree with you 100%

      • Trouble intended
        May 19, 2011

        I guess you have better sources of income in the mean time. Good for you.

      • me
        May 20, 2011

        you too shortsighted my friend, who needs who, remember they say they can get it form outside, so who loses? DA.

      • Anonymous
        May 20, 2011

        In the meantime you pull up?.

  12. Piper
    May 19, 2011

    It seems to me that Bello will have no choice but to import more raw material. The farmers will want more money for their produce. With such small holdings, they will need to charge more to make it worth their while – hence the sales to the French islands.

    On the other hand, there is a limit to the price Bello can pay (even despite their desire to pay more to buy local). They have foreign competition for all the products they manufacture in their export markets.

    Making matters worse, both Bello and the farmers are operating on a very small scale, making it difficult to amorize their costs. In the end it might make more sense for them to buy from suppliers who have lower production costs and let our farmers sell to the French.

    • Piper
      May 19, 2011

      Correction: should have been “amortize”

  13. Weh
    May 19, 2011

    Come on Bello You can do it!!! You will make it as long as you have great leadership!!

    • ...
      May 19, 2011

      Great leadership? Do you think that’s all BELLO will need to get out of this dark tunnel, when you read for yourself that raw materials are getting scarce?
      Read again…

  14. as i see it.
    May 19, 2011

    dominica should stop competing with sand, sea and sun countries for that almighty us dollars and work hard with we have naturaly our agriculture.see what’s happening now in the us in terms of weather patterns. drought, floods ,tornados etc.caribbean that are dependent on tourism and that container of chiled products to feed them are going to suffer.dominica please position yourself to take full advantage of that position.

  15. Rolle
    May 19, 2011

    Now this is a sad situation for a country with such fertile soil and high unemployment.

  16. powil par
    May 19, 2011

    they sit complaining instead of getting up and looking for new avenues…. you say bananas are not financially viable…? try something else, cruise ships not coming? try something else…. but i guess its so much easier to sit on the road side blaming the government for your lack of innovation, entrepreneurship and ambition. keep waiting for manna from heaven… the roads are only getting longer and harder all over the world… Dominica is no exception!

    • Elementary Math student
      May 19, 2011

      If I spend a dollar to grow the pepper and I only get 25 cents for that pepper with Bello I am left with two options either I abandon the pepper field or I try to sell my pepper to a Guadeloupein where I can get 1.05 dollars.

      • Anonymous
        May 20, 2011

        Do you know the real cost of production

  17. Nature Islander.NC
    May 19, 2011

    Bello need to make their prices more attractive in order to lure farmers in their direction. Naturally, if the prices in the neighboring islands are more enticing the farmers will go “back door”. Farming in DA is not an easy job; therefore, the farmers need to be paid reasonably for their produce.

    • charles sav........
      May 19, 2011

      so very true,the prices they are offering really

    • Kalinago in New York
      May 19, 2011

      My father had peppers making natural sauce spoiling on the ground yet BELLO wanted it for next to nothing…. What demand? When farmers demand better prices, BELLO closes their ears…

    • ...
      May 19, 2011

      There hardly are farmers darling.

  18. Speaking my mind.
    May 19, 2011

    Common farmers common you can do it. I tell you, many of our young men are not interested in farming. This cigarette, alcohol and marijuana consumption is a damn liability.

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