CPL Group opening up to SME businesses

THE City Pharmacy Ltd Group will be creating a space at its stores for small-to-medium businesses to sell their products, founder and director Sir Mahesh Patel says.
Sir Mahesh told The National that they were currently working with various suppliers and helping some with packaging and “go to market” strategies.
“We will keep introducing new lines as they become ready, but we are hoping to do a full launch around Independence Day (Sept 16) later this year,” he said.
Sir Mahesh said that there were hundreds of current farmers as well as newer ones coming on board from various regions and, as time goes on, the group would look at value added products, artisans and crafts suppliers, among others.
“We always suggest that they are welcome to engage with us for any guidance and packaging requirements,” he said.
“The key factor is the ability to have consistency in supply quantity and consistent quality.
“We will start with Stop & Shop and selected pharmacies in Port Moresby and as the supply and demand picks up, we will roll it out to the other locations. We have been very passionate to supporter farmers over the years.
“And as we are going through a very testing time, not only in health but economically as well, our aim is to keep encouraging SMEs (small-to-medium enterprises) and MSMEs (micro small and medium enterprises MSMEs) to get started as this I feel will be the success factor for our future as a nation.”
The CPL Group currently supports more than 100 farmers and suppliers all over Central and Gulf, Goroka, Mt Hagen, Chimbu, Madang and Lae.
There are plans in place to get fresh produce from other provinces such as Northern, Southern Highlands and Hela.