Business View Caribbean | January 2020

22 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN JANUARY 2020 bring the location up to the level we operate in. Over the last year, all the equipment has been replaced with new units. We’re working with U.S. brands like Hill Phoenix for green products that are more energy- and cost- efficient. We also installed LED lights and we’ve already seen reductions in the electricity bill. That’s the direction the Group is headed, being more environmentally conscious.” The store, itself, is 3,500 sq. meters. Now that the interior remodeling is mostly finished, next on the agenda is a complete redo of the exterior, including updating the façade, putting in a new parking lot, and LED lights. The 160 employees at Ling & Sons and are like a big family. Some have been with the company for over 35 years and the most recent are interns. There is very little turnover. Barrientos notes, “It’s very important for us to make the workplace safe and healthy for our staff, and to offer them opportunities to grow. Some of them have family members working with us. Basically, we take very good care of our staff because without them we couldn’t accomplish what we do. First we make the staff happy and then they take care of our customers the same way. Our HR department has a full training lab which all employees have to go through, depending on whether it’s merchandising, or cashiers, or any other department. It covers safety, quality control, and makes sure they learn what they’re supposed to be doing.” Ling & Sons deals in wholesale, as well as retail, and recently formed Ling & Sons Distribution. This new company, a subsidiary of the Van Den Tweel Caribbean Food Group, targets restaurants, hotels, and small independent supermarkets. The distribution warehouse receives six to ten containers every week between produce, dairy, and dry items, which are sold to the majority of hotels and restaurants on the island. Most of the goods are imported from the U.S., with some from Spain and the Netherlands. Competition- wise, Aruba has three main players, with Ling &