22 Massy Stores Employees Complete HACCP & Food Safety Training

PHOTO: (sitting in front row) H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia (fourth from left), joins Dr. Xanthe Dubuisson, Certification Officer, Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards; Ms. Adline Eudovic, Project Coordinator, Seven Crops Project; Mr. Daniel Lee, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission in Saint Lucia; Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development; Mr. Martin Dorville, Managing Director of Massy Stores (St. Lucia) Ltd.; and other Taiwan Embassy and TTM officials, officials from Massy Stores and the Ministry of Agriculture, and the graduates at the recognition ceremony on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Massy City Store.

(RODNEY BAY, GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA – Wednesday, August 6, 2025) – Twenty-two employees from Massy Stores (St. Lucia) Ltd. have graduated from a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Food Safety Training Programme aimed at improving food safety.

The training programme was made possible through the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan Technical Mission, and Massy Stores, and reflects a shared vision of building a more resilient, safer, and locally empowered food system in Saint Lucia.

The Taiwan’s Technical Mission’s partnership with Massy Stores began during the first phase of the TTM’s “Enhancing the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain in Fruit and Vegetable Sector Project” (2019–2021), commonly known as the “Seven Crops Project”. Achievements under the collaboration include the implementation of product labeling systems such as Local Product (LP) and Import Product (IP) initiatives, which help consumers easily identify locally grown foods, make informed choices, and support local farmers.

In 2023, the Taiwan Technical Mission expanded this collaboration to strengthen food safety and transparency. Together with Massy Stores and the Ministry of Agriculture, the TTM has promoted the adoption of HACCP standards, introduced pesticide residue testing, and established traceability systems that ensure quality and accountability from farm to shelf.

In 2023, training began in the Northern area, focusing on:

• Container Opening Procedures – to ensure that imported goods are checked by the Ministry for any harmful organisms and the proper cold-chain temperatures are maintained;
• Post-Harvest Handling – equipping workers with knowledge on how to handle fruits and vegetables after harvest using best horticultural practices; and
• HACCP Principles – helping staff understand and apply global food safety standards.

A graduation ceremony was held in the Innovation Hub of Massy Stores’ City Store on the afternoon of Thursday, July 24, 2025, where the participants were congratulated for completing the essential training programme. They included 12 staff members from Massy’s South Warehouse receiving area, who were trained in container opening and logistics for local distribution, and 10 staff members from Massy’s Central Kitchen, who received in-depth training in HACCP. The training was undertaken from August to September 2024, and March to April 2025.

In her remarks, H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said the training not only improves operational practices, but also supports compliance with government regulations, preserves freshness, and enhances consumer confidence in both imported and local products.

“I’m pleased to hear that nine of the staff in the North Central Kitchen successfully passed the official HACCP examination administered by the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) after five weeks of training,” Ambassador Su said. “This shows your commitment to food safety, your willingness to learn, and your pride in professional excellence. Congratulations to all of you — this is not only a personal achievement, but a meaningful contribution to your company, your community, and the national food system.”

Ambassador Su encouraged Massy Stores to take the next bold step by developing its internal standard operating procedures and pursue full HACCP certification from SLBS, adding that the Taiwan Technical Mission is willing to assist in that regard.

“By doing so, Massy Stores could become the first HACCP-certified supermarket in Saint Lucia, setting a national standard and leading by example,” she remarked. Ambassador Su expressed condolences on the passing of Mr. Dunstan Demille, who was the Perishables Manager at Massy Stores, and a key figure in agricultural sector. Demille died suddenly on June 3, 2025.

“He connected farmers with buyers and helped them access critical markets, improving financial access for small-scale producers,” said Ambassador Su. “His extensive network and long-standing partnership with both the Ministry of Agriculture and this project made him an irreplaceable force in Saint Lucia’s agricultural sector. We honor his contribution with respect and gratitude.”

Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, said the graduation ceremony speaks to the power of partnerships. He thanked the longstanding friendship with the Government and people of Taiwan, who have steadfastly helped develop Saint Lucia’s agricultural sector. He added that the Ministry of Agriculture remains deeply committed to food and nutrition security, and that the training efforts reflect a collective forward-thinking approach to capacity building.

“This is no small accomplishment,” said Hon. Prospere. “In a world where food-borne illnesses remain a major global concern, and where supply chains are under increasing pressure, ensuring food safety at every stage of handling, processing and delivery is not a luxury – it is an absolute must. I’m certainly sure that you, the graduates, have committed to the responsibility, and for that I commend and encourage you.”

Mr. Martin Dorville, Managing Director of Massy Stores (St. Lucia) Ltd., said that after recognizing the need to strengthen the food safety component, Massy Stores was very fortunate to receive the support of the Taiwan Technical Mission, who willingly partnered without hesitation.

“The initial food safety training was developed and delivered in 2023, and it’s appropriate to say that it has created and continues to have a lasting impact on our people,” he explained. “In 2024, working with the Massy Stores team, the programme was further redesigned and resumed, not before ensuring it was both comprehensive and even more impactful than before.”

Dorville thanked the Taiwan Technical Mission for their unwavering support in funding all aspects of the training, including the development to the printing of materials, training fees, refreshments, and costs for staff to participate in the HACCP and Food Certification Course through the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards.

“This programme represents more than just a training initiative; it is a testament of what we can achieve through collaboration, shared vision, and shared commitment to high standards,” he said.

Dr. Xanthe Dubuisson, Certification Officer, Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, said the graduation ceremony represents a shared vision and a commitment to excellence in food safety in Saint Lucia, and is a model of what partnership can look like when guided by purpose and a desire to uplift.

“Over the past several months, you have dedicated yourselves to a series of training sessions,” she told the graduates. “These sessions were practical, hands-on opportunities to build skills and deepen understanding of what it means to ensure the safety and quality of the food that Massy Stores prepares and the customers consume. You’ve learned about sanitation, hygiene, how hazards and risks are identified, and how cross-contamination is prevented: each topic covering a direct link to protecting the health of our people. This training took it a step further by offering you the tools to develop and implement systems that ensure consistency and safety throughout every stage of food preparation.”

Dr. Dubuisson added that such capacity building is need currently, as food safety is more than a technical requirement, but also a public good.

“It is a promise we make to every family, every child, and every consumer who relies on the quality of what we produce,” she said. “As the national standards body, the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards is proud to see initiatives like this unfold. It aligns with our mission to promote quality, protect consumers, and support national development using standards. But more importantly, it reminds us that standards only come to life when people, people like you, commit to learning and applying them.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Adline Eudovic, Project Coordinator of the Seven Crops Project, said the training sessions form part of a broader strategy and integrate seamlessly into the overall goal of reducing the food import bill through increased local production and consumption.

“Through the unwavering collaboration between the offspring of the Taiwan Technical Mission, and the Ministry of Agriculture, namely the Seven Crops Project — and Massy Stores, we continue to shift the agricultural narrative in Saint Lucia by building an efficient and resilient agri-food supply chain,” Eudovic explained.

She added: “When warehouse handlers understand microbial hazards, when kitchen staff grasps cross-contamination risks and HACCP protocols, when staff takes ownership of safe food handling practices, we strengthen the entire system because food safety does not begin at the shelf. It begins on the farm, and it is maintained through every hand it touches on its way to the consumer.”

SOURCE: Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Saint Lucia