Astaphan J & Co Ltd

Description:

J. Astaphan & Co. (1970) Ltd, a Public Company which was incorporated in (1970) with an authorized share capital of $6,000,000.00 EC (1USD = 2.70 EC) and totally destroyed by the devastating winds of hurricane “DAVID” in 1979, was forced to endure a 12 year battle with its Insurer’s for a settlement of its claim. At that time, the Company with a permanent staff of four hundred and fifty, and a large number of part-time and fixed-term employees controlled well over 21% of the Commercial Activity in Dominica. This, indeed, was a prominent position for the small retail business which was established in 1933 by Joseph Astaphan. The present Chairman, Waddy Astaphan, joined the family business in 1942, and from the humble beginnings of retailing basic foods, the Company by 1941 very quickly expanded first into the exporting of dried vanilla beans, vegetables, cocoa and bay-oil etc. to other Caribbean Islands, North America and Europe, then into the Hardware, Textile, Appliance, Furniture and Automobile Trade, as well as becoming Ship’s Agents and Tour Operators. Today J. Astaphan & Co.(1970) Ltd., despite the many obstacles, natural and man made, has once again emerged as the most vibrant and effective commercial business in Dominica. Its Head Office, Supermarket and Departmental Store, occupy some 70,000 s. ft. of prime space in the heart of the Capital. Just five minutes away is located the 67,000 sq. ft. fully palletized Warehouse and Hardware/Foodstuff Distribution Centre. The manufacture of Furniture, Foam/Foam Products, storage and Automobile Sales and Maintenance occupies over 70,000 s.ft. of buildings on an 8 acre site at the Canefield Industrial Estate. This truly dynamic Company, which is fully computerized, using state of the art technology, including point of sale scanning equipment, has shown sound business acumen over the years, and is now poised to reach even higher and more commanding heights in the 21st Century for the benefit of the entire nation