RiteWay Grand Reopens Virgin Gorda Store After
RiteWay Food Markets officially reopened its fully redeveloped Virgin Gorda store on Saturday, December 6, following a 14-month revitalisation project that the company says creates "a store the community deserves" (BVI News). The upgrade doubles trading space, adds fresh-food logistics and a full-service deli, and aims to improve accessibility, convenience and local jobs (Virgin Islands News Online; BVI News).
RiteWay Food Markets has formally reopened its Virgin Gorda store after a 14-month redevelopment that the company says transforms the outlet into a modern, community-focused shopping destination. The grand reopening took place on Saturday, December 6, marking the conclusion of a project first announced in a company press release covered earlier by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) and detailed in a BVI News report.
Store manager Fredrickson Audain offered remarks at the reopening, calling the relaunch "more than a business—it is a symbol of our endurance and commitment to the community," and thanked the local contractors and internal teams whose work delivered the project (BVI News). Audain told BVI News the store will prioritise quality service, accessibility and a shopping experience that reflects residents' needs.
The refurbished store is nearly unrecognisable from its former layout. According to RiteWay's statements reported by both VINO and BVI News, the trading floor has doubled in square footage to allow wider aisles and easier navigation. Management also installed five additional checkout lanes to reduce wait times during busy periods and expanded the car park to improve access for customers driving to the store.
A new shaded picnic area added during the redevelopment provides a convenient place for families, workers and visiting boat crews to eat and rest, a feature highlighted in the BVI News coverage of the reopening. The increased floor space also accommodates a broader range of household essentials and general merchandise so residents can find more variety without leaving the island.
A central focus of the upgrade is fresh foods. RiteWay told both outlets it will now receive direct bi-weekly shipments of fresh produce from source to store, supported by improved cold-chain logistics intended to preserve quality and freshness. The fresh foods department has been significantly expanded to include a wider assortment of vegetables, fruits and seasonal items as well as larger selections of frozen and chilled products.
The redevelopment introduced a full-service deli that will prepare daily breakfasts and offer hot, ready-to-eat lunches aimed at residents, local workers and boat crews. RiteWay said the deli menu is designed to deliver convenience and value to the island community (BVI News). RiteWay also emphasised that, despite the improvements, the Virgin Gorda store will maintain the same pricing structure found at other RiteWay locations across the territory, ensuring fairness and consistency for shoppers (BVI News).
Company representatives and local contractors involved in the project said the investment creates operational jobs during and after the refurbishment and supports local businesses through contracting work. For Virgin Gorda residents, the combination of fresher produce, faster checkouts and expanded offerings aims to ease the challenges of an island that relies on scheduled shipments and inter-island logistics.
RiteWay invited residents, families and visitors to experience the new store firsthand as a long-term private-sector investment in the island's retail infrastructure (VINO; BVI News).
Primary source: VINO