Food Suppliers Overview
Other than fish and coconut products, Palau imports all food goods. Food is retailed through 3 main supermarkets in the retail space, that provide small wholesaling function attached to their main retail forms of business. These super markets are Surangel, WCTC and Payless, and are the main food importers into the country. There are also small grocery retailers in Koror, but less so in other states. They can, along with other local entrepreneurs, import additional food stocks if required. There is no food processing industry in Palau.
All supermarkets sell dairy, meat products, rice, sugar and oils. Cereals and pulses are imported in a much more limited way, but are available.
Though the food available is based on a combination of local and Western culture, there is a strong Japanese influence, which has brought sushi and Japanese’s restaurants to be situated throughout Koror. Given the work force is primarily supported by immigrant labour there is also an influence from the Philippines and the Indian subcontinent. As such, supplies for such foods are readily available.
For more information on food supplier contact details, please see the following link: 4.9 Additional Suppliers Contact List
Retail Sector
The primary retail sector is by way of 3 local supermarkets who are direct importers of their products and compete with each other. There are no global retailers.
Retailers Available | |
---|---|
Type of Retailer |
Rank (1-5) |
Supermarkets - concentrate mainly on
supplying a range of food, beverage, cleaning and sanitation |
3 |
Convenience Stores/Mini Markets – medium
sized shop; offer a more limited range of products than |
3 |
Permanent shops with strong supply capacity
– individually/family-owned store; usually
offer fewer |
3 |
Permanent shops with limited
supply capacity – individually/family-owned
store; offer fewer
commodities and a limited selection of brands; limited storage and unstable supply options. |
3-5 |
Mobile Shops/Market Stands –
individually/family-owned store; usually offer fewer
commodities |
Multiple |
Wholesale
Wholesale suppliers are the same retail supermarket companies as listed above: Sarabgel, WCTC and Payless. The former two have been established for over 30 years, while Payless was established within the last 10 years.
Supplier Overview |
|
---|---|
Company Name |
Sarangel |
Address |
Surangel Building, 4th Floor, Ernguul Road Ikelau Koror, |
Does the supplier have its own production/ |
No |
Does the supplier have its own retail capacity? |
Yes, it supplies direct to public. |
Does the supplier have its own transport capacity? |
Yes |
Does the supplier have its own storage facilities? |
Yes |
Approximate Turnover in mt |
N/A |
Payment Methods Accepted |
Cash at retail level / credit card at retail level |
Other Comments or Key Information |
Supplier Overview |
|
---|---|
Company Name |
Western Caroline Trading Company (WCTC) |
Address |
Main Road Koror |
Does the supplier have its own production/ |
No |
Does the supplier have its own retail capacity? |
Yes, it supplies direct to public. |
Does the supplier have its own transport capacity? |
Yes |
Does the supplier have its own storage facilities? |
Yes, but small |
Approximate Turnover in MT |
N/A |
Payment Methods Accepted |
Cash at retail level / credit card at retail |
Other Comments or Key Information |
Supplier Overview | |
---|---|
Company Name |
Payless |
Address |
Main Road Koror |
Does the supplier have its own production/ |
No |
Does the supplier have its own retail capacity? |
Yes, supplies direct to public. |
Does the supplier have its own transport capacity? |
No |
Does the supplier have its own storage facilities? |
Limited |
Approximate Turnover in mt |
N/A |
Payment Methods Accepted |
Cash at retail level |
Other Comments or Key Information |
|
Other Locations | |
---|---|
Region(s) |
Service Location(s) |
Peliliu, Angaur, Kayangel |
Small convenience stores only |
Primary |
||
---|---|---|
Commodities |
Comments |
|
00 - Live animals (other than fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.) |
None |
Communities have chickens and pigs for local consumption. |
01 - Meat and meat preparations |
Primarily chicken and pork. Processed meats such as sausages. Canned spam, processed ham, bacon. |
|
02 - Dairy products and birds’ eggs |
Milk, yogurt, butter, cheese, eggs. |
|
03 - Fish (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs… |
Fish (chilled or frozen), fish (salted or in brine), fish liver, fish roe. |
Fish available to catch locally include tuna and Mahi Mahi. |
04 - Cereals and cereal preparations |
Predominantly rice, flour and pasta. |
Imported. |
05 - Vegetables and fruit |
Vegetables, fruit and nuts, jams/jellies, fruit juice. |
Tropical fruit and fresh salad vegetables are grown locally, as is traditional food such as Taro and breadfruit. Citrus fruit apples and other vegetables are mostly imported. |
06 - Sugars, sugar preparations and honey |
Processed sugars, processed honey, fruit/nuts preserved with sugar. |
|
07 - Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof |
Coffee, cocoa, chocolate, tea, mate, pepper. |
|
09 - Miscellaneous edible products and preparations |
Ready-to-eat foods, margarine, sauces, soups. |
There is a large range of processed food available in supermarkets. |
41 - Animal oils and fats |
There is a limited supply of animal fats |
|
42/43 - Fixed vegetable fats and oils, crude, refined or fractionated |
Olive oil and vegetable oil. |
**For non-FOOD products please see section 3.5.2 Additional Suppliers, and for FUEL/PETROLEUM products please see section 3.1 Fuel.
Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and the WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.
Please note: The WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.