RFC running mom-and-pop stores out of business — Skelton Cline
Claude Skelton Cline has criticised RoadTown Wholesale’s introduction of RiteWay Fried Chicken (RFC), arguing that the company’s continued expansion threatens small businesses across the territory.
Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio programme, Skelton Cline accused large companies of using their size and market control to displace smaller, locally operated businesses.
“RiteWay is local face giving you a six for a nine all across this country, cannibalising, monopolising, running the mom-and-pop out of business,” Skelton Cline alleged.
He also questioned why residents were supporting RFC and urged consumers to consider how their purchasing decisions affect smaller businesses.
“Now they have RFC instead of KFC, and then some of us go to the place there grabbing chicken wings out of a cart that you push,” Skelton Cline stated.
The broadcaster argued that the business community had failed to organise and present proposals to the government on policies needed to protect businesses and improve the economy.
“I am absolutely disgusted and disappointed with the business community of this country,” Skelton Cline stated.
He said businesses should establish a lobbying group, develop an economic plan and present it to the government, regardless of which political party holds office.
Skelton Cline also accused RiteWay of operating in both the wholesale and retail grocery sectors, leaving smaller retailers to buy from a company they must compete with. The North West Company acquired a majority interest in RoadTown Wholesale, RiteWay’s operator, in 2017.
Skelton Cline called for action from consumers and the wider business community, including a boycott and national strike.
“If we are serious, we will boycott these places. If we are serious, we will call for a national strike. We will shut the whole doggone place down,” Skelton Cline stated.
He also called for measures to prevent companies from operating simultaneously as wholesalers and retailers in the same market.
“RiteWay and others and the liquor stores gonna have to decide: you in the wholesale business or the retail business. You can’t be in both in the same market,” Skelton Cline stated.
He blamed successive governments for permitting business sales and market arrangements that he described as monopolies.
“All the things these people are doing is because the government, starting with the National Democratic Party government in particular, but really before that, are the ones who have given these entities authority to do it,” Skelton Cline stated.
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I agree, you will never see me spend a $$ in your business… i also never spent a dollar at Delta after some very racist remarks publicly from one of its directors BS.
If the public dont agree then use your $$ to say so!
Simple.
As much as i don’t like all his ways Bobbies supermarket is for the poor man in this hard times .. I challenge anyone to pick any item in the man’s store. Sometimes same brand, and compare the price to the other two giants. RTVW and MNOPRK stores. And i graduate you Bobbbies lower than them by far. Some a them say then a run for politics but have not heart for the people they want elect them..
I lost brain cells reading this comment LOL! WTH, you trying to say?
Shop at Bobbies
Since the sale by a local family to thev Hudson Bay Company ( or whatever it calls itself now) standards have plummeted. Well known in the grocery world as an exploitive monopolies of Island economies all over the world, we need to be asking ourselves if these are fit and proper people to control our food supplies , as they do.
In reality (and unfortunately) what CSC says is true. However, whether it be through a feckless CCHA (which his wife was a big part of, but finally, after years of duplicitous and self-serving leadership, has finally got a chairman with sense), or any other direct or indirect attempts at Government, not a single soul, be they elected or appointed, in the Government listens to the Private Sector.
In general, the Private Sector is seen as the devil, a necessary evil to sustain the fiscal idiocy of whichever Government gets elected.
Any suggestions put forward by the Private Sector is mocked by those that are funded by it. Whether it be after Irma, during Covid, post Covid, or whenever, it is a sector that often makes good suggestions to political leadership that is thrown away and ignored. Yes, balance is necessary, and capitalism can’t go unchecked, but this Government sees to it that socialism is their overwhelming preference (unless elections are due).
The reality is, those of us in the Mom & Pops category are generally those that have votes, and we are given attention every 4/5 years because our votes are what get these two-faced officials in office. Promises, promises, then a slap in the face! The big corps, such as RTW, etc., have the big money, which helps run elections, and helps sustain the political elite through the years that leave those of us in the Mom & Pops sector in purgatory.
The fact remains that for all the bluster CSC has, and because RTW is now causing his business grief, whether the Mom & Pop sector rebels, gets together, or whatever, it will never be able to change the mentality of this Government or this country. If it does happen, it will be at a point where our ship is under water, and we are long past the point of no return!
Pure greed!
The majority of people appreciate that RTW is able to better control pricing because they also wholesale; the more they sell, the less they pay for products, the lower the retail prices they can charge.
Perhaps you should pay more attention to your business and less time trying to drive prices up!
They all have wholesale!
Wasn’t there a subway operating next to New York’s Pizzeria?
NO.
All this noise on RFC. Now yall going prove fraser point even more
them had money to party for 2 weeks straight.
now them got money to by junk food……
yall saying one thing but talking on the side of yah mouth the same time….. how yall crying about bills, schools books, cost of living etc but you almost all festival night partying,drinking and buying village expensive foods…..
then party time done is back to reality and wan bust down fraser for calling yall out.
now everybody rushing and posting about RFC…… i cant take yall serious and now for sure the politicians going cant take yall serious….. no wonder the man bringing up greedy bill was fine…
my only thing is if the economy so good why do politicians need greedy bill and such a big raise of pay? is it greed? or is it the cost of living raising?
we the people are a joke. we dont march for ntn. but we quick to party hard and complain smh
rite way is laughing all the way to the bank. All ya’ll doing is advertising Rit Way RFC
I could fry my own chkn
I could fry my own chkn
first I am hearing about it. stopping there this evening.
All you need to do is introduce the NYFC from your Business and lets get some healthy competition in the capitalist market place. Competition which tends to benefit the consumer/customer.
Riteway should not be allowed to sell food at such a large volume. They cannot be a distributor, wholesaler, and retailer; it’s too much control.
but OneMart can….
People please don’t spend your money at new pizza csc is only for himself and no one else he is one that try to segregate the people he is just afraid he will not be selling much pizza useless human being csc.
How dare this business provide a service that we are willing to pay for! What in capitalist competition is this? Completely unacceptable.
Isn’t there enough room in the market for everyone? Is competition not allowed? I get that some smaller businesses might lose customers when a bigger player comes along, but isn’t competition supposed to push businesses to improve and innovate? Instead of blaming RFC for seeing an opportunity and taking it, maybe we should also be asking why some businesses aren’t adapting to stay competitive.
Too many local businesses seem happy doing things the same way they’ve always done them, then act surprised when customer preferences change. The businesses that survive are usually the ones that evolve, improve their service, and find new ways to attract customers. It’s unfortunate when any business closes, but not every closure is because of a monopoly.
Sometimes businesses simply fail to move with the times. RFC saw a gap in the market and filled it. That’s business. Perhaps we should be asking: should businesses be protected from competition, or should competition encourage them to raise their game?
“He said businesses should establish a lobbying group, develop an economic plan and present it to the government, regardless of which political party holds office.”
And let me guess…he’s willing to represent this lobbying group for only 25% of their annual proceeds. Almost for free! What a blowhard. Where is the mute button on this muppet?
You wish you had thought of it, huh?
That jack @$$$$$$$csc shouldn’t be allowed to to talked to decent people don’t listen to that idiot he feels threatened he will be selling less junk food.
It only chicken mom and pop need put in more work
RFC is veryÿÿyyyyÿy salty. It lacks the flavor of the leading FC Companies whom they supposedly Imitates..
What would be really cool is if there were more places that did fast and convenient healthy food in town. We don’t need more fried chicken plz. This island already has a diabetes problem.
I don’t know about RFC but in New York and St Thomas I used to like the franchise SBarro Pizza. It had a cool logo and everything. To bad we don’t have anything operating like that in the BVI. Truly a shame..
New Chicken restaurant = controversy in the BVI. jokes… obviously the government should step in and create a fried chicken monopoly oversight committee.
This is why the BVI would never get better or grow, too much badmind people like cline… you can’t tell people where to spend their money if they want to. That is why there is competition.
I about to get me my RFC since they never wanted to bring in KFC to these shores. Cline. These are my only words to you since all you do is talk -SHUT UP!!
These people complain about everything? Whew! Damn you see all over the world! Get up to the time! #nowiwillhearibornhere!! Smh
You got to be kidding me. Dude you want to tell Rite Way or any other store they cant sell fried chicken.
Man stop your FRIG!!!
Go guild a stronger brand Claude Skelton Cline Fried Chicken (CSCFC) and come again.
I am all in favour of supporting community stores and local people (I buy from pretty much all supermarkets and also NY Pizza!!) but if people do not wish to buy from Riteway they can go to the Mom & Pop shop they choose. Presumably such store offers better value, better product or something ‘better’ which will attract people wanting to pay more of their hard-earned dollars for a product they can obtain down the road at a lower price.
This is the same old argument that has been propagated through BVI for years…. we must protect local business…. how has that served the consumer…? Look at our options now!!!
people will go ahead and mess up their health. All the deep fried food (of any kind) in dirty re-used and overused industrial oil that a set of fools rejoicing about will only add to the healthcare burden so many are ignorantly facing. Go right ahead and mash up ayo health eating over-rated junk.
The delusional hype will soon disappear regarding this RFC. It’s not what people are making out to be. It is salt with NO flavor (no black pepper, no other spices to give it flavor). People will go back to the norm soon enough.
Wonder if it was the other supermarkets selling it, would it make the news headline?
Everybody too lazy to get up and do something. Consume consume but never create. Rite Way can put out as much FC as they want. It ain’t mean nothing unless people consuming it. And people will continue to consume unless someone else come up with a creative idea to challenge the competition. Some have lots of energy to run their mouth and nothing else. That’s the problem.
1. Someone gets shot in the head & is killed
20 comments
2. Riteway has fried chicken
500 comments
it shows the mentality of the majority of people. Litte senseless things are what they see as big issues. Hey, if you wanna go buy rite way, scatos, panchie fry chicken, go ahead or just stay home and use your own air fryer and eat something healthier. Case closed. In a couple days they gonna have something else to b..tch about
I thought Riteway and others had been selling cooked chicken for years. So whats changed?
messing with he pizza business
A next couple day people wouldn’t even remember RFC. Every food joint is seasonal in Tortola.
Until C.O.S-Chicken put a big advert out for them here on VINO.
Hadn’t heard OF RFC..
NOW we all got to try it.
You is tooo greedy!!! If people rather RFC let the people eat that if they rather NYP then let them eat that! Yall really sickening in this place! And to the commenter who said we proving Fraser right, then you sit and starve while others choose to feed their families. Yall really sickening in this place 30k plus people on island will not all eat at the same place. 30k plus people I’m sure majority haven’t tried RFC! Yall really greedy and bad mind in this place!
He’s just jealous he didn’t think of it first. Why would anyone boycott a company that’s providing people with exactly what they want
Real talk. They are doing so with government help. This is what people are either ignoring or do not know RTW brings in Containers of chicken a Month, do you think they are going to fry the fresh and health ones?, this is away to get rid of the old and freezer burnt…
I would have preferred they did pizza.
The fried chicken available is already great.
Pizzas here are inedible (except for Capriccio.)
OneMart is far more expensive that RTW, but nobody is admitting that!
RTW is the only other store that offers all of the food and other items that we need day to day, week to week.
Without RTW we would not be able to buy everything we need and want with any consistency. We would be forced to buy overpriced American sugary trash food at ridiculous prices from the local “mom and pop’ stores and we would all get diabetes!
This is just another pop at a non locally owned business. Every time CSC pipes up, he says the same thing…
“Someone is doing a better job than a locally owned business, they are making too much money and we don’t like it. Only locals should be allowed to make money”
The next thing will be that he thinks that Aeropost has the monopoly on bringing in products from the US!
Shut up CSC!!!!!
AH GO SAY IT AGAIN / THEM IMPORTED CHICKENS AIN’T HEALTHY THEY ARE GROWM USING GMO WHICH CREATING SIDE EFFECTS IN HUMANS ,( MALE BOOBS IS ONE OF THEM ) SO DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK / ALL MOST ALL IMPORTED MEAT – PORK SHRIMPS ETC EVEN VEGATEBLES THAT IS GROWN TO SUPPLY MARKET ) THAT IS WHAT CSC SHOULD OF BEEN HOLLERING OUT ABOUT / BUT HE ONLY FOCUSING ON THE ALMIGHT DOLLAR $$$$ • AND @ PLZ , PUT IT , WE ONLY INCREASING MORE DIABETES WHICH IS ANOTHER SIDE EFFECT IN THE TERRITORY ( AND YHE DOCTORS HAVE THEIR MOUTHS CLOSED ON THESE UNHEALTHY IMPORTED FOODS THAT WE CONSUME DAILY BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT POOR PEOPLE CAN AFFORD WITH THE PITTSNCE WE CALL SALARY / WE SHOULDN’T BE SUPPRISED ,BECAUSE EVEN THE MEDICATIONS ARE LOADED WITH ” SIDE EFFECTS” AND THEY ARE NOT TELLING THEIR PATIENTS , AND WHEN THEIR PATIENTS DEVELOP ANY SIDE EFFECTS , THEY SIMPLY CHANGE YOUR MEDICATIONS SO ANYWAY WE TURN , IF IS ONE TRUE THING ( CSC) ○¿○ SAID – IS WE ” SHEGGEDY FRIGGED ” . AND IT AINT FUNNY ( PRAY & HOPE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS * G O O D * .
We welcome all the mom and pops stores to make their own chicken. If Riteway chicken taste like $h!t nobody will buy. The allegiance isn’t to the business itself. If You do some chicken that taste better and doesn’t cost an arm an a leg people will flock to your place as well. Y’all trying to kill people with high price and then beg for support because you a small business. Why should I spend more to help your pocket. It’s Everyman for themselves.
your greese from your pizza place have up there smelling like oh boi… was internation motors the other day i ask them what smells so. they said look in the ghut lone greeese.
Everything is a problem for you mr fake pastor why don’t you spend more of your time spreading the word of God jacka@$$$$$$.
Nothing wrong with being an importer, distributor and retailer. All the supermarkets do the same thing, and so do TICO, Carib Cellars and some of those * pot food retailers like Brother Finley and the white man at Road Reef plaza. And same in other industries, like Parts & Power, etc., this is just good business sense. What is unfair is preying on the BVI consumer, which is what Rite Way is guilty of. Corner stores and rum shops are a Caribbean tradition. Don’t let a Canadian corporation erode this fabric of our society
Claude you of all person should be quiet look pot a call kettle batty black your (hasss) a** come up with your new york pizza what the difference with rwfc from kfc ? You never think about virgin queen pussers the pub etc pizzas when you bad minded selfish self came up with your business people like you alone fi eat you badminded son of a gun even if your pizza is the last on island i not supporting you people need to boycott your business you could never be a man of the cloth you is a badmind idiot of the claat
Scatto’s al day everyday
Rite Way is making fried chicken and most of the local establishments make cooked or BBQ chicken and there is a difference…Fried chicken is not easy to find here in the BVI. You only need to look at the number of BVI Islanders who bring bucket loads of KFC on the ferry from St Thomas…
@Duhhh? I will NEVER EAT RFC. Everyone bring buckets of KenFucky chicken from st.thomas, not bvislanders alone stop talk divisive shite already.
Tell sc**os to fry their chicken properly…and stop using dirty oil making people sick….Claude Skelron Cline tell your staff to stop serving dry up chicken so dry my teeth havin a hard time going through the flesh. LEAVE RITE WAY ALONE
Has this man considered how his hateful remarks about expats can affect small businesses? At the rate he is going, we should boycott his business and his Dishonestly Speaking Show