Diasporic Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean - Firm Profiles.pdf Vol 2 | Page 54

Annex 2: Selected SWOT Analyses 2. MARIE SHARP’S FINE FOODS STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES • Superior quality goods, with consistent flavor • ISO certification. • In the past the company had a tragic experience in reference to intellectual property protection. The initial brand “Belinda’s Pepper Sauce” was stolen forcing the small firm to rebrand as “Marie Sharp”. OPPORTUNITIES THREATS • Company already exporting to the Japanese market, which serves as a hub for products to be re-exported to Hawaii, France and Taiwan. • International market entry is a costly venture. • International and regional competition. • Adherence to US and international food and safety standards are sometimes difficult and are costly procedures. 54