Diasporic Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean - Firm Profiles.pdf Vol 2 | Page 56

Annex 2: Selected SWOT Analyses

4. DEMERARA DISTILLERIES LTD

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

• Experience: DDL has many years of
experience in rum production.

• National Brain Drain- leading to skills
shortages, mainly due to the high migration rates of skilled locals out of
Guyana. In an industry which relies on
ongoing research and development for
competitiveness, DDL is unable to access well trained, high caliber, technical
personnel.

• Traditional rum-making methods:
which make DDL products unique and
give the company a bigger marketing
advantage.
• Local supply of molasses: DDL purchases molasses locally (from Guyanese
suppliers), which is an advantage in
comparison to other rum companies
that source their molasses from
overseas.

• High cost of energy in Guyana.

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

• Global market demand for premium
rum is the preferred choice, Demand for
premium brown spirits are increasing
internationally.

• Subsidies that are granted to
competitors. For example subsidies
granted to rum producers in Puerto
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands granted
by the US Government.

• Gin consumption is now becoming popular again internationally, after years of
declining consumption.

• Comparatively, DDL has a small domestic market when compared to large
populations such as India and the Philippines.
• Low