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Waterloo Secondary School

RESEARCH TOPIC: An investigation into the impact of Covid-19 lockdown measures on the
sales and profitability level of JTA Supermarket for the period March 2021 to August 2021.
CANDIDATES NAME CANDIDATES NUMBER BUSINESS COGNATE
SUBJECT

Roger Ali 1605080310 Principles of Business & Principles of

Accounts

Sindy Jagai 1605080301 Principles of Business & Principles of

Accounts

Hadyn Ramsaroop 1605080302 Principles of Business & Principles of

Accounts

Chelsea Roopchan 1605080303 Principles of Business & Principles of

Accounts

Candy Seetal 1605080304 Principles of Business & Principles of

Accounts

SCHOOL: Waterloo Secondary School

TERRITORY: Trinidad and Tobago
DATE SUBMITTED: 14th February, 2022
YEAR OF EXAMINATION: 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic, issue or problem………………………………………………………………..1

Objective of the Project………………………………………………………………..2,3

Background……………………………………………………………………………4

Methodology………………………………………………………………………….5

Presentation and Analysis of Data……………………………………………………6,7,8,9,10,11

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………12

Recommendations…………………………………………………………………….13

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………….14

Appendices: Questionnaire…………………………………………………………...15

TOPIC/ISSUE/PROBLEM

RESEARCH TOPIC:
An investigation into the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown measures on the sales and
profitability level of JTA Supermarket for the period March 2021 to August 2021.
RESEARCH PROBLEM:
Due to the Covid-19 lockdown measures, several persons have either lost their jobs or are
suffering a pay cut. The prices of imported goods have also increased. Because of this customers
are purchasing cheaper goods and are turning a blind eye to well known brands. These actions as
well as curfews created a plunge in the sales and profitability levels of this business.

OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVE 1:
To analyze the effect of changes in grocery prices on the sales and profitability level of JTA
Supermarket.
OBJECTIVE 2:
To determine the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on grocery prices.

OBJECTIVE 3:
To determine how the Covid-19 lockdown measures affected the profitability level at JTA
Supermarket.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.) How would you describe the sales and profitability level at JTA Supermarket before
the pandemic?

2.) How did the Covid-19 lockdown affect grocery prices at JTA Supermarket?
3.) How did the Covid-19 lockdown impact the sales and profitability levels at JTA
Supermarket?

BACKGROUND

Our group will be looking at the Couva branch JTA Supermarket. It is located at Issac Junction
Southern Main Road, Couva in the Couva Shopping Complex. JTA Supermarket is a retail
business incorporated in 1988. It has been in existence for over thirty-three (33) years. It retails
several products such as dry goods, baking goods, dairy as well as canned and packaged goods
and other grocery items. JTA has been experiencing a profitable performance as the owners of
this endeavour have over eighty (80) years of experience. They were also able to open five (5)
branches. These branches are located in C3 Centre, Carlton Centre, Cross Crossing, Couva and
Marabella. According to https://jtasupermarkets.com/home/ptrccovid19hamperdrive the
supermarket has been performing greatly as they hosted multiple hamper drives as well as
donations in the year 2020 before the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Government has published the updated regulations, listing the essential services. The
Trinidad Daily Express Newspaper dated 4th May, 2021 in its article entitled, “THE
ESSENTIAL SERVICES- A complete list.” Stated grocery stores were included as an
essential service. Therefore causing supermarkets to have an influx of sales. Due to the Covid-
19 lockdown there has also been ‘rush buying’ which also increased the sales and profitability
levels. According to the Principles of Business for CSEC Examination second edition textbook
by Riana Balliram; Peter Budd; Edith Emmanuel; Marsha Guiness; James McCloskey and
Rachel Raghoo Bitu 2019. Profitability is how well a business is set up to return a profit on
normal operations.

However, like many groceries JTA suffered the tragedies of not being able to import goods at
the same rate as before. This created higher demand for products with low quantity. This meant
that there would be a further increase in food prices. The price of imported goods also increased.
Nevertheless, this did not stop JTA from assisting customers with tight budgets. JTA
Supermarkets organized sales on goods to make the lives of their customers a bit easier. This
research has educated our group on the impact of Covid-19 on grocery stores as well as the risks
entrepreneurs take on a daily basis. We were also able to see the strategies required and used in
operating a business.

METHODOLOGY

To accumulate the suitable material a questionnaire was used that consisted of twelve (12)
questions. Five (5) of which were open ended and seven (7) which were close ended questions.
These questions were produced from three (3) objectives. However, whilst making the
questionnaire there was difficulty analyzing the objectives. An interview was conducted on the
30th October, 2021 on the JTA Couva branch Manager,who asked to stay anonymous. In order
to gather further information with respect to the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown measures on
the sales and profitability levels of JTA Supermarket. The interview permitted further
explanations to the questions. However we were restricted by time hence, the interview being
only one (1) hour long. We also used secondary data. Further research was done by going to the
Ministry of Trade and Industry website where data was collected on a pre and post budget prices
of supermarket items in Trinidad and Tobago prior to Covid-19. However, due to Covid-19 the
data collected from the Ministry of Trade and Industry website was limited and not updated to
present time. Some Advantages of this data collection were data accuracy and a good response
rate.

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

RESEARCH QUESTION 1:
How would you describe the sales and profitability level of JTA Supermarket before
the pandemic?

To obtain relevant information on research question 1 the following questions were

used:- 1.)Did the grocery prices affect the sales and profitability levels at the

supermarket? 2.)Did the sales and profitability levels increase or decrease?

3.) Was there a change in grocery prices?

4.) Did the change assist the sales and profitability levels at the supermarket?

The sales and profitability levels did increase at the JTA Supermarket due to ‘rush buying’
and because supermarkets were listed as essential services. There was always going to be an
assurance in sales. As their profit moved from $100,000 to $250,000 a month.

Figure 1 Table showing increase in profitability during the lockdown period.

Months Profit Level

March $100,000

April $125,000

May $150,000

June $200,000

July $225,000

August $250,000

Figure 1.1 Bar chart showing increase in profitability over the lockdown period.
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RESEARCH QUESTION 2:
How did the Covid-19 lockdown affect grocery prices at JTA Supermarket? To obtain
 relevant information on research question 2 the following questions were used:- 5.)How

were the grocery prices before the Covid-19 lockdown?

6.) How were the grocery prices during the lockdown?

7.) How did the Covid-19 lockdown affect grocery prices?

8.) Was the impact good or bad for the business?

Due to the increased prices of imported goods, grocery stores had no other choice but to also
increase the prices on grocery items. These items were increased to a minimum of $3 and a
maximum of $10.

Figure 1.2 Line chart showing changes in grocery prices.

Figure 1.3 Table showing grocery prices pre and post Covid-19
Item Brand Size Pre-Covid Post-Covid

Corned Beef Target 340g $12.99 $21.99

 Sardines Brunswick 106g $7.99 $10.29

Tuna (in water) Brunswick 142g $5.99 $14.99

Liquid Milk Nestle 1L $10.99 $12.49

(Full Cream)

Powdered Milk Dairy Dairy 800g $47.99 $52.95

Baking Powder Lion 454g $9.79 $11.49

Instant Nesquik 500g $24.00 $26.99

Chocolate

Tea Bags Lipton 50pk $20.99 $27.99

RESEARCH QUESTION 3:
How did the Covid-19 lockdown impact the sales and profitability levels at JTA Supermarket?

To obtain relevant information on research question 3 the following questions were used:- 9.)

How was the profitability level at the JTA Supermarket during the Covid-19 lockdown? 10.)

Did the profitability level increase or decrease at the supermarket?

11.) What has the supermarket done in order to have a profitable

performance? 12.) Did the business experience a profit during the lockdown

period?

During the lockdown period the supermarket’s profitability level increased. Before the lockdown
their profitability level was at 33%, during the lockdown period the profitability level climbed to
67%.

Figure 1.4 Pie chart showing profitability level before vs during Covid-19 lockdown

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Figure 1.5 Column chart showing profitability level before vs during Covid-19 lockdown
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CONCLUSION
Throughout this SBA we did an investigation into the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown
measures on the sales and profitability level of JTA Supermarket for the period March 2021 to
August 2021. Firstly, in figures 1 and 1.1 it is shown that during the course of time from March
2021 to August 2021 the profit level increased from $100,000 to $250,000 a month. This
occurred due to citizens’ ‘rush buying’ and supermarkets being listed as an essential service.
Secondly, in figures 1.2 and 1.3 it is illustrated that due to a surge of import prices, grocery stores
increased their prices by a minimum of $3 and maximum of $10. In the line chart and table
provided you can see the grocery items and their prices pre and post Covid-19. Lastly, in figures
1.4 and 1.5 a comparison was made between the profitability level before vs during the Covid-19
lockdown. In the pie chart and column chart provided it is shown that the profitability level went
from 33% to 67% during the lockdown. In conclusion there was a great increase in the sales and
profitability at the JTA Supermarket during the period March 2021 to August 2021.

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RECOMMENDATIONS
1.) Open more branches- Increasing branches will not only increase profitability but will also
help reach a wider range of customers. This will assist persons with shallow pockets as they may
have to pay a lesser fee for traveling.

2.) Have monthly sales- These sales will help the business to sustain the high sales and
profitability levels of the supermarket. These sales may also assist the firm in gaining more
customers.Customers will also be attracted to the grocery as sales means cheaper prices.
Something every citizen looks for.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Websites

(June 1st, 2020). JTA HAMPER DRIVE- Princess Town Regional Cooperation. Retrieved from
https://jtasupermarkets.com/home/ptrccovid19hamperdrive

(November,2017). SUPERMARKET PRICES OF ITEMS. Retrieved from

https://tradeind.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Supermarket_PricesNov2k17.pdf

Newspaper

“THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES-A complete list.” Trinidad Daily Express dated 4th May 2021: TOP STORY.

Textbook

Balliram, Riana et al. CSEC Principles of Business.2019. London Macmillian education. 14

APPENDICES: Questionnaire
1.) Did the grocery prices affect the sales and profitability levels at the

supermarket? 2.) Did the sales and profitability levels increase or decrease?

3.) Was there a change in grocery prices?

4.) Did the changes assist the sales and profitability levels at the supermarket?

5.) How were the grocery prices before the Covid-19 lockdown?

6.) How were the grocery prices during the lockdown?

7.) How did the Covid-19 lockdown affect grocery prices?

8.) Was the impact good or bad for the business?

9.) How was the profitability level at the JTA Supermarket during the Covid-19

lockdown? 10.) Did the profitability level increase or decrease at the supermarket? 11.)

What has the supermarket done in order to have a profitable performance? 12.) Did the

business experience a profit during the lockdown period?

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