Michael Joe is making a significant comeback.
Since the onset of COVID-19, he has transitioned from being a farmer and grocer to a landlord and property developer. Recently, he held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $6 million development project in the capital.
This initiative follows the closure of his well-known supermarket, Joe’s Farm. The ceremony took place in Samabula, attended by Tui Suva, Sanaila Madanavosa, who praised the ambitious nature of the project.
The first structure in this new venture, located on Ratu Mara Road, is set to be a three-storey complex, with a completion target of December next year.
Joe’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by consistent reinvention; he has donned numerous hats, including those of a farmer, golfer, exporter, grocer, business consultant, and investor.
He shared that a joint venture with Cibus New Zealand is underway to export locally sourced produce from farms across the nation. Joe is also collaborating with the government to create contracts for farmers.
This month, one of his ventures will come to fruition as he begins exporting coconuts and dalo from Rotuma. “A truck will travel around the island to collect both products for export in what is a first for Rotuma,” he stated. The inaugural shipment from Rotuma is headed to New Zealand.
Joe attributes his success to a straightforward principle: “Fear the Lord.”