CHM Suriname

C.H.M. Suriname NV is the leading retailer of Durable Consumer Products located in Suriname, South America. Our goal is to offer our customers quality products at competitive prices, backed by years of dependable after sales service. The company was established in 1880, and originated from the operation of turning a steam-ship service company into a retail business. In 1882 the West-Indische Maildienst (West-Indian Mailservice) was founded in Amsterdam to maintain a regular service with Suriname and Curaçao. The first ship named SS Oranje Nassau left Amsterdam on March 27, 1884. Several harbors were frequented and service could be extended from Curaçao (through Haiti) to New York. And so it happened that Curaçao became the central point in Dutch shipping for the Caribbean area. In August 1888 the firm of Sträter Esser & Co. was founded in Amsterdam. On October 1, 1888, the company received its first patents in Paramaribo for the trade in beverages. On October 16, 1890 the Handel en Industrie Maatschappij (Trade and Industry Company) was founded in Amsterdam (the name was later changed to Curaçaosche Handel Maatschappij). On March 26, 1891, the ice-factory was opened followed by a soft-drink factory and in 1902 the trade in wine and beer was started. Sales of ice, softdrinks and liquor went well. The Surinaamse Dok -en Scheepsbouwmaatschappij NV (Docking and Shipbuilding Company) was established as a company branch, originating from the former forge. In 1970, the name Curaçaosche Handel Maatschappij in Utrecht (The Netherlands) was changed into Ceteco, because the name caused shares to lose value on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. The name for the Suriname branch, however, remained. In 2002, CHM Suriname NV remembered its 115th year in business. On February 1, of 2001, Mr. Edmund Kasimbeg became the owner and General Manager of CHM Suriname N.V. CHM now consists of 7 divisions that are, based on a strategic plan, located at A1 locations, namely: o Paramaribo: 3 divisions: Automotive (mainly selling A-1 used cars, car parts and accessories), CHM Travel agency dealing with all airlines over the world and three large stores located in the center, the west and north.