Prices of many food items, especially fresh foods, vegetables and fruits at conventional markets in the province have increased sharply in recent days. According to some small retailers, because of the complicated development of the epidemic, difficult transportation, wholesale markets in neighboring provinces and cities are temporarily closed, and supply was limited, leading to an increase in prices. Are the reasons mentioned above correct, is there an unreasonable price raising?
Supply from major hubs is interrupted, prices of many items at conventional markets are increasing sharply.
Conventional market: Prices skyrocket
According to the survey, price of items, especially vegetables and fruits in local markets, increased very high compared to the previous week. Specifically, at Thu Dau Mot market, the price of cucumbers, broccoli, broccoli, zucchini, pumpkin, bitter melon and Da Lat tomatoes ranges from 25,000 - 35,000 VND/kg, up 10,000 - 15,000 VND/kg; chicken eggs and duck eggs are at 40,000 - 50,000 VND/dozen, depending on the type, increasing to about 21,000 - 26,000 VND/dozen. At Binh Diem market in Phu Hoa ward (Thu Dau Mot city), some small retailers sell at higher prices. Namely, fresh lettuce is 50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg, an increase of 40,000 VND/kg; cauliflower 50,000 VND/kg, up 25,000 VND/kg; mixed fresh herbs 60,000 VND/kg, up 40,000 VND/kg… Many other vegetables and fruits recorded an increase of 10,000 - 20,000 VND/kg.
According to many small retailers at Phu Hoa market (Thu Dau Mot City), the reason for the sharp increase of fruit and vegetable prices is the influence of social distancing in some other provinces and cities to prevent and control the Covid-19. In particular, from 6 July, Binh Diem wholesale market (Ho Chi Minh City) has been closed completely. Therefore, it is more difficult for retailers to transport and supply goods, while green vegetables require daily supply, causing prices to be inflated. Ms. Chau, a retailer at Binh Diem market, said: "There are not many goods in these days, if wholesalers increase the price, I have to increase it too, not because I want to oversell". Ms. Oanh, a retailer at Thu Dau Mot market, predicted that the above fact could lead to price skyrocket but still have not enough goods to sell to customers. If large wholesale markets in other provinces and cities continue to close, supply is limited, prices would continue to increase further in the coming days.
Not only vegetables, but prices of fresh food items such as pork, beef, chicken, seafood also surge. Specifically, pork ribs, young pork ribs cost 220,000 - 230,000 VND/kg, an increase of 20,000 VND/kg; whole chicken 78,000 VND/kg, an increase of 3,000 VND/kg; beef fillet 290,000 - 350,000 VND/kg, an increase of 10,000 VND/kg. In particular, the price of seafood increased sharply. At Thu Dau Mot market, the price of some common fishes increased from 20,000 - 30,000 VND/kg; shrimp 220,000 VND/kg, an increase of 40,000 VND/kg… Many customers who came to the market said that they were shocked because the price of many items, especially green vegetables, increased too high.
Supermarket commit to sufficient supply, stable prices
Contrary to high prices at conventional markets, the prices of food, vegetables and fruits at supermarkets in the province are very stable, lower than in markets, ensure an abundant supply. Nguyen Thi Hong Khanh, Director of Co.opmart Binh Duong 2 Supermarket, said that in anticipation of market fluctuation, the supermarket increased its stockpile to ensure regular supply of essential items at stable prices to the market for at least the next 6 months, such as sugar, rice, cooking oil, salt, fish sauce, meat, eggs, vegetables, fried food, and anti-epidemic items, like: hand sanitizers, washing liquid soaps, antibacterial cloth mask.
On the other hand, besides direct sales, supermarkets also promotes sales via phone number, almost all mobile apps are now linked with Co.opmart, Co.opXtra, Co.opFood to simultaneously delivery to customers. The supermarket also added about 7,000 essential items to https://cooponline.vn to quickly respond to the sudden increase in people's demand for online orders for home delivery. “All items have been greatly increased for stockpile, there is never a shortage of any items and our supermarkets open throughout the time. Therefore, people can be assured that there will never be a shortage of goods if we implment social distance," Khanh affirmed.
Representatives of Big C Supermarket, Lotte Mart said that shopping demand at their supermarkets also increased very high in the past two days, and the highest increase was of fresh food items, fried food. Pham Phu Hien, Director of Lotte Mart Binh Duong Supermarket, said that they increased stockpiling and timely supply of food products to meet the changing needs of customers. The reserve of fresh food products (vegetables, meat and fish) increased by 5 times, especially, the supplement increased by 7 times for frozen food.
Similarly, Thai Thanh Nhan, Head of Fresh Food at Big C Binh Duong Supermarket, said that due to the epidemic situation, transportation activities have partly affected the operation of Big C Binh Duong supermarket. However, the supermarket also implements many programs to serve customers. In particular, Big C increased food stockpile to satisfy customer's demand. In terms of sales methods, in addition to opening supermarkets for people to shop directly, GO Big C also strengthens online sales channels, increases time and personnel to serve customers.
Reported by Thanh Hong - Translated by Ngoc Huynh
