Consumers abandon street vendors for supermarkets

dan ghi ta | international summer school |

With supermarkets in HCM City offering a barrage of promotions, more and more consumers are abandoning traditional markets.

Consumers shop at a Co.op Mart in HCM City. The development of supermarkets is threatening traditional markets. — VNA/VNS Photo Kim Phuong

HCM CITY —

Many retailers like Big C, Sai Gon Co.opmart, Lotte Mart, and Maximart constantly offer discounts and freebies in what is a fiercely competitive market.

French-owned Big C, for instance, is currently offering discounts of 5-40 per cent on 1,000 items, including fresh food, garments and textiles, cosmetics, foodstuffs, and electronic products.

Saigon Co.opmart and Maximart are offering similar discounts on 1,500 and 1,000 items, respectively.

The discounts are mostly on essential goods and processed foods, according to the supermarkets.

Nguyen Thanh Truc, a shopper at Co.op Mart Dinh Tien Hoang, said: "I used to shop at Ba Chieu market. But I shifted to here several months ago because I can buy products at cheaper prices with clear sources of origin.

"Besides, I enjoy air-conditioned comfort here and do not have to be afraid of being cheated on quantity."

Market research companies have found that HCM City consumers prefer shopping at supermarkets to traditional markets these days.

The number of shoppers at traditional markets like Ba Chieu, Pham Van Hai, Go Vap, and Tan Dinh has dwindled to low levels compared to past years.

Dao Sy Long, deputy head of the Tan Dinh Market, said sales was down to 70-80 per cent compared to last year.

The economic situation has affected sales but the competition from supermarkets was undeniable, he said.

Le Ngoc Loan, a vegetable seller at Ba Chieu market, said small traders in traditional markets found it hard to compete with supermarkets since the latter launch promotions in which prices were sometimes lower than their own.

For instance, tomatoes retail at VND6,900 per kilogramme at supermarkets while even in wholesale markets they cost VND6,000-7,000.— VNS

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