Co.opmart and Co.opXtra supermarkets attract a large number of shoppers. Saigon Co.op is stocking large volumes of essential Tết goods to ensure adequate supply during the holidays. — Photo courtesy of Saigon Co.op

HCM CITY — Saigon Co.op has stockpiled more than 12,000 tonnes of essential goods traditionally consumed for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday in late January, or 30-50 per cent higher than normal.

Most of them are goods meant for the market stabilisation programme, like rice, sugar, cooking oil, pork, poultry meat and eggs, processed foods, vegetables, fruits, and seafood. The rest include other foods and Tết specialties.

Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng, the cooperative’s deputy general director, said: "Saigon Co.op expects Tết 2025 sales to increase by 5 per cent.

“In 2024 Saigon Co.op opened several new retail outlets catering to various segments, like Co.opmart, Co.opXtra, Co.op Food, Co.op Smile, and Finelife. 

“With 800 outlets nationwide and ongoing expansion across all retail segments, Saigon Co.op has a strong foundation to place large orders with strategic partners, thereby ensuring steady prices for all Tết goods.”

To ensure quality, hygiene and food safety, Saigon Co.op will increase the frequency of quality checks by two- or three-fold from normal days.

It has recruited more than 3,500 seasonal employees as sales staff, cashiers, marketers, gift wrappers, security guards, storekeepers, warehouse assistants, and home delivery staff.

In addition, Co.opmart, Co.opXtra, and other stores under the Saigon Co.op umbrella are running promotions that will go on almost until Tết, offering discounts on 3,500 products.

MM Mega Market Việt Nam, anticipating a significant increase in consumer demand during the year-end period, worked with its strategic partners a few months ago to increase stocks of Tết-specific products by 40 per cent.

Pork and chicken supply will be stabilised in terms of both quantity and price, leveraging its closed-loop supply chain, according to an MMVN spokesperson.

MM Mega Market Việt Nam increases stock for Tết 2025 by 40 per cent. — Photo courtesy of MMVN

MMVN will ensure sufficient stocks for its 21 outlets nationwide, prioritising essential goods, health-related items and traditional Tết products such as peach blossoms, apricot flowers, decorative couplets, and red envelopes.

The company said it works closely with suppliers to maintain reasonable prices and prevent price volatility, and that MMVN offers attractive promotions, including "Buy More, Save More" for bulk purchases of fresh, dry and non-food items, "Buy 2, Pay for 1," "Buy 2, Get 1 Free," discounts of up to 50 per cent, and special deals on various items throughout the Tết season.

It plans to hire over 600 temporary workers during Tết 2025, and is confident of maintaining prices and service quality during Tết.

Other supermarkets such as Go!, BigC and Tops Market (under Central Retail Vietnam), Aeon, Satra, and WinMart are also busy preparing for the year-end shopping bonanza.

Vissan Joint Stock Company, which processes and sells fresh and frozen meat and processed foods, has earmarked more than VNĐ540 billion (US$21.3 million) to stockpile goods, an increase of 8 per cent from last year.

It plans to stock nearly 930 tonnes of fresh food, up 5 per cent from last year, and 3,700 tonnes of processed foods, up 8 per cent.

It has earmarked an additional 10–20 per cent of its production to head off potential supply shortages.

Vissan said it began stockpiling raw materials since June 2024 to ensure its diverse supply of goods meet consumer demand before, during and after Tết. 

It is also committed to stabilising prices throughout the holiday season besides offering weekly promotions with discounts of 10–20 per cent on certain essential items.

Customers buy essential products at Khánh Hội Park in HCM City’s District 4 on December 10 under the mobile sales - market stabilisation programme. — VNS Photo

Bùi Tá Hoàng Vũ, director of the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, confirmed that businesses have stockpiled sufficient essential goods for Tết.

They have allocated some VNĐ23 trillion ($905.7 million) to stock goods, including VNĐ10 trillion for the city market stabilisation programme.

The volume of products subject to the market stabilisation programme account for 21–32 per cent of the market during regular months but can rise to 43 per cent during the peak Tết period.

Vũ said that, from now until January 2025, the department would collaborate with various agencies to implement the mobile sales - market stabilisation programme to bring essential consumer goods at good quality and attractive prices to more consumers in the city, with the participation of large retailers and brands such as Saigon Co.op, Satra, MM Mega Market, and Cholimex.

Under the programme, some items will have prices discounted by 80 per cent.

The department would also carry out regular inspections to monitor prices and quality, Vũ added. — VNS