Customers buy candied and dried fruits for Tết at a supermarket in HCM City. Tết shopping has entered its peak season in HCM City. — VNS Photo Xuân Hương

HCM CITY — Shopping at supermarkets and traditional markets for Tết (the Lunar New Year) has increased significantly in HCM City in recent days, and is expected to keep rising ahead of the festival, which begins on January 24.

Đỗ Quốc Huy, marketing director of Saigon Co.op, said, sales of confectionery and fresh foods, especially poultry meat, pork and beef, were up 10-30 per cent while beer and beverages demand had risen by 10-15 per cent.

In the run-up to Tết, especially during the weekend and just before the New Year, the number of shoppers would surely increase further.

According to Big C supermarket, sales had increased a great deal from normal days.

It has set aside a large area at its stores to display Tết products such as cookies, candies, dried nuts, and regional specialities to make their shopping convenient.

Big C has stocked around 2,200 tonnes of cookies, candies and candied fruits for the festival.

Phan Văn Dũng, deputy general director of food producer Vissan Joint Stock Company, said sales of processed products have increased by 10– 25 per cent in volume terms from normal days.

Prices of the company’s processed food products are steady, he said.

As for fresh foods such as pork, Vissan is collaborating with animal farms and distributors to best meet peak demand in the coming days, he said.

Many supermarkets have reported a 30 per cent increase in the number of shoppers.

Many are offering discounts of up to 49 per cent on thousands of products like cookies, sweets, candied fruits, dried foods, garments and textiles, footwear, and household utensils.

In the three days before Tết, some supermarkets will offer bigger discounts on many essential products.

“In the week before Tết Saigon Co.op will offer further discounts on pork products, chicken, vegetables, and fruits,” Huy said.

To meet the Tết rush, many supermarkets have also extended their working hours and increased the number of cash counters.

They are promoting phone orders and online shopping.

Huy said, “We also receive orders for Tết dishes combos online so that shoppers do not have to come to our supermarkets.”

At traditional markets like Bến Thành, Bà Chiểu and Thị Nghè, traders said demand for cakes, sweets, beers, and other beverages have surged, with the prices of beers and beverages going up significantly compared to last year.

Demand for fruits and vegetables is normal and so their prices are steady, a trader at Bà Chiểu Market in Bình Thạnh District said.

According to forecasts by ministries and other government agencies, demand for Tết holiday this year would increase by 30 per cent – 50 per cent compared to normal days and 10 per cent – 15 per cent from last year. — VNS