Hanoi ensures essential goods stockpiles for Tet holiday
Hanoi is working to ensure that the best products from around the country are available in the capital city for the national holiday.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade and businesses are ramping up for the upcoming Tet holiday (the Lunar New Year) with plans to ensure a robust supply of goods and prevent price hikes during the peak shopping season.
According to Nguyen The Hiep, Deputy Director of the department, enterprises have increased their stockpiling by an average of 9% to 30% compared to the previous Tet preparations. Notably, domestically-made products, particularly those under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, make up 90% of the offerings.
Local residents are shopping at a supermarket in Hanoi. Photos: Le Nam/The Hanoi Times
Hiep said retailers negotiate with producers three to six months in advance for both volume and prices to ensure abundant supply.
The department and counterparts in 33 provinces and cities will join a coordination program that supports about 950 food supply chains supplying safe food to Hanoi, equal to 57% of national chains.
Saigon Co.op, BRGMart, HaproMart and Central Retail have prepared plans for the nation’s biggest holiday with inventories rising 25%-30% from last season.
Nguyen Ngoc Thang, Director of Saigon Co.op, said their stocks are rising 20%-50% to meet Tet demand. Co.opmart has more than 50 price stabilization stores in Hanoi and the northern region.
Meanwhile, Hapro General Director Do Tue Tam said the firm is working with major suppliers to stabilize prices of key products, which make up 32% of Tet goods sold through its 42 supermarkets and stores.
BRGMart marketing manager Nguyen Thi Hien said they are working with suppliers to forecast demand and prepare inventories, expecting volumes two to three times higher than normal.
A staff of the Hanoi Market Surveillance Department checks goods at Co.op Mart supermarket.
Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, Director of Co.opmart Ha Dong, said that the year-end inventory increases around 30%-40% as compared to the normal level and nearly 10% from the previous Tet holiday. The company is committed to maintaining stable prices while increasing promotional offers.
Local businesses are required to follow their plans to secure essential goods.
In late October, firms in Hanoi and other provinces pledged to ensure stable supplies for Hanoi to prevent Tet price hikes.
The city will continue promoting the “Vietnamese buy Vietnamese products” campaign to support production and sales, Deputy Director Nguyen The Hiep said.
To ensure the quality, Trinh Quang Duc, Director of the Hanoi Market Surveillance Department, called for stronger coordination to control food safety, smuggling, commercial fraud, counterfeit goods, intellectual property violations and prices.
He said the department will work with enterprises to stabilize the market and with authorities to supervise food safety compliance.
Hanoi has also strengthened communication on supply and demand, market prices and measures to stabilize the market, especially for agricultural, forestry and fishery products.
He said consumer demand is rising but the market remains stable thanks to the city’s close monitoring of supply and demand and its crackdown on contraband and commercial fraud since last October.
