According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade’s flash report on the market situation during the April 30 and May 1 holidays, during the holidays, people flocked to supermarkets and shopping malls to shop and have fun, especially in the afternoon and evening. Preliminary statistics from retail systems show that the number of customers increased by 100%-200% compared to normal days.
According to the Department of Industry and Trade, the market for goods in the area is relatively stable, with no shortage of goods or local price spikes.
A large number of customers came to Emart to hunt for promotional items
The long holiday is also a favorable time for businesses to boost consumer demand, implementing many promotional activities and discounts.
For example, the Saigon Co.op system has implemented many deep discount programs for customers. The MM Mega Market system has implemented the “Bustling Celebration of the Grand Festival, Full of Promotions” program that lasts until May 13th.
The BigC, GO!, Tops Market supermarket systems (under the Central Retail Group) are implementing the Watermelon, Cantaloupe, and Honeydew Melon Festival with a 26% discount; they are also offering a maximum discount of 50% on about 1,000 other items, including local specialties, fresh food, and cosmetics. The Satra, AEON Mall… systems are also implementing many promotions and direct discounts for customers.
Consumers mainly buy food and essential items at Co.opmart
Speaking to the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, representatives of retail businesses for the distribution system said that due to the difficult economic situation, consumers are still in a trend of saving on spending, so heavily discounted items, the food group including fresh food (vegetables, fruits), processed food, and heat-relieving items are in high demand, for example, soft drinks, sweet drinks, energy drinks, electrolyte drinks, and nutritional supplements are selling best.
Van Hanh Mall was crowded with customers from early morning
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thang, Director of Co.opmart Operation Block and Marketing Director of Saigon Co.op, said that the purchasing power of heat-relieving items such as soft drinks, energy drinks, and electrolyte drinks is increasing by about 30% compared to last month; some OCOP items such as coconut water, lotus heart tea, bitter melon tea, and rau ma powder have seen a 50% increase in purchasing power compared to normal days.
Mr. Le Huu Tinh, senior marketing manager of Thiso Retail Company Limited (operating the Emart supermarket chain), said that the number of customers shopping at Emart supermarkets is very high. Purchasing power is mainly focused on essential items such as fresh food, fruits, vegetables…
The food court area at shopping malls is always crowded with customers during the holidays
According to Mr. Dinh Quang Khoi, Marketing Director of MM Mega Market, compared to the same period last year, the value of customers’ shopping carts increased by nearly 14% while the number of customers only increased by nearly 8%. This accurately reflects the supermarket’s prediction and preparation before the holiday that due to the hot weather, consumers spend more time in the supermarket each time they shop, so their shopping carts are also larger.
Traditional Markets Are Slow
Although overall purchasing power increased well, the increase was not uniform in all places.
According to our observation, in the general supermarket segment, Emart, AEON, Co.opmart Cong Quynh, Co.opmart Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Co.opmart Ly Thuong Kiet, MM Mega Market An Phu, LOTTE Mart Nam Sai Gon… supermarkets attracted a large number of customers to shop and have fun.
In the shopping mall segment, centers such as AEON, Gigamall, Van Hanh Mall, Parkson Hung Vuong… are much more crowded than Parkson, SC Vivo City, Crescent Mall…
In small markets, customers only focus on the fresh food area, while other areas continue to experience a lull.
