|
Tet: domestic products second in home market, again
Some months ago, experts predicted that domestic confections would regain the market of products for Tet as Vietnamese consumers were turning their backs on imported products after the melamine scandal. However, it seems that the prediction has not come true.
Foreign products newer than domestic
The market of products for Tet has become more bustling these days with baskets of presents and confectionary booths on Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ton That Dam, Nguyen Thong and August Revolution roads.
Contrary to all predictions, a lot of imported products are still on display, though domestic products were thought would dominate the market this Tet. Domestic producers once hoped that the melamine scandal, which made consumers hesitant about imported products, would be a golden opportunity for them to regain the home market.
However, in fact, only products with unclear origins have been weeded from shelves and boycotted by consumers. Meanwhile, products with good trademarks from Indonesia, Thailand, France, Denmark and India are still selling well. Imported products can be seen in abundance at Maximark, Saigon supermart, Tax trade centre and department stores on Nguyen Trai and Tran Hung Dao streets.
Explaining why domestic products are not being favoured as was expected, the owner of a confectionary shop near Hoa Hung market on August Revolution road said that domestic products only have new covers, while the quality hasn’t changed. In addition, domestic product varieties prove to be limited, but foreign-made products are diverse, and offer customers a lot of choices.
Nguyen Phuong Thao, Director of Maximark supermart chain, affirmed that in order to win customers, domestic products need to be further improved in packaging and quality and need to fit the tastes of customers.
Prices: foreign product prices down, domestic up
A paradox exists that while foreign products, which are considered to have superior quality to domestic products, have seen prices decrease, domestic products’ prices have increased.
Explaining the price increases, the deputy general director of a big confectionary company in Vietnam said most domestic producers focus on making high-grade products as presents for Tet and the prices of the products have increased.
He added that companies have had to spend more money on improving quality, packaging and on advertisement expenses; therefore, the sale prices of many product items have increased by 50% since last Tet.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, Director of TH Fashion Company, said that she prefers buying foreign-made products for presents for relatives and partners because foreign products are diversified with more beautiful packaging and taste good. Meanwhile, the prices of foreign products are just VND500-1,000/pack more.
Phuong Thao said that domestic producers need to reconsider their pricing policies if they want to boost sales as consumers now are practicing thrift.
Phan Van Thien, Deputy General Director of Bibica, a confectionary producer, said that distributors and sales agents have ordered products for Tet sale. However, the volumes they have ordered to date are lower than in previous years.
A sales agent in Binh Tay market said that suppliers of foreign-made products are offering products at prices lower than in previous years. She said that she can earn VND8,000 in profit by selling a pack of foreign biscuits, double the profit on the sale of domestic biscuits.
Saigon tiep thi
|
