Consumers turn to local sweets

Confectionary companies are seeing more orders for Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday as consumers switch their preference from foreign to domestic confectionary products.

Hoang Thi Tam Ai, director of HCM City-based Tri Duc Company in Cu Chi District, said her factory was operating at full capacity as orders from supermarkets had increased over the previous year.

Tri Duc planned to produce about 100 tonnes of various kinds of sweetened fruits for Tet, up 20 per cent against last year.

Nguyen Lam Vien, director of Vinamit Co Ltd, a leading company that produces fried fruits, said his company had increased the production of dried fruits by 20 per cent for Tet because Vinamit products sell well at wholesale markets and supermarkets.

The Government campaign for Vietnamese people to prioritise Vietnamese goods had had a positive impact, experts said.

Imported confectionary products without original labels and domestic products that do not ensure quality and food safety have not been selling well, according to businesses.

Duong Quynh Trang, a representative of Big C supermarket chain, said 90 per cent of confectionary products and sweetened fruits to be sold during Tet would be locally made.

Big C plans to stock about 130 tonnes of traditional sweetened fruits and confectionary products for Tet.

“The products are ordered from prestigious domestic producers which ensure quality,” Trang said.

Cuc, a trader at the Binh Tay Market in HCM City’s District 6, said she only sold domestically made confectionery products because their prices were cheaper and they sold well.

The prices of imported confectionary products has increased by 20-25 per cent against one year ago, while the prices on local products rose by only 10-15 per cent.

“Domestic confectionary companies have offered better policies for traders, including higher discounts,” she said.

To offer more convenience for consumers, domestic confectionary producers have also been selling their products to more supermarkets and shops.

Domestic confectionary producers have also developed new distribution networks and markets in provinces and cities, ensuring distribution of their products nationwide.

Bien Hoa Confectionery Joint-Stock Co’s (Bibica) products, for example, are sold at 50,000 points of sale and 200 supermarkets nationwide.

With added points of sale, consumers in urban and rural areas will be offered a stable price, according to a Bibica. — VNS