Food Items In Demand During Ramadhan
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - The sale of food items has seen a surge during the current Ramadhan, local food distributors said. The sale of canned fruits to break fast such as longan and lychees has increased by up to 50 per cent so far compared to previous months.

Similar trends are seen in the sale of daily necessities including corn, milk, assorted drinks and fruits cocktail. Also in demand are baking items such as margarine and flour.

A distributor of food products to most major supermarkets in Brunei said the market is active and business is good with more distributions being made. to supermarkets. However, he added that profit margins are low. He predicted a surge in buying of daily food items during the upcoming payday.

"Right now, people are still surveying products for the festive Hari Raya," he said, adding that Bruneians are now more health conscious when selecting food products to break the fast. They remove chicken skin and look for healthy cooking oil.

As for the sale of canned fruits like lychees and longans, the trend is almost the same every year, he said noting that the retail price of canned fruits has not increased although the price of longans in Thailand has risen.

"Distributors are selling the old stock, which is valid for three years before its expiry date," he said. "In this competitive market, profit margin is low. More quantity distributed means more profit which in turn means supermarkets offering lower prices for the benefit of customers," he added.

However, the competitive wholesale market with supermarkets mushrooming around the country makes sales harder and retailers have to create new marketing strategies to lure customers.

A popular shopping centre in Gadong is having a grand sale, which kicked off September 15 and will end October 29 with a'Draw and Win' promotion. Eighty winners will be selected weekly and `extra bonus wins' are also offered. With every purchase of $25 in a single receipt, customers can collect their stamps and stand a chance to redeem electrical items.

Another store also in Gadong is offering a `purchase with purchase' promotion where customers who purchase goods worth $30 and above in a single receipt are entitled to purchase selected items at reduced prices. Other supermarkets offer `scratch and win' promotions and parking ticket redemption for purchase of $30 and above.

Meanwhile, when asked on the price of goods across the border, another retailer said certain items in Brunei are still cheaper than those in Miri and Limbang, especially daily items.

The Sultanate is currently having its 1211 grand sale which began September 15 and will run for 45 days.

The authorities urged retailers to display their price tags clearly to avoid any confusion.

Brunei's Price Control Act states that products displayed for sale must have visible price tags. The issue of price control is taken very seriously especially during the current grand sale and the regulation will continue to be enforced by the Economic Planning and Development Department (JPKE). -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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