Supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City report a sharp increase in sales inrecent days and expect a further rise a few days ahead of Tet (Lunar NewYear), which falls on February 19 this year.

Co.opmart, forinstance, said sales was up by three to four times compared to normaldays, especially of confectionery, beverages, cosmetics, and dried food.

Demandfor priced-stabilised items like rice, sugar, cooking oil, and eggs anddiscounted products and processed foods is 60 percent higher than thesupermarket had planned for.

It expects sales to rise furtherfrom now through the New Year, especially of fresh food such as pork,beef, poultry meat, fruits and vegetables, pork pies, glutinous ricecakes, and pickled vegetables.

Vo Hoang Anh, marketing directorof Saigon Co.op, which owns the supermarket, said Co.opmart, Co.opXtra,and Co.opFood stores have stocked large quantities of fruits likewatermelon, custard apple, dragon fruit, Hoa Loc mango, and pomelo tomeet demand.

The fruits are cheaper than market prices, he said,adding that their quality is also carefully controlled to ensure thereare no chemical residues.

Ho Quoc Nguyen, director of publicrelations at Big C, said the number of shoppers at the Frenchsupermarket chain is up three-fold last week.

In the run-up toTet, especially during weekend and just before the New Year, the numberof shoppers will surely increase further, he said, adding that salesthis year will be 15 percent higher than last year.

Three weeksahead of Tet, gift baskets, confectionery, jams, beers, beverages,household utensils, and decorative items are among the most popularitems. In the next few days buyers will focus on fresh items like fruitsand vegetables, livestock and poultry meat, and seafood, he said.

The supermarket has abundant stocks of fresh food, fruits, vegetables, and other items, he said.

OnFebruary 12, it began selling unusual fruits for display during Tet –such as square watermelons, gold bar-shaped watermelons, red pineapples,and wine gourd pomelos. Lotte Mart, sales is up 40 percent now and isexpected to rise to 60 percent in the coming days, according to TranPham Phuc Nguyen, marketing director of the Korean-owned supermarket.

Fruits,vegetables, watermelons, mangoes, glutinous rice cakes, fresh flowers,confectionery, and jams are most in demand, it said, adding that Tetgift baskets also sold very well, with over 1,500 baskets snapped up sofar.

Nguyen said the prices of goods have not increased for Tet,and the supermarket also has promotions to enable shoppers to save more.

Aspart of a promotion programme in the run-up to the Lunar New Year,Co.opmart chain is selling watermelons, scallops, Da Lat potatoes, whitecabbages, onions, sausages, biscuits, and detergents at 5,000 to 30,000VND lower than market prices until February 18.

It is also slashing prices by up to 50 percent on 4,500 products until the last day of this lunar year.

Big C too is offering discounts of 5-45 percent on more than 2,000 products until February 18.

Besides, shoppers buying goods worth more than 500,000 VND (23.4 USD) will enter its lucky draw.

Similarity, Lotte Mart is offering attractive discounts on thousands of items until February 18.

Tomeet the Tet rush, many supermarkets have extended their opening hoursas well as increased the number of cashiers to ensure convenience andsafety during the country's grandest festival.-VNA