Pre-Tet Effervescent Market

Pre-Tet Effervescent Market

At a meeting on preparation for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) on January 5, 2005, Nguyen Thi Nhu Mai, Deputy Director General of Hanoi Trade Corporation (Hapro), asserted: "The corporation is determined not to trade smuggled goods, counterfeits and low quality products for the sake of the city consumers, especially as Tet is approaching…".

Under the plan for Tet 2005, the corporation has requested its 23 member companies to make analysis and forecast on this year’s festive consumption needs, based on the business results in 2004, targeting a 15 per cent growth in turnover. Production of pork, meat pies, processed foods, oil, monosodium glutamate, sugar, alcohol, beer, soft drinks, cigarettes and veggies, will be raised by 10-15 percent in quantity over that in 2004 Tet. Other items forecast to be soaring in consumption are clothes, electrical and electronic equipment, decorative products and gifts.

Vu Vinh Phu, Deputy Director of Hanoi Trade Department, stresses Tet is a big dealing opportunity for enterprises since the volume of goods sold can be ten fold that of an ordinary day. That is why enterprises need to pay heed to food safety, he said. Enterprises themselves will also protect their trademark for not trading counterfeits and low quality products. Hapro and its members have reportedly cooperated with relevant organizations, including Hanoi Health Department, Transport and Public Works Department and the municipal Market Management Bureau, to ensure timely and safe circulation of goods flow. Nguyen Minh Nghia, Deputy Director of Hapro’s Hanoi Food Company, says the company has prepared 120 tons of pork (live weight), 240 tons of sausage, Chinese sausage, and meat pie and 1,000 bottles of wine for this Tet. The volume of fresh veggies, chilly, pepper and additive substances are also to be increased by 20 percent.

Almost all companies have stored more goods than previous festive seasons because of increasing purchasing power as the result of salary hikes and longer Tet holidays. 

"Don't look down and ignore post-Tet services," Vu Vinh Phu, Deputy Director of Hanoi Trade Department, advises. The public’s post-Tet demand will likely grow because of the traditional conception "The first month of the Lunar New Year is the season for festivities," he points out. Enterprises hence should be ready for long-term but good quality services since consumers, especially those in big cities like Hanoi, are heading to supermarkets and big shops where trademarks are available. That is why enterprises should maintain their prestige for long-term business. 

• Doan Phuong