50% off but still no sales
These days, along the central streets of Can Tho City such as 3/2, 30/4, Mau Than..., many kiosks and moon cake stalls have hung up promotional signs of buy 1 get 1 free.
Ms. Anh Thu - a saleswoman at a moon cake stall in Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city - said that since the promotion program was implemented, purchasing power has improved but is still low.
“Customers who buy 1 moon cake will receive 1 free of the same type. If they do not take the free cake, they will receive a 50% discount on the price of the cake. Thus, for only 45,000 VND, customers can buy a moon cake with mixed fillings. This program has been applied for about 2 weeks now, but business is still quite sluggish,” said Ms. Thu.
At the moon cake stall of Mr. Huynh Van Tan (Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city), the selling price of cakes is equivalent to 2023. Accordingly, sweet cakes cost from 45,000 - 80,000 VND/cake; moon cakes with mixed fillings cost from 70,000 - 110,000 VND/cake. The special mixed fillings cost from 110,000 VND/cake or more, depending on the brand.
“The buy 1 get 1 free promotion only applies to some Dong Khanh brand cakes, not all. Buy 1 cake and get 1 cake free of the same price or lower. Buy 1 get 2 helps the number of customers increase but it is not enough for me to recoup the investment,” said Mr. Tan.
Compete with the online market
Shocking discounts are still sluggish, Ms. Anh Thu said, the main reason lies in the fact that customers tend to buy mooncakes online at cheap prices.
"Many people come to see the cakes, compare them with the ones on the internet, then ask for a further discount. If they don't get it, they leave. I understand that customers like cheap prices. But many cheap products today have unknown origins and do not guarantee food safety. Therefore, I hope consumers will be alert to protect their health during the Mid-Autumn Festival," said the female employee.
Also having to compete with the online market, Mr. Tan shared: “In fact, the buy 1 get 1 free promotion means I have already reduced the price by 50%, I cannot reduce it any further. In addition to the capital, I also have to shoulder the costs of renting a space, hiring sales staff and sleeping to watch over the bakery counter at night. Meanwhile, many cheap floating bakery products sold online are not necessarily of guaranteed quality.”
To ensure safety during the Mid-Autumn Festival , the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) has given some advice to consumers such as choosing products with clear origins; choosing manufacturers that meet food safety regulations...
At the same time, the product must have the production date, expiry date, and be within the expiry date; be sold at specific business locations, and meet the requirements for food business conditions.
Consumers must use their senses to evaluate to ensure that the product is not crushed or deformed, the packaging is not torn, has no unusual color, is not rotten, moldy, damaged, and has no strange smell. Absolutely do not choose or buy products that are floating, have no origin, are expired, have torn packaging, are deformed, or are smuggled.
