Going to the supermarket on weekends, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Lan (resident of Nhieu Loc ward) considers each item to ensure spending for her family. "Goods prices are starting to rise, so going to the supermarket now needs to be calculated more carefully than before. I prioritize items with long shelf life, promotions and safety" - Ms. Lan said.
Real-world records at many supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City show that the number of customers remains stable, but consumer behavior has somewhat changed. People prioritize essential products, promotional goods and compare prices more carefully.
The GO! supermarket system has just launched the program "Prices are always unbeaten - See cheaper prices and immediately reverse the difference" nationwide, lasting until the end of June 30. This is considered a move to contribute to stabilizing the market and strengthening consumer confidence.
Representative of Central Retail Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van - Communications Director, said that the system's top priority is to keep consumers' "baskets" not too affected by market fluctuations. According to her, the program is not only about price commitment but also a way for businesses to share spending pressure with people, helping each purchase become more secure and transparent.
Not only GO!, many large retail systems are also simultaneously implementing price-holding solutions. Representatives of Saigon Co. op said that they have proactively worked with suppliers to maintain reasonable prices for essential commodity groups. With more than 800 points of sale nationwide, this business still ensures abundant supply and stable selling prices, not only in Ho Chi Minh City but nationwide.
In addition, this system also strengthens goods stockpiling at distribution centers, while prioritizing domestic supply to optimize transportation costs. Thanks to this, fresh food items such as vegetables, tubers, meat and fish are still brought to supermarkets every day at relatively stable prices.
According to Ms. Ly Kim Chi - Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Food Association, in the context of the market still facing many difficulties, businesses have proactively adapted in many different ways. Many units have made efforts to delay price increases by increasing goods inventories, negotiating with suppliers to control the adjustment level at the lowest level, and even agreeing to share a part of the cost to retain customers.
However, according to Ms. Chi, maintaining a stable price level cannot only be based on the individual efforts of each business or distribution system. The market needs more synchronous solutions to control input costs, thereby creating a stable and sustainable foundation for commodity prices.
