'Supermarkets can't provide really fresh supplies'

Traditional markets, regardless of their run-down and shabby appearance, remain an attraction to all classes of people for their daily needs. Hypermarkets and supermarkets, whose number has been increasing, do not appear to be competitors, as each has its own market. Traditional markets, for example, have as their strength the provision of fresh produce. The Jakarta Post talked to a few city dwellers on the issue.

Antonius, 40, is an assistant manager of a supermarket in South Jakarta. He lives in Tangerang, West Java, with his wife and son:

I don't see any competition between supermarkets or hypermarkets and traditional markets in the city. Although I have long worked at a supermarket, my family still goes to traditional markets.

They are part of our daily life, so it would be impossible to eliminate traditional markets here.

I would say that the supply of staple foods and household goods is more complete at traditional markets.

When I supervised a supermarket in North Jakarta, I couldn't deny that traditional markets were still as attractive as the supermarket. Many in the upper to middle income bracket came to the traditional market for fresh chicken and meat.

Sales of fresh products at the supermarket were way behind. I guess that's no surprise, as customers wanted fresher supplies of their staple foodstuffs. Unfortunately the supermarkets or hypermarkets could not provide really fresh supplies.

I once talked to a rich man who went to a traditional market for fermented cassava because it was the favorite food of his village childhood. Alas, he couldn't find it at any supermarket.

That's proof enough that modern shopping centers can't always supply the goods that traditional ones can.

Sarwani, 60, has been a vendor of fresh fruit at Jatinegara traditional market, East Jakarta, for more than 20 years. He lives in Bukit Duri, East Jakarta, with his wife and nine children:

I never thought that the growing number of supermarkets or shopping malls around here would turn out to be my competitors.

In spite of the terrible state of things here, I reckon that I continue to have loyal customers for my fruit. Besides, the majority of low-income people still rely on traditional markets to fulfill their daily needs.

So, I firmly believe that traditional markets should continue, otherwise where would people on low incomes go to satisfy their daily needs?

Arisanti, 29, is a housewife and employee at a private company in Central Jakarta. She lives in Sunter, North Jakarta, with her family:

I dare say I prefer traditional markets more than supermarkets or hypermarkets because I can buy my daily necessities at reasonable prices.

It's impossible to bargain at shopping centers, right? Besides, supermarkets are not the right place to buy fresh meat or vegetables because I think such goods have been kept for more than a day in the freezer.

I guess it's much healthier to consume fresh goods bought from traditional markets -- I can guarantee that.

I don't think that traditional markets will vanish, despite the growing number of hypermarkets or supermarkets around here.Leo Wahyudi S