Supermarkets stocks up for Ramadhan, Idul Fitri onslaught
Supermarkets stocks up for Ramadhan, Idul Fitri onslaught
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Supermarkets in the city are starting to pile their stocks
welcoming the Ramadhan fasting month when Muslim residents
increase their consumption during the next month.
Interviewed separately, Ripto Rahardi of Gelael Supermarket on
Jl. MT Haryono in South Jakarta and Budi Wahyudi of Hero
Supermarket at Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta, told The Jakarta
Post that there had yet any significant increase of sales prior
to the first day of the fasting month.
"Usually it will increase slowly during the first week," said
Ripto. "But we have prepared an increase of between 15 percent
and 20 percent as an anticipation."
Budi also said that his store had yet to experience surging
demands from customers, saying the increase might happen
beginning the third week of fasting month.
Ripto said usually the customers looked for items that were
related to breaking the fast such as dried dates, syrup, coconut-
based nata de coco, and other types of light refreshment.
Both Budi and Ripto also said they would increase the stock
nearing Idul Fitri as most of food-producing factories would stop
their operation allowing the workers to celebrate the holidays
with their families.
Budi added usually his store started piling up stocks seven
days before the start of the fasting month.
"We increase, for example, the amount of syrup stock some 10
percent to 30 percent," he said.
Despite reports about sharp price hike for several commodities
in traditional markets, Budi and Ripto said prices in their
supermarkets were still stable.
"We even provide less price for certain items regularly such
as for fresh meat," Budi said.
Ripto said that his store still put old prices for most items
such as rice, sugar and flour, which are the old stock.
"I haven't checked yet with our suppliers whether there will
be any price increase," he said.
Meanwhile, Ega, a housewife in Pancoran, South Jakarta, said
her family did not buy more than usual for the fasting month.
"I only buy more light refreshments such as syrup and nata de
coco to break the fast.
"There are a lot of supermarkets and warung in my neighborhood
so I don't think it is necessary to pile up my stock," she said.
Ega said she usually shop meat, poultry or fish every two or
three days to keep them fresh.
Another housewife, Bonita of Jatiwaringin, East Jakarta, said
she had bought more instant noodles, cooking oil and light
refreshments to break the fast.
"But I did not pile up stock on meat, poultry or fish," she
said.
She said that the price of chicken remained stable at between
Rp 13,000 and Rp 15,000 each, while the eggs have increased from
Rp 7,500 last week to Rp 8,800 per kilogram on Wednesday.