Supermarkets report strong earnings in Big Sale month

VietNamNet Bridge – Many supermarkets in HCMC have reported strong sales in September when the Big Sale month was launched citywide by the city’s Department of Industry and Trade.

Customers flood a food counter at the Big C Hoang Van Thu Supermarket. Food and cosmetics items were more sought after during the Big Sale month. (Photo: SGT)

Most supermarkets witnessed 15% to 30% growth in September sales against the previous month, but some saw the growth rate close to 50%. Store chain operators attributed the high growth rate to deep discounts – between 5% and 50% - on thousands of items during the month.

Saigon Co.op, which is the biggest domestic store chain operator, said its revenue surged 45% in September against August, and even 50% higher compared to that in the year-earlier period.

“Consumers spent more during the month,” said a representative of Saigon Co.op.

Maximark chain has not had the growth figures for its stores in HCMC, but the chain’s revenue from all stores including in Nha Trang and Can Tho expanded 15% year-on-year, said Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, head of Maximark Cong Hoa.

Thao said Maximart launched the promotion not only in HCMC but chain-wide.

Duong Thi Quynh Trang, external relations manager of Big C, said the number of shoppers grew by 30% in September. “This is quite an upbeat figure, proving the attraction of the promotion month to consumers,” Trang told the Daily.

During festive days like the National Day on September 2, all supermarkets saw a shopping spree, and many stores had to extend the working hour by another 30 minutes, or mobilized more cashiers.

Several traders attributed the revenue rise to a new trend being established in the city, saying the sales promotion month has been launched for years, thus helping customers familiarize themselves with the shopping seasons of big discounts.

Apart from supermarkets, other trade centers and commercial facilities have not yet reported their September figures. The HCMC Department of Industry and Trade expects to have the final figures about the promotion month in the next few days.

VietNamNet/SGT