Most HCM City businesses have wrapped up plans for their Tet (the Lunar New Year) production almost two months ahead of the country’s biggest festival, which falls on February 16.

The total value of goods they will produce for distribution two months before and after the festival is VND17.8 trillion (US$784.1 million), VND743 billion ($32.7 million) higher than last year, Nguyen Huynh Trang, deputy director of the Department of Industry and Trade, said.

The focus would be on poultry and cattle meats, sugar, eggs, processed foods, cooking oils and rice, she said.

Vissan Joint Stock Company, which processes and sells fresh and frozen meat and foods, said the company started making its plans in June and earmarked VND650 billion for Tet production.

The company will supply 3,000 tonnes of fresh pork and beef and over 3,500 tonnes of processed foods, 30 per cent and 15 per cent more than last year.

It also plans to launch many new products this year.

Saigon Food deputy general director Le Thi Thanh Lam said the company has produced more than 800 tonnes of finished products and launched 16 new processed food and ready-to-eat products for the Lunar New Year.

Many poultry meat and egg suppliers like Ba Huan and Vinh Thanh Dat as well as confectionery producers also plan to increase supply.

Supermarkets, malls and convenience stores have also made plans for Tet, with many planning to increase supply two or three times over normal.

Saigon Co.op has stockpiled 130,000 tonnes of goods, a year-on-year increase of 15 per cent, for three months starting a month before Tet.

The quantity of goods it will sell under the city’s annual Tet price stabilisation programme will increase by 5-30 per cent, while the supply of fresh foods, including vegetables, fruits and meats, confectionery, sweets, beverages and beer will be 15-30 per cent higher than last year.

Lotte Mart Vietnam said it would increase supply by over 25 per cent compared to last year.

It has also asked its suppliers not to hike prices during Tet.

The supermarket plans to offer more than Tet gift packs at prices ranging from VND68,600 to VND1.25 million.

Big C supermarket chain too has made efforts to ensure adequate supply and steady prices during Tet.

To meet the higher demand, especially for essential goods, it has negotiated with producers and suppliers to buy ample quantities of beers, beverages, confectionery and other products.

Producers and retailers will also have many promotions, especially for beverages, confectionary, sweets, candy and clothes, according to the Department of Industry and Trade.

The companies participating in the price stabilisation programme have promised to keep prices steady for a month before and after the holidays, it said.

They would cut the prices of essential items like pork and chicken meat and eggs before Tet, it said.

The department will co-ordinate with other relevant agencies to monitor the market to ensure supply and quality.

It will work with the managers of traditional markets to encourage traders not to sell goods without clear origins. — VNS