Southern goods rush to the North, retail giants launch many solutions

Despite facing many challenges in terms of transportation and logistics, retail businesses are still looking for and implementing many solutions to promptly provide essential goods to consumers.

People shopping at MM Mega Market Hong Bang ( Hai Phong ) - Photo: KH

According to many supermarkets, purchasing power in the Northern region is increasing rapidly, especially dry goods such as cooking oil, flour, instant noodles and canned food. Sales of these items have increased by over 50%, sometimes even up to 80% compared to normal days.

In addition, the demand for soft drinks, bread, flashlights and alcohol stoves also suddenly increased sharply due to widespread power outages in many areas.

Many solutions from retail "giants"

Faced with this situation, supermarkets are actively evaluating and adjusting to increase the number of goods to promptly meet people's needs in the coming days.

However, retailers also called on people to stay calm, stock up on only enough essentials, avoid hoarding more than necessary to prioritize areas more heavily affected.

In the face of emergency, the supermarket system Large companies have quickly implemented many solutions to ensure the supply of goods.

MM Mega Market Vietnam has increased the transportation of vegetables and fruits from Binh Duong and Lam Dong to Hanoi, with two trips per day, equivalent to 16 tons of goods.

Ms. Tran Kim Nga, MM Mega Market's external affairs director, said: "We are increasing staff for our northern warehouses to stabilize the supply and transportation of goods, ensuring that fresh goods and fresh bakery counters are always sufficient for customers to buy and store or eat immediately without processing."

At the same time, MM Mega Market has also tripled the number of vehicles transporting goods from the South to the North and adjusted the amount of goods at warehouses from the Central region to the North, with the ability to supply up to one month to the North.

Meanwhile, Saigon Co.op has also taken positive steps. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thang, Deputy General Director of Saigon Co.op, shared: "We have increased our inventory in the North by 3 times compared to normal and maintained 24/7 operation of the distribution center in Bac Ninh."

Saigon Co.op has also tripled the number of transport vehicles serving the Northern market, and flexibly used compact trucks to move quickly on difficult routes. In particular, they have transported more than 200 tons of vegetables and fruits from Dong Nai, Lam Dong and the Western provinces to the North.

AEON Vietnam also said that it has proactively sourced goods and increased the amount of goods ordered from suppliers 2-3 times compared to normal days, especially focusing on fresh products. AEON has also diversified its supply sources and cooperated with large, reputable suppliers to ensure backup supplies in case of emergency.

Overcoming challenges, ensuring supply

Despite many efforts, supermarkets still face many difficulties and challenges. The biggest problem now is traffic and transportation as many routes are affected by the flood.

To overcome this situation, supermarkets are prioritizing the use of small trucks to facilitate delivery from warehouses to neighboring areas. However, despite increasing the number of transport vehicles, delays are still unavoidable due to difficult road conditions.

Fresh produce supply is also a major challenge. Heavy rains have damaged and flooded many vegetable growing areas, seriously affecting the supply of fruits and vegetables.

In addition, rough seas have made offshore fishing difficult, affecting seafood supplies. Leafy vegetables, in particular, have a short shelf life, making transportation from unaffected areas even more difficult.

Widespread power outages in many areas are also a big challenge. Supermarkets are struggling to maintain power and water supplies to ensure the quality of goods, especially fresh products that need to be refrigerated.

To overcome these difficulties, supermarkets have come up with many solutions to diversify their supply sources. Saigon Co.op has increased the transportation of vegetables from Lam Dong to the North, from 1 truck every 2 days to 2-3 trucks per day. MM Mega Market has also increased the number of trucks transporting vegetables from Binh Duong and Lam Dong.

In addition, supermarkets are also actively exploiting goods sources from the Central and Northern provinces that are less affected. Saigon Co.op is increasing purchases of goods from Son La and other provinces with less flooding.

In addition, supermarkets are also flexibly adjusting their business plans. MM Mega Market is considering suspending some export orders to prioritize the domestic market. Meanwhile, Saigon Co.op plans to extend the time to increase food supplies for the North from 10-15 days to a month if necessary.

Mr. Vo Tran Ngoc, sales director of Saigon Co.op, affirmed: "We plan to increase food supplies for the North about 10-15 days before and after storm with stable prices, but with the current flood situation, this reinforcement will be given priority to be extended, even for a month if the market needs it."

Source