Ho Chi Minh City: Consumer demand surges, businesses launch Tet holiday goods.

The year-end market is entering its busiest phase, with demand for Tet (Lunar New Year) shopping increasing rapidly across most product categories, including processed foods, confectionery, beverages, household goods, and clothing. Seizing this opportunity, businesses in Ho Chi Minh City are accelerating production, finalizing inventory plans, and implementing various solutions to maintain prices amidst persistently high input costs.

Businesses launch Tet holiday products.

People in Ho Chi Minh City shop for Tet (Lunar New Year) sweets. Photo: My Phuong/TTXVN.

Since the beginning of December, many retail systems have seen a sharp increase in shoppers purchasing goods for the Lunar New Year. Many consumers are taking advantage of promotional programs to prepare in advance gift items with long shelf lives such as confectionery, soft drinks, and processed foods.

"I hadn't planned to buy Tet supplies yet, but seeing the wide variety of goods and many promotional programs at the supermarket, I took the opportunity to buy some items with long expiration dates in advance to avoid the crowds and shopping during Tet. Overall, supermarkets stocking up early makes things much more convenient for consumers," shared Ms. Nguyen Thanh Kien from Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

The market is recovering positively, with shopping and consumption activities quite vibrant, especially in modern retail systems and reputable, high-quality stores and shopping channels. Mr. Nguyen Trung Dung, General Director of Dh Foods Joint Stock Company, said that thanks to market control activities by relevant authorities, consumers are strongly shifting towards branded products, leading to positive revenue growth. Meanwhile, retail systems also recorded increased shopping activity for Tet holiday-related product groups such as confectionery and beverages.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan, CEO of MM Mega Market Vietnam, said that anticipating strong consumer demand at the end of the year, the system has increased its inventory by 20% compared to the same period last year. Currently, the system is prioritizing solutions to address logistics challenges, ensuring timely delivery of goods to central warehouses and to partners and customers.

Meanwhile, at food processing plants in Ho Chi Minh City, production capacity has increased by 15-30% compared to the third quarter. Businesses have also arranged overtime shifts since the beginning of November to ensure timely delivery for the Tet holiday. As in previous years, since October, Tan Quang Minh Production and Trading Co., Ltd., specializing in the production of non-alcoholic beverages, has accelerated production of Tet goods to ensure timely distribution to sales points from the beginning of November. Recognizing the positive market outlook this year, the company has set a growth target of 15% compared to the same period in 2024.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Hien, General Director of Tan Quang Minh Production and Trading Co., Ltd., said: "The company places great importance on the Tet holiday season. Therefore, since the middle of the year, we have been preparing raw materials and developing new products so that production can begin in September and October. During the peak period, we concentrate manpower and operate at maximum capacity, working three shifts a day. Since the beginning of November, the company has launched Tet goods and is currently continuing to transport them to many warehouses and large distribution systems. The consumer market is showing positive growth signs for Tet products, which is the basis for the company's expectations for this year's Tet season."

At Vietnam Livestock Industry Corporation, a bustling production atmosphere is observed in product groups serving the Lunar New Year such as sausages, cured meats, and pork rolls… The value of goods prepared for the Lunar New Year is 530 billion VND, equivalent to 850 tons of fresh food and 3,500 tons of processed food, an increase of about 8% compared to last year.

"Although the market is recovering, purchasing power remains cautious. The company is actively launching new products for this Tet season, with many different price segments to suit the diverse needs of customers," shared Mr. Phan Van Dung, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Livestock Industry Corporation.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, Tet holiday goods are being actively produced, transported, and distributed to sales points. This year, retail systems are preparing to increase Tet holiday goods by 20-50% compared to last year, contributing to price stability and ensuring supply throughout the peak Tet season of 2026. The price-stabilized goods group continues to maintain 25-43% market share, sufficient to regulate the market and maintain consumer spending.

Maintaining prices amidst rising input costs.

The Ho Chi Minh City Food and Beverage Association noted that this year's Tet market saw a strong increase in both supply and demand, a positive sign of recovery in the retail sector after consolidation. However, businesses are facing significant pressure due to sharply rising input costs, from raw materials to logistics expenses. Imported raw materials have seen a substantial increase in cost, ranging from 10% to 30%. Domestic raw materials are facing both supply constraints and transportation difficulties, as roads deteriorate and are damaged after storms and floods, further increasing transportation costs.

"To maintain cost-effectiveness and increase competitiveness in the current environment, we have implemented many efficient production management measures, such as prioritizing local agricultural raw material sources, controlling input costs, and minimizing unnecessary steps. Thanks to proactive production, the company has been able to maintain cost-effectiveness and reasonable selling prices, meeting consumer demands for delicious, high-quality products at affordable prices," said Mr. Dang Tran Quoc Vinh, Head of Sales Department of Tam Ngoc One-Member Limited Company.

Furthermore, businesses must implement efficient production programs and cut unnecessary costs, including labor costs and losses, especially in logistics, to minimize production costs. With increasingly fierce competition from imported goods, Vietnamese businesses, without effective solutions, will struggle, especially during the peak Tet holiday season.

According to Ms. Ly Kim Chi, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Beverage Association, businesses must utilize all their skills and experience in producing Tet (Lunar New Year) goods to avoid increasing production costs and maintain stable selling prices. This includes proactively stockpiling raw materials early, increasing the use of modern machinery, reducing production losses, and cutting back on profits. Despite these difficulties, maintaining prices must not compromise quality. Therefore, consumers can rest assured that Tet goods will not increase in price and that their quality is guaranteed.

Thanks to cost-cutting efforts from manufacturers, the Tet holiday goods market in Ho Chi Minh City remains diverse, abundant, and price-stable. This also provides a basis for retail systems to implement a series of promotional programs, using volume and purchasing power to generate revenue and profit. In December, many retail systems, including traditional markets, ran numerous discount and promotional programs ranging from 10% to 50% to attract consumers.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan, CEO of MM Mega Market Vietnam, said: From now until Tet (Lunar New Year), MM Mega Market Vietnam will launch three major programs, called Bigbang, offering discounted prices, especially for Vietnamese goods, local products, and OCOP (One Commune One Product) products, at extremely attractive prices to serve consumers. In addition, MM Mega Market Vietnam will have many support and subsidy packages for various customer groups, including workers and low-income earners, delivering goods directly to factories and enterprises to serve consumers.

Market experts believe that businesses in Ho Chi Minh City maintaining prices during Tet (Lunar New Year) not only helps strengthen consumer confidence but also contributes significantly to market stability. In addition, promotional programs and discounts on fast-moving consumer goods are expected to continue, further boosting purchasing power. Businesses hope that the Tet shopping season will be a crucial driving force for ending the year with positive results and ushering in the new year with greater optimism.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/nguoi-tieu-dung/tp-ho-chi-minh-suc-mua-tang-manh-doanh-nghiep-tung-hang-tet-20251213151036995.htm