HCMCity (VNS/VNA) - Many members of the Food and FoodstuffAssociation of Ho Chi Minh City have promised not to increase the prices ofgoods, especially essential goods, to share consumers’ difficulties amid the COVID-19outbreak.

LyKim Chi, its chairwoman, said since it broke out at the beginning of theyear in many countries, the pandemic has disrupted global supply chains andalso had an impact on domestic production.

Tosustain raw material supply, many businesses have turned to other markets suchas the Republic of Korea, Japan and Europe.

Thesupply of materials in these markets is plentiful and reliable, but prices aremuch higher.

Yet,most members of the FFA are trying to keep prices at the same levels as beforethe epidemic, even coordinating with distribution and retail systems to reduceprices, especially of essential items, she added.

NguyenThi Thanh Nhien of HCM City’s Phu Nhuan district said she recently bought someessential items like cooking oil, shower gel, shampoo, and pork at theCo.opmart supermarket on Nguyen Kiem Street, and their prices were 10,000 -50,000 VND (0.4-2.2 USD) lower than at traditional markets.

NguyenAnh Duc, general director of Saigon Co.op, said its retail chains likeCo.opmart, Co.opXtra, Co.op Food and Co.op Smiles are offering attractivepromotions on essential goods for 21 days from August 20 under its “Proud ofVietnamese Goods 2020” programme to ease consumers’ financial burden amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Pricesof many products like milk, meat, fish, fish sauce, fragrant rice, and morethan 20 kinds of farm produce are discounted.

FromAugust 25 Co-opmart, Co.opXtra, Co.opmart SCA and Fine Life supermarketsnation-wide will gift customers who have Saigon Co membership cardsanti-bacterial cloth masks.

Themost practical way for a retailer to contribute to the fight against thepandemic is to ensure sufficient stocks of essential goods for the next severalmonths and have plans in place to ensure regular supply of these products atthe lowest possible prices to prevent a scarcity of goods and keep pricessteady, Duc said.

Arepresentative of Big C & GO! said the supermarket has been supplyingsufficient goods at steady prices, and has worked with delivery serviceproviders to serve customers who order via its hotline, 19001880.

Retailersare transporting goods to various localities, especially Da Nang, Quang Nam andHue, and adopting measures to ensure social distancing at its stores in Da Nang.

Moderndistribution channels are supplying large volumes of medical masks,anti-bacterial cloth masks and hand sanitisers.

Retailersare also offering promotions on essential goods.

TheVietnam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) and its Stand Tall Vietnam Milk Fund haveprovided 1.7 million glasses of milk to nearly 19,000 disadvantaged childrenacross the nation to help improve their resistance against COVID-19./.