The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade affirmed the city ensures the supply of basic necessities of the locals, even in case of an exponential surge in demand.

The announcement came after local residents flock to supermarkets and stores on July 18 to buy groceries and essential items ahead of the effective time of the reinforced social distancing measures in Hanoi.

A meat store was out of stock at VinMart, VinCom Pham Ngoc Thach on the evening of July 18. Photo: The Hanoi Times

According to the department, the supply volume of essentials is expected to triple in the next three months with a value of about VND194 trillion (US$8.4 billion).

The city has 459 wet markets, 28 shopping malls, 123 supermarkets, 1,800 convenience stores, 141 retail chains, 2,382 price-stabilized selling points, and tens of thousands of grocery stores, to meet the consumption demand. 

Addressing a meeting on July 18 in Hanoi, Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Acting Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade said that in case of emergency, the city will set up another 2,000 stores across the city.

Hanoi’s retailers have raised the supply of essential goods by 30-50% and committed to not hiking the price at this time.

Hanoi-based BRG Retail has built a plan to stock up and supply essential goods at stable prices for its 77 BRGMart-branded supermarkets and convenience stores in the northern provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Haiphong, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, and two southern localities of Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau.

The retailer has worked with its suppliers to increase the stockpile of essential commodities by 300% at each store and by ten times at the central warehouse. 

As of the evening of July 18, sales on the BRGMart system have doubled, groceries and essentials are still plentiful, Nguyen Thai Dung, Chairman of BRG Retail told The Hanoi Times.

Khuc Tien Ha, Northern Region Director of VinMart/VinMart+ supermarkets chain said, with a system of 800 stores and 51 large supermarkets in Hanoi, the retailer will ensure sufficient supplies of goods to the capital. It has also worked with Masan Consumer and Meat Deli on providing adequate supplies.

At the Soi Bien clean food system in Hanoi, customers have bought more at one time to avoid going out, but there is no situation of food hoarding.

From the experience of previous waves of the pandemic, a representative from Soi Bien chain told The Hanoi Times that: “Eighteen stores have been closely connected with suppliers and the farm system to ensure supply under any situation.”

In the latest move, the retailer quickly opened two new stores for people to replenish their food stock.

Phuong Lan, Acting Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade said that her department in collaboration with the departments of Transport and Public Security will find solutions to support the smooth movement of goods, but still ensure compliance with disease prevention measures.

The Department of Industry and Trade will set up 236 mobile stores in trucks to deliver goods in districts and towns. It has proposed the Hanoi Transport Corporation support businesses in bringing goods from other provinces to Hanoi and from warehouses to stores throughout the city.