Northern supermarkets boost purchases from south as typhoon destroys crops

Central Retail Vietnam, owner of the GO supermarket chain, has started buying more vegetables and fruits from suppliers in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong to double its stocks in the north.

It had 150 tons of vegetables and fruits delivered on Monday and Tuesday.

Yagi, the most powerful typhoon to hit northern Vietnam in 30 years, flooded 124,500 hectares of rice and destroyed 28,900 ha of vegetables and fruits, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Water levels are still rising after the typhoon made landfall last weekend.

Winmart, the country’s largest retail chain, saw its four farms, which supply 80% of its agriculture produce, damaged.

In the last two days it has been sourcing 100 tons of produce from the south to meet northern demand.

MM Mega Market, which has been struggling to meet demand as roads are flooded and bridges are affected by the rising water levels, has tripled its orders from Lam Dong to 40 tons a week.

Its suppliers in the northern province of Son La have seen their fields flooded.

Saigon Co.op, which operates six Co.op outlets in Hanoi and several others in northern localities, has tripled its purchases from Lam Dong and the Mekong Delta.

Most retail chains said they have kept prices of essential goods such as meat, vegetables and rice steady despite the increasing delivery costs.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has ordered its departments in localities to ensure food supply in the market is adequate.

It has appealed to the public not to hoard food.

Supply to provinces severely affected by flooding such as Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai and Yen Bai remains steady, the ministry added.