Amman, April 1 (Petra) – Demand for foodstuffs in the local market is "stable and normal" and prices also remained steady despite regional tensions, importers and workers in the food industry confirmed on Wednesday.
Stocks of goods are secure and supply chains are operating smoothly with numerous offers on food items and competition between shopping centers and malls, they said in interviews with Petra.
Major shopping centers launched various offers on a range of staple food items, including rice, fresh poultry, chilled red meat, sugar, vegetable oils, and fish, they said.
"Demand for food and basic commodities in the local market is normal, with goods readily available and prices steady," said Hamza Halaiqa, CEO of a catering firm.
He pointed to offers on food prices at malls that are slightly lower than in peak seasons, adding that supply chains and imports are ongoing to bolster the Kingdom's strategic reserves of various food and essential commodities.
Raed Takrouri, CEO of a trading firm, said the Kingdom's food reserves, particularly vegetable oils, are "secure" and that all varieties are available with normal demand at present, following a period of strong demand in the local market.
He said supply chains are operating, but pointed to delays due to regional developments and a rising cost of shipping, insurance, and transport globally from countries from which most vegetable oils are imported.
Wael Shakirat, CEO of a catering and distribution company, said it is "business as usual", with the the exception of some corporation markets that saw a more robust shopping period, but with special offers available and prices stable.
Nabil Farid, manager of an Amman mall, also pointed to "moderate" market activity this week, adding that last week saw substantial buying and thorough bargain hunting due to a weather low-pressure system, but now, the start of the month, market activity is "moderate and acceptable." Farid pointed to a plenty of offers at shopping centers with "competition that is to the benefit of citizens and consumers," assuring that food and goods of all varieties are available with no shortages and item options.
//Petra//SS
