Coronavirus impact in UAE: Residents left worried as perishable products' prices zoom

Dubai - The bigger hypermarket and supermarket chains have denied any price hike at manufacturers' level.

A sudden surge in prices of certain perishable items at several grocery stores and supermarkets has become a cause for concern for many residents.
Deira resident FR said she had been buying a kilogram of chicken from the supermarket near her house for Dh10 but in a matter of a week, the price has shot up to Dh15.50 per kg. "I have seen a steady increase in the prices of commodities such as fruits, vegetables and chicken and when I questioned the store-keeper, he said there is limited supply at the source and they were left with no choice but to raise the prices of the imported items."
A prudent buyer FR said in the past week, the prices of onions have risen from Dh5 to around Dh8 per kg or even Dh9; potatoes which usually fluctuate between Dh2 and Dh2.50 per kg have now gone up to Dh4.50 in just a couple of days. "We are also fond of coconut water that would usually cost Dh5 per piece but have stopped buying it now as it costs Dh7. Indian mutton has also stopped coming in due to the lockdown so the price of chicken has surged at some stores. These are basic commodities that every household requires, so we have to get these come what may."
Confirming that prices of some perishable commodities have gone up, store manager at a supermarket in Deira said: "A number of our perishable products are imported from India, which is currently under lockdown. Hence, the movement of these items and their supply has been adversely affected, which is why we have no choice but to add those charges to the cost price."
A resident living in the University City, Sharjah said: "We have seen an unprecedented hike in the prices of onions that used to be between Dh2 and Dh3 per kg and is now being sold at Dh9 per kg. This has never happened before and it is all the more difficult nowadays as my husband's salary has been delayed for this month and many of our acquaintances have been asked to leave."
A resident of Dubai Silicon Oasis said grocery store in her area has not only increased price of chicken but also of some Vitamin C rich fruits, such as Mandarin oranges (as Vitamin C is said to help boost one's immunity against Covid-19).
However, the bigger hypermarket and supermarket chains have denied any price hike at manufacturers' level. They said due to lockdown in certain countries, prices of some perishable imported items have seen a rise.
Kamal Vachani, group director, Al Maya Group, said: "Due to lockdown in India, there are no regular flights coming in which is why the supply of certain vegetables from India has slowed down. Only a few special cargo flights have started coming from some states such as Kerala and Maharashtra. Although the supplier and manufacturer have not increased the price, the freight charges have gone up by 80 per cent which is charged on some of the products that are imported."
Denying news of any price hike in commodities at LuLu outlets, V Nandakumar, chief communications officer, LuLu Group, said: "As of now, there is no price hike in the groceries and food products but we may see a slight change in the price of perishable items that are imported from India in the coming days, primarily due to higher cost of imports following disruption of regular cargo flights."
Promising stability in prices, Carrefour Group issued a statement that read: "Both our physical and digital stores remain operational and fully stocked to ensure customers have what they need when they need it. Despite an uptick in sales, our supply chain is well equipped to ensure essential products remain available to our customers. While there is a tendency for people to buy additional goods, we encourage all of our valued customers to shop responsibly based on their needs, as there is enough supply for everyone."
Bharati Vatnani, head of procurement and marketing at the Westzone Group that has over 90 supermarkets across the country, said it is only the price of fresh produce that has gone up due to limited supply of imports in the wake of Covid-19.
"We have not raised any prices on grocery items as we understand that this is not the time to focus on money but to serve the society. However, in terms of fresh produce that we import, there have been restrictions and shortage in supply due to lockdown in various countries. So, we have not increased the prices. However, due to limited supply of fresh produce we have to buy it at a high price which then affects the price of the product."
Helpline to report price hikes
A new hotline was been launched by the government of Dubai for consumers to report price rise in commodities amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
On Saturday, the Dubai Media Office tweeted a Dubai Economy notice that provided consumers in the emirate a helpline to report price hikes. Residents can dial 600545555 or download our mobile app 'Dubai Consumer' to file a complaint.
The notice from Dubai Economy said: "For any complaints about the rise in prices, kindly contact us on 600545555 or download our mobile app 'Dubai Consumer' to file a complaint."
saman@khaleejtimes.com