Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 30 Nov. - 6 Dec. 2000 Issue No.510

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Stretching the Ramadan budget

HOLIDAY treats are a much-anticipated part of Ramadan. Eman Youssef visited a fair which offered the ingredients for many holiday specialties at affordable prices

Crowds thronged the Supermarket 2000 fair held from 23 to 26 November at the Cairo International Conference Centre to snap up the ingredients for the best-loved dishes served in Ramadan.

Some 158 private companies displayed a vast array of food products ranging from frozen meat and vegetables to yamish (dried fruits and nuts) -- a special Ramadan treat for most people. Qamar Al-Din (sheets of dried pressed apricot) was sold for LE8 per kilogramme; shredded coconut at LE7; raisins for LE13 and prunes for LE18.

"Commodities consumed during Ramadan are offered here at discounts of up to 20 per cent compared to prices elsewhere," said Ahmed Samir, a teacher who was on his third visit to the fair when he spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly.

Exhibits catered to a largely middle class clientele eager to purchase quality products on a budget. "The best thing about the fair is that prices are fixed and goods are of a high quality," said Madiha Zaki, a housewife. She added that the quality of the items on display was better than that of similar goods sold at state-owned consumer cooperatives. Those goods, said Zaki, "may be cheaper, but are not as good."

Mohamed Mahmoud of Samo Trade Company, which is specialised in importing yamish, said that business was booming. Praising the fair, he said that such an event makes the process of preparing for Ramadan "much easier for consumers."

In comments that echo the views of exhibition visitors, John Nashed, the manager of the event, said, "The aim of the event, which is to meet consumer needs for reasonable prices and the highest quality goods, has been realised."

Following a sugar shortage, the fair, which was a joint initiative of the Ministries of Internal Trade and Supply, Economy and Tourism, was held just in time to alleviate consumer fears that many of the traditional holiday foods would be in short supply and extremely expensive.

The vast turnout by consumers attests to the success of the fair, said Walid Gamal of the Ministry of the Economy, a factor which may lead the event's organisers to take into account one of the concerns of exhibitors when the event is planned next year. "Four days is too short a period for the fair. There must be more time for people to visit," suggested Mustafa Mohamed of the Al-Marai company for meat production.

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