Price of sugar

Written by William Villanueva

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

What a way to start the first article on this new website. Our name just hit the airwaves. We were told by those who heard it on the radio (dzrh) that the person is complaining that our price of sugar is too high. This was followed by a call from a representative from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) checking up on our prices. They said someone has complained that the prices of our sardines are too high. We were supposed to be selling sardines at P14. Currently, our prices of canned sardines average around P10 to P10.50. Our sugar is currently selling at P35.25. DTI has confirmed that some other stores even has a higher price.

Retailers are always the first to be blamed when there is a sudden increase in the price of goods. What most consumers don't ask is why there is that increase. For the retailer, its simply because the cost of the product has increased. It may be real, eg. new stocks have arrived and the prices have already increased or there is a shortage of the product in the market and the demand is high so the tendency is to increase prices. Its similar to the increase of market prices of food just last Christmas.

Retailers simply earn a profit by the markup on the products they carry. If the retailer has a cornered market, he may be able to put a premium on his prices. But if there is heavy competition, he won't be able to increase his prices by much as it will drive away the customers.

We don't know who the person is. We don't know what grudge she has against us. And we also don't know if she checks prices in the wet market or other grocery stores. In our area, there are at least 6 supermarkets and grocery stores along E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue just between Mabuhay Rotonda and QC Sports Club, SM Centerpoint with its supermarket and a wet market just minutes away. Anyone can easily compare our prices with all those competition and buy from them if all our prices are really higher .

We still have yet to find out the real reason for the increase of prices of sugar which started last week when it increased by P500/sack. Yesterday, we are quoted P1,900 and today its already P2,000/sack. We don't know what the price may be tomorrow. But this is certain: Purity Supermarket is a neighborhood store, in the service of its community. Our customers walk-in almost everyday just to buy for their daily needs. Some customers you may even see twice or more shopping within the same day. A number of them are already the second or third generation neighbors. We aim to continue serving this community as we have done for the last 56 years, by providing goods at affordable and competitive prices, barring unfair trade practices by others and traditional quality services.

You can get in touch with us through the Contact Us link on the menu and fill up the online form or call us by phone. Better yet, just drop by the store and have a chat.

The Department of Trade of Industry have two websites found at http://www.dti.gov.ph and the newer http://business.gov.ph. Both have not been updated, the latter since October, 2005.

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