Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -A crowded moon cake market has caused a drop in sales for many stalls ahead ofMid-Autumn Festival.

The big day is on October 1 –the 15th day of the 8th month on the lunar calendar, butthe moon cake market is still quiet. Popular moon cake brands like Kinh Do, NhuLan, Dong Khanh, Hanoi Confectionery and Thu Huong Bakery are traded on stallsin the most crowded areas in Hanoi and HCM City. Despite an increasein discounts and promotions, fewer people are shopping at moon cakestalls than last year.

Nguyen Thi Huong, the owner ofa moon cake stall on Pham Van Dong Street in HCM City’s Thu Duc District hasstruggled this year.

“I have to use a 'buy 1 get 1'board to attract customers but some just stop to see the price list. Somestill buy the products but they are much fewer than ever before," she said.

Le Minh Tam, who runs a mooncake stall on An Duong Vuong Street, District 5, told TinTuc newspaper: “At this time of the year, the number of moon cakeconsumers starts to increase significantly but this year the sales are verylow.”

After selling its confectionerysegment to Mondelez, Kido (KDC) announced its entry into the moon cake marketin 2020 under the brand Kingdom. According to Tran Le Nguyen, general directorof Kido, though the competition in the moon cake market has increased, therehasn't been a major change in moon cake production.

As moon cakes sell well at thistime of year, hotels, restaurant and coffee chains have entered the market,while it's also a chance for housewives and office workers to earn someextra money with homemade products.

Tea and coffee chains such asPhuc Long Coffee & Tea, MyLife Coffee and The Coffee House have all joinedthe market.

While the price of a boxof four moon cakes in most popular confectionery firms ranges from 250,000VND (11 USD) and 500,000 VND, similar products in the chains go for 300,00 VNDto 800,000 VND.

While the chains can't competeon price, they do have a baked-in customer base and offer unique mooncakes with a variety of specialities such as ginger jam, lemon, lime leaves,malt, dragon fruit and cheese.

Homemade moon cake producers,meanwhile, make smaller cakes and sell them at lower prices at 150,000 VND to 200,000VND for each box.

Nguyen Thanh Quyen, a salesemployee for an electronic firm in Hanoi, makes moon cakes to sell inthe season.

“I use less sugar and makesmaller cakes as I know many people just want a cake as a symbol of thefestival. They don’t want to spend and to eat a big cake," she told Vietnam News.

Another reason for fewercustomers at the stalls is because they have offered free deliveryfor safer shopping amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nguyen Phuong Mai, a Hanoianwho ordered a box of Kinh Do moon cakes on Shopee, told Vietnam News: "I have both freeshipping and a 25 percent promotion from the buyer while I still enjoy a brandI prefer."

Mai said she also saves time tobring the cake to her mother-in-law's home, adding: "WithoutCOVID-19, I will do the same thing next year as it is super easy."

Together with e-commerce siteslike Shopee, Lazada, VinID and SpeedL, supermarkets and moon cake brands alsooffer free shipping and festivals gifts to attract online customers.

Ly Kim Chi, Chairwoman of theHCM City Food and Foodstuff Association, said the entry of restaurants, hotels,bakeries and cafes in the moon cake market brings excellent products toconsumers and creates a motivation for all to increase their quality and brandsto gain customers.

“Though stalls look quiet,customers still spend on good products and reputable brands. Therefore,businesses that are constantly innovating and launching good products willretain customers and develop sustainably," Chi said./.