Traffic in supermarkets increased during the last days of Holy Week, with consumers in Cyprus focusing mainly on the supply of food and items for Easter table. In contrast, clothing and footwear purchases were limited.
As POVEK CEO Stefanos Koursaris told KYPE, the economic hardship led consumers to focus on basic necessities and not on other markets. Consequently, traffic in hypermarkets was at the same levels as the corresponding festive period last year, something for which the Executive Secretary of the Hypermarkets Association, Andreas Hatziadamou, expressed his satisfaction, speaking to KYPE.
Mr. Hatziadamou noted that the movement observed in the supermarkets during Holy Week was expected, despite the economic difficulties that exist, pointing out that the offers from the supermarkets contributed to this. As he explained, supermarkets study consumer response in order to set prices in a way that allows them to get what they need. That is why, as he said, there was satisfactory traffic in supermarkets of all sizes.
He noted that in recent years there has been a stability in the response of the public during the festive seasons, while previously there was a tendency to decline from year to year, which he attributed to the strategies implemented by the supermarkets. He also mentioned that consumers are now used to exploring the market and take advantage of the offers of each supermarket, thus purchasing from each the quantities and items that interest them the most.
“Every year there is a change in the behavior of the consumer,” said Mr. Hatziadamou to KYPE, adding that supermarkets make sure to adapt to these changes, in order to be able to find what the consumer is asking for. As for the period after the festive period, he said that limited traffic is expected and that is why the offers are being strengthened, in order to attract the public.
On the part of POVEK, Mr. Koursaris reported to KYPE that as far as basic necessities are concerned, “strong markets for all wallets” were observed, as he said. He pointed out, however, that people were restrained in other markets, due to narrowness.
Although there was movement in rural areas and especially in catering areas, as Mr. Koursaris, the traffic on Easter days was not like previous times, when there was the custom of supplying clothing and footwear, but also for gifts. He also estimated that the benefits given to vulnerable groups were channeled into basic necessities.
Source: KYPE
