Foodstuff Traders Association says sector ready to welcome Ramadan

AMMAN — Head of the Foodstuff Traders Association Khalil Haj Tawfiq has affirmed that the food sector is ready to welcome the holy month of Ramadan.

In remarks to The Jordan Times on Thursday, Haj Tawfiq said that the supply of basic food items and key Ramadan products is sufficient.

“Ramadan-specific promotions and offers have already started,” according to Haj Tawfiq who added that “we would like to support and help Jordanians by reducing the prices of food, especially under the difficult economic situation”.

He noted that there is “a growing competition” between traders, supermarkets, malls and grocery stores.

During Ramdan, food consumption normally exceeds, but as businesses are only allowed to operate until 6m, the sector’s sales plummeted by 50 per cent, according to the association’s president.

“We hope that the curfew hours be reduced as soon as possible,” Haj Tawfiq said.

Hala Juma, a Jordanian citizen in her 50s, told The Jordan Times over the phone that she started planning her pre-Ramadan food purchases, noting that there are certain food items that she only uses during the holy month.

“I love to start planning my Ramadan menu before it starts, it saves me time in order to fulfill my religious obligations,” Juma said.

As for Noor Shabaough, a Jordanian citizen, she avoids going to the grocery store when she is fasting, because she always over spends more given being hungry. 

“Usually what I like to stock up for Ramadan are soup bags, beverages, sweets and nuts,” Shabsough noted.