RAMADAN SPURS DEMAND FOR DATES

NUR ASHIKIN ABDUL AZIZ


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- Ramadan's arrival every year is much
awaited by date traders as it is when demand for dates is at its highest as
Muslims make it a must to put dates on the dinner table.

The 10 percent higher market price this year did not prevent Muslims from
getting their supply of dates from the many sellers at every corner.

Hasna Mohd Sharifuddin, a sales assistant for Almah Sdn Bhd, a date
wholesaler and retailer said despite the higher price, the company expected 30
percent more sales.

She said buyers were more concerned with quality rather than price when
making their purchase.

"Buyers have their own favourite dates. We have El Medina from Tunisia and
fresh dates or Berhi from Madinah which are high on demand," she told Bernama
recently.

Almah Sdn Bhd which had been operating from Medan Bunus since nine years ago
offers over 30 types of dates from Tunisia, Oman, Egypt, Turkey and Iran.

Hasna said the company also distributes the dates to over 30 shops and
sellers in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Kuantan.

Mohd Zaidi Nordi said he liked to buy dates direct from wholesalers as the
were cheaper and of better quality.

"There are many types of dates available here (Almah Sdn Bhd). They are also
of high quality," he said.

Small trader Norellissurianti Abd Rashid said competition was stiff during
Ramadan as there were a lot of date sellers during the period.

"Because of the stiff competition, we dare not focus on dates but also sell
other food products like serunding (a type of cooking with spices and cooked until
dry. It is made of beef, chicken, and fish) dan rendang (curried meat dishes)," she
said.

A Bernama survey at Bazaar Ramadan in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman found that
many traders only sell dates in small quantities to capitalise on the high
demand during Ramadan.

--BERNAMA