Availability of a wide variety of local as well as imported products such as chips, juice, fruits, vegetables, beans and pickles among others has contributed to a growth in demand for such products. [break]
Leading department stores say that canned food products are getting so popular that they account for almost 25 percent of the total sales volume.
“The sale of canned food products has increased by as much as 30 percent as compared to the previous years when such products were not much preferred,” said Sirjana Dhakal, sales executive at Bhatbhateni Department Store at Koteshwor.
That canned food products preserve the essential nutrition and are prepared in such a way that they cannot develop micro-organisms that cause food to spoil is making them more preferred. Besides, a cheaper price tag is what is drawing more Nepali consumers to canned food products.
“Canned foods are just as nutritional as fresh food and can be preserved for a longer period of time and this is what is adding to their increasing popularity,” Dhakal told Republica.
Canned food products introduced by companies such as Druk, Hosen, Noga and Kayati´s are high in demand.
Tara Lama, sales executive at Bigmart Department Store at City Center, added that sale of canned foods has lately increased because it is easy to use and cheaper than making at home.
“Canned food products ranging from fruits and vegetables provide as much dietary fiber and vitamins as the fresh foods and in some cases even more. Most canned food products are even available in low-salt, no-salt, low-sugar and no-sugar preparations for special dietary needs,” she said.
At Bigmart, the sale of can food products has increased by 25 to 30 percent this year as compared to last year.
Druk green peas, pineapple slice in syrup, sweet corn, mango slice, fruit cocktail and many others Druk products are available in the range of Rs 62 to Rs 200 whereas Hosen sea coconut, baby corn, sweet corn, fruit cocktail, litchi syrup, pineapple and peas are available in the range of Rs 99 to Rs 259.
Noga´s baked beans in tomato sauce costs Rs 9, boiled butter beans are available in the range of Rs 86 to Rs 100 and Kayti´s mushroom button in brine costs Rs 219 depending on the volume.
Lama said alongside the sales, prices of canned foods have also surged by 30 percent on average.
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