Supermarkets increase orders from the south following Typhoon Yagi

The storm, which devastated over 124,500 hectares of rice fields and 28,880ha of crops and fruit, has severely impacted the northern provinces of Haiphong, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Hai Duong, Yen Bai and Lao Cai, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

This damage has affected supply chains for northern supermarket chains, particularly for fresh produce and seafood. "Heavy rainfall has destroyed crops, and rough seas are making seafood harvesting difficult," explained Tran Thu Quynh, Northern and Central Purchasing director at AEON Vietnam.

Four of Winmart’s WinEco farms, which provide 80 per cent of its vegetables, were also hit hard, while transportation logistics have been hindered by flooding and landslides in the aftermath of the storm.

In response, supermarkets have turned to suppliers in the south. Central Retail Vietnam, for example, increased its shipments from Dalat, doubling the volume of goods sent to its northern and central supermarkets, with each delivery averaging 75–80 tonnes.

"In the past two days alone, we’ve transported around 150 tonnes of vegetables from the south to our northern stores," a Central Retail representative stated.

Winmart has also ramped up its imports from the south, moving nearly 100 tonnes of vegetables per day, focusing on key crops like spinach, bok choy, and bitter melon, which have been severely affected in the north.

MM Mega Market has increased shipments from Lam Dong to Hanoi from 12 to 15 tonnes weekly to 40 tonnes. "With Moc Chau flooded, we’ve had to rely more heavily on Lam Dong to supply vegetables to the north," an MM Mega Market representative explained.

Saigon Co.op’s distribution centres are now working at full capacity, sending three times as many trucks as usual to meet demand in the north. The company has increased its purchases of essential vegetables such as water spinach, choy sum, and cucumbers from provinces like Dong Nai, Lam Dong, and the southwest. At the same time, retailers are collaborating with suppliers to stockpile essential goods such as rice, noodles, frozen foods, and milk to ensure availability amid potential further disruptions.

Despite rising operational and logistical costs, major supermarket chains have maintained stable prices for fresh food items like meat, fish, and vegetables, as well as key essentials such as rice and noodles.

According to Bui Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Domestic Market Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, essential supplies to areas cut off by the storm, including Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai, remain secure. The ministry has also instructed industry and trade departments in 35 provinces to prepare contingency plans for goods distribution, as heavy rains and flooding continue in the north.

However, Tuan urged residents to avoid excessive stockpiling to ensure sufficient supplies for the regions hardest hit by the storm. "We must prioritise goods for areas most severely affected by the typhoon," Tuan stressed.