Beverages see record sales as heatwave continues

The nationwide heatwave that has been persisting for about last one month pushed up sales of beverages, water, instant drink powder, oral saline, ice cream and other chilled items to a record level. Most parts of the country have been experiencing severe-to-very severe heat during the period. On Thursday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 41.8 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga. According to the Met office, the heatwave may continue for more days in most places with possibility of rain in few places. However, Sylhet, Kutubdia of Chattogram and few places of Rangpur witnessed rain on Wednesday and Thursday. Sales of beverages, mineral water, ice creams, saline, instant drink powder etc have seen a 20-40-percent surge in a year which is a record, said insiders. Some local beverage companies are straggling to supply their regular soft drinks amid their rising demand, they said. Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Dhaka divisions have been experiencing severe-to-very severe heatwaves for the last few days. The country experienced its highest temperature in the last 52 years at 43.8°C in Jessore on Tuesday last followed by Chuadanga at 43.7°C on the same day. However, the prevailing hot weather has boosted business of the groceries, confectionaries and restaurants to sell chilled liquids. Md Jewel Rana, owner of Bismillah Store at West Dhanmondi, said it is a new experience for them that stocks of soft drinks, bottled water, instant drink powder and oral saline are ending just in two days. He said soft drink Mojo is out of supply now. "Sales executives of Mojo (a soft brand of Akij) are not supplying products for a week," he said. ISPI and Tang, two instant drink powders are also out of supply for last two days, he said. Shafiar Rahman, a grocer at Buddhijibir Dhal in Rayerbazar area have bought a new refrigerator this week to cope with the rising demand for cooled water, ice creams, drinks and beverages. He said drought was also seen last year but the condition is worst this year. I had never seen such sales of drinks in my twenty five years of experiences, he said. Jamal Bhuiyan, a salesman at Chandpur Pharmacy in Jafrabad, Rayer Bazar, said sales of oral saline, testy saline, some drinks of SMC companies have fueled up in recent weeks. He said sales sometime went up even by 100 per cent. We are selling an oral saline in every one minute, he said. Md Maidul Islam, chief marketing officer of Akij Food and Beverage Ltd told the FE that his company has been currently facing challenges to keep up the supply with the high demand. He said our beverage capacity is 0.35 million cages a day but demand have soared by at least 40 per cent in this period. He said demand for our cola drinks Mojo has soared to an all-time high which has caused a difficulties to keep up the supply smooth. "We could get some relax if the country witnesses some rain for now," he said. Assistant General Manager of Partex Group (mother concern of Mum mineral water) Nahid Yusuf said their bottled water sales have increased by above 20 per cent due to the ongoing heat-wave. He mentioned demand for half-litre bottle is the highest. According to the Bangladesh Beverage Manufacturers' Association (BBMA), more than 130 companies in Bangladesh manufacture soft drinks, water and other beverages with an annual turnover of Tk 100 billion. [email protected]
Published on: 2024-05-02 20:56:49.056209 +0200 CEST