JEDDAH: As the Eid Al-Fitr holiday begins, consumer demand for confectionary has increased significantly as sweets become an essential part of celebrations in homes across the Kingdom.
Serving sweets and nuts during Eid is a deep-rooted tradition that reflects hospitality and joy on the happy occasion, as gatherings are never without a wide variety of luxurious sweets and nuts served alongside Arabic coffee and tea for guests.
Days before Eid, local and imported products are in high demand, with promotional offers boosting sales and attracting more buyers during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
Shoppers have been flocking to sweets shops in Jeddah’s Al-Balad old town, as well as malls, private stores and online retail channels as they start preparing for the holiday.
According to Abdulaziz Farhan, sales and marketing manager of a major chocolate shop on Jeddah’s Tahlia Street, the increase in the sale of sweets during the last few days is significant.
“Companies, hotels and residents had already started placing orders for Eid sweets as early as the 15th day of Ramadan,” he said.
“Our branches around here in Jeddah have recorded a 25 percent increase in sales. We have to cater to a large number of clients who have booked their orders in advance for Eid. We have been receiving the orders since the middle of the holy month of Ramadan,” Farhan said.
In Al-Balad consumers are crowding local markets to purchase chocolates and candies for Eid, driven by a strong culture of gifting and hospitality.
Consumers are keen to buy luxury products, especially Swiss and Belgian chocolate, which ranges in price from SR200 ($53.27) to SR400 per kilogram, in addition to other types of traditional sweets, which are widely popular and range in price from SR50 to SR80.
Jeddah resident Faisal Bawazeer told Arab News: “Eid is around the corner, and we all know no celebration is complete without some fancy chocolate or some delicious traditional Hijazi sweets because Eid is a time where we celebrate the end of Ramadan by welcoming family and friends to our homes.”
Bawazeer added that buying sweets for Eid Al-Fitr earlier in Ramadan is always his priority to avoid crowds and the higher prices at the end of the month.
“I am used to (buying) ahead of others and you never know, when demand is high, prices go up,” he said.
“Chocolate and candy are traditional staples for Eid al-Fitr, they are essential for welcoming guests, rewarding children, and creating a festive, joyous atmosphere in our homes.”
Saeed Al-Yamani, salesman at sweet shop in Balad, said: “Our sales have doubled in the period leading to Eid Al-Fitr, with purchases and orders usually surging during the last 10 days of the holy month and demand for sweets and chocolates increasing.”
