Consumers demand lower prices for ready-to-eat meals offered by outlets

Consumers said that major outlets with branches in a number of emirates of the country have recently expanded the offering of food and ready-made meals, and have also allocated large areas for eating meals in, after their focus was on selling food and consumer goods only.

They confirmed to “Emirates Today” that this development is positive, as it allows them to buy meals while shopping, as well as the freedom to choose between multiple ready-made meals, but at the same time they called for diversifying the meals more and reducing the prices of some of them, which they considered high, especially since no offers are offered. On her.

For their part, two officials in the retail sector said that there was a growth in the supply of prepared foods provided by some outlets by more than 50% during the past year, compared to 2023, explaining that the prices of the meals are appropriate and cover the cost with a small profit margin to encourage the success of this new experience. .

In detail, consumer Ahmed Ayoub said that major sales outlets with branches in a number of emirates of the country have expanded the offering of foods, ready-made meals and ready-made sweets during the recent period, including various Arab and Asian foods and meals, after their focus was on selling food and consumer goods only, which… It allowed him to save time by purchasing meals while at the same outlet and choosing between several meals.

However, he pointed out that the prices of some of these meals are high and usually no offers are offered on them like other goods in the outlets, calling for lowering their prices and diversifying them more to suit the different tastes of consumers, considering that this encourages more consumers to buy them and compensates for the lower prices.

Consumer Jad Al-Safi said that major outlets have actually expanded in the sale of food and ready-made meals, especially including vegetables, rice, pasta, meat, chicken, and shawarma, in addition to some famous Asian meals, after those outlets were only specialized in selling food and consumer goods, pointing out that the outlets have allocated large spaces inside them. Equipped for dining in.

Al-Safi agreed with Ayoub that the prices of some ready-made meals offered in outlets are somewhat high, and he also called for reducing them and diversifying the meals more.

Consumer Maram Shawkat said that the expansion of outlets in offering multiple types of foods and ready-made meals had a positive impact on her, especially since the conditions of her two-shift work made her eat outside the home sometimes.

She agreed that the prices of some of these foods are high, especially since the outlets do not offer them discounts like some food and consumer goods, calling for reducing the prices of meals and increasing diversification in them.

For his part, the official at a large outlet, Idris Ibrahim, said that there was an increase of more than 50% in the fresh foods offered by the outlet during the year 2024, compared to 2023, to meet the different tastes and needs of consumers in light of the different nationalities and food habits among the country’s population.

He added that the presence of demand for fresh foods led to an increase in sales by more than 25%, noting that the prices of the meals are appropriate and cover the cost of the outlets with a small profit margin to encourage the success of this experiment and its expansion.

In turn, the official at another outlet, Rajeev Tamara, said that there was an increase of more than 30% in the types of fresh foods, accompanied by an increase in sales of up to 25%, pointing out that the outlet is studying offering more types to meet the tastes of different consumers.

He considered that the prices of meals in general are not high, but rather appropriate, as the outlet aims to offer meals to encourage more consumers to rely on them mainly, indicating that the goal is to make it easier for consumers with different tastes and nationalities and to meet their needs at reasonable prices.

Tamara also considered that the entry of outlets into the field of ready-made meals complements their role in the retail sector, and also increases the volume of sales, pointing out that this activity is common in the retail sector abroad and has been in effect for years.

. Retail official: Prices are reasonable and cover the cost with a small profit margin.