Turkey’s inflation-struck consumers are increasingly turning to wholesalers in a bid to combat soaring food prices, Dünya newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Wholesalers, who carry produce for up to 35 percent cheaper than retailers and traditionally cater to supermarkets, factories and restaurants, have seen a surge in sales to individual consumers, it said.
“Lately we are receiving customers from residential homes alongside (our usual) variety stores and factories,” Mustafa Karlı, chairman of the İstanbul Food Wholesalers Association (İGTOD), told Dünya. “They shop for up to 4,000-5,000 liras ($277-$347) at time out of fear of inflation.”
Inflation in Turkey climbed to an annual 20.7 percent in November, with food prices rising 27.1 percent on average, according to official data as the country grapples with a plunging currency. The lira hit a record low of 14.66 per dollar on Monday, taking this year’s losses for the currency to just over 50 percent.
Wholesaler Nejdet Yaşar told Karar that their businesses welcomed their new customers.
“We are very happy that homes have become one of our customers, too. Because we need cash currency. The more we sell, the better it is for us,’’ Yaşar said.
Turkish wholesalers offer a popular brand’s 32-roll toilet paper for 80 liras ($5.56), as compared to 131 liras ($9.10) at supermarkets and diapers are priced at 10 liras cheaper per package than in retail stores, Dünya said.
Ahval