Middle class moving to superstores
Pushing the handcart and picking things at superstores are now a part of life for many city dwellers. Photo: STAR
Traditional kitchen markets in the city have started losing a big chunk of their middle class customers to the growing number of superstores.
There was a time when shopping monthly kitchen items was a routine for most middle class families. But the picture is changing with the change of time. Many families now prefer shiny superstores to kitchen markets because of nice environment, fixed price, good weighing system, reliable items and other facilities.
"I rarely go to the kitchen market these days because I can buy almost everything from the superstores. I don't have to walk in the mud nor do I have to bargain with the salesmen and I am getting the accurate weight. It is true that I am paying a bit more than what I used to pay at the kitchen market. But that is ok with me since I am getting a good service here," said a resident of Dhanmondi.
Many people feel at ease at department stores because they can buy varieties of items including essentials from one place.
"I like shopping at superstores because I can move my handcart comfortably and pick things myself -- from groceries to stationeries," said a housewife at Mohammadpur.
But majority of city dwellers still depend on kitchen markets. Because, many of them are renowned for their stock of fresh fish and vegetables.
"I buy vegetables from Karwan Bazar. There are no superstores in my area so I do not go there on a routine basis. Seldom I go to the superstores," said Nasima Khanam, a resident of Basabo.
Many women and girls who have to go for the monthly shopping prefer superstores because of their safe and hassle-free environment.
"It is uncomfortable to buy meat, fish and vegetables from the kitchen market in the midst of men and mud. But at these superstores girls and housewives can go there alone and even at night," said Saushan, a resident of Gulshan.
“Besides, all the items have price tags and you do not have to bargain,” she said.
"Had there been no such place I would not have gone to traditional markets ever for buying meat, fish etc," she added.
Many like the superstores because it is hygienic and almost all kinds of food are well-preserved.
"There are all kinds of food and fruits available. Even at some stores I can buy sari, cosmetics, clothes and crockery. Sometimes you get rare fruits here which are not available in kitchen markets. Once I bought a raincoat from a superstore. It was far better than any in ordinary markets,” said a young man while shopping at a superstore at Dhanmondi.
“Here I can compare and choose items of famous brands. In other markets I may end up buying fake and date expired items but this is most unlikely in the superstores. But for fresh fish and vegetables I think the traditional kitchen markets are the best places. I have some bad experiences in buying these items from the superstores,” said a service holder while buying vegetables at Karwan Bazar.
There are a good number of superstore chains in the city now but the main problem the customers face is the lack of parking spaces.
"Nowadays several superstores have mushroomed in the neighbourhood but many of them do not have any space for parking cars," said a customer at Shantinagar.
Faizul Haque, operation executive, Rahimafrooz Superstore Ltd, popularly known as Agora, the first superstore in the city, said from the very beginning they received a positive response from their customers.
“We started with a single outlet in Dhanmondi in August 2001 and since then we have been receiving a tremendous response from the people. Every day thousands of people visit our three outlets in the city,” said Faizul.
“The idea came in order to help develop the society. Today there are many people who do not have time to go to kitchen markets. They can now go shopping at night. Besides, it is a hassle for the housewives to dodge round kitchen market. Here they can walk and buy safely and comfortably,” he said.
About vegetables he said they collect them from their own sources in the villages.
"If things go alright then one day we hope most of the people will avoid kitchen markets. This is one step towards the westernisation of the urban," he said.
The other notable superstores in the city include PQS, Family Needs, Family World, Almas, Nandan, Pacific etc.
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