Sweetmeat shops across the capital are experiencing a decline in sales as economic sluggishness and ripple effects of the ongoing Middle East conflict impact consumer spending.
However, with Pahela Baishakh approaching, traders remained cautiously hopeful for a short-term rebound.
Visits to several outlets, including Bikrampur Sweets, Boss Sweets, Amul Sweets, Sweets Lover and Rosh Sweets, revealed a consistent pattern of reduced foot traffic and declining purchases.
‘At this time of year, our sales usually double,’ said Sujon, manager of Rosh Sweets. ‘On regular days, we sell sweets worth around Tk 10,000, which increases to nearly Tk 20,000 during the festive season like Baishakh. This year, however, sales are significantly lower.’
He said that popular items such as Madraji sweets (Tk 560 a kilogram), Kalo Jam (Tk 300), Balushai (Tk 400), Banshpata (Tk 460), White Chamcham (Tk 420) and Golap Jam (Tk 480) were experiencing reduced demand.
Yoghurt, another seasonal favourite, has also been affected.
Traditionally, demand for varieties such as sweet yoghurt, sweet-and-sour yoghurt and kheer yoghurt increases ahead of Baishakh festivities. A special clay pot of kheer yoghurt, priced at Tk 320, is typically a bestseller, but traders noted that sales had slowed this year.
Manager of Bikrampur Sweets at Jhigatola, Dhanmondi, attributed the downturn to broader economic challenges.
‘After Eid, sales usually dip slightly, but this year the decline is much steeper,’ he said, adding, ‘Sweets are not essential items like rice or other daily necessities, so people are cutting back.’
Retailers also pointed to the indirect impact of geopolitical tensions, particularly the Middle East conflict, which have affected remittance flows and overall consumer confidence in Bangladesh.
A staff member at Boss Sweets at Hatirpool reported that sales had dropped by more than half compared to normal periods.
‘We usually receive advance orders for Baishakh, but this year there have been almost none so far,’ he noted. Yoghurt sales have also fallen, from 30-40 pots daily to around 20, he said.
At Amul Sweets, a representative echoed similar concerns. ‘A month ago, our daily sales averaged Tk 15,000. Now it has fallen by nearly half,’ he said, adding that only a handful of customers had been visiting the shop.
Meanwhile, a representative from Sweets Lover at Hatirpool highlighted a clear shift in consumer behaviour.
‘People’s purchasing power has declined. Customers who used to buy five kilograms of sweets are now buying only two, or skipping purchases altogether,’ he said.
Despite the gloomy outlook, traders are holding on to hopes that Pahela Baishakh will bring some relief.
‘We are still preparing for the festival,’ one shop staff member said, adding, ‘Sales may pick up at the last moment or on the day itself.’
Industry insiders reported that the sweets association in Bangladesh included 135 stakeholders and employed thousands, many of whom were under pressure.
Didarul Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Sweet Manufacturers Association, attributed the decline in sweet sales to economic strain faced by consumers.
‘People don’t have enough money; sweets are non-essential, so they cut back on it first,’ he stated. The drop in social events, which previously boosted sales, further compounds the issue as weddings and celebrations have become costly, he said.
Rising living costs are also a factor.
As essential goods become more expensive, consumers are spending less on sweets.
Alam noted that sweet prices had surged by 20-30 per cent due to increased raw material costs, particularly for milk, which has risen from Tk 55-60 to Tk 70-75 a kilogram.
Energy costs, notably for cylinder gas, have added another 10-15 per cent to production expenses. He added that since the Covid pandemic, the sector had struggled, worsened by global disruptions like the Ukraine war.
Looking ahead to Pahela Baishakh, typically a peak sales season, business owners are pessimistic, reporting a lack of advance orders.
‘The situation is very bad across Bangladesh,’ Alam said. ‘We have been struggling continuously since the pandemic,’ he added.
