The Alexandria sweets market has experienced a significant decline in sales, with customers drastically reducing their purchases following the end of the summer vacation and the start of the new school year. This downturn has resulted in substantial losses for sweets manufacturers, who face challenges such as increased competition and the blurring of professional boundaries.
According to Ahmed Hassan Leloudi, a member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce's sweets committee, the cost of flour has seen a slight increase with the start of the school year, along with some types of oils, before prices began to fall again. He noted that the last significant price hikes occurred around six months to a year ago.
Leloudi stated that one of the main obstacles facing Eastern sweets manufacturers is the decline in sales to around a quarter of previous levels, following the end of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebrations and the start of the school year. This situation puts additional pressure on factories that rely heavily on seasonal sales.
The increase in the number of sweets vendors, along with newcomers from other industries entering the market, has intensified competition. Leloudi cited the example of ice cream and rice pudding manufacturers, as well as individuals from outside the profession, contributing to the expanded circle of competitors, which has negatively impacted the original practitioners in the sector.
Ibrahim Mansour, a worker at a sweets factory, said that reduced demand for sweets products has led to lower wages for workers, with factory owners tending to decrease staff numbers on most days of the year and only increasing them during peak seasons.
Citizens have confirmed that higher prices and increased living costs have led to reduced spending on many goods, as families prioritize their basic needs. With the new school year, families have had to allocate funds for school supplies and students' needs, further straining household budgets and limiting non-essential spending.
The current situation presents significant challenges for sweets manufacturers in Alexandria, who must navigate decreased sales, increased competition, and changing consumer priorities.
Key points
- Sales of sweets in Alexandria have dropped to around a quarter of previous levels following the end of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebrations and the start of the school year.
- Increased competition from newcomers to the market and from other industries, such as ice cream and rice pudding manufacturers, has contributed to the decline in sweets sales.
- The decline in sweets sales has resulted in lower wages for workers and increased financial pressures on sweets manufacturers in Alexandria.
