SUKANTA HALDER

For generations, Bangladeshis began their mornings at wet markets, checking hilsa by the gills, poking gourds for tenderness and haggling over banana blossoms before heading home with heavy bags.

But rapid urbanisation and changing lifestyles have altered that routine. Few city dwellers now have time for early market trips, and many are no longer confident about selecting fresh fish.

Around 25 years ago, the country’s first superstores arrived to serve urban shoppers.

Over the years, modern retail followed a similar model across different chains, focusing on quality products, fresh groceries and convenience. With this recipe, the sector’s share of the wider market has remained at about 3 percent, or Tk 20,000 crore, over the past two and a half decades.

However, following a sales boost during the pandemic and the recent withdrawal of the additional value-added tax (VAT) on superstore purchases, more local and foreign firms are competing for a share of the retail segment with an estimated growth of 20 percent annually.

Unlike earlier models, many new entrants are adopting different approaches. For instance, Fresh Super Mart, a new brand from Meghna Group of Industries, has been opening stores at metro rail stations in Dhaka.

Like modern cities such as Tokyo and London, Fresh Mart says it is following footfall patterns rather than opening outlets only in residential neighbourhoods.

Currently, there are 30 major superstore brands in the country, according to the Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association.

The sector basically started in the major cities, but franchise models from ACI’s Shwapno and Pran Group’s Daily Shopping have pushed it into some upazila towns.

Many urban consumers now buy monthly groceries, including rice, vegetables, fish, meat and household goods, from superstores. However, most still combine supermarket visits with traditional wet market shopping, especially for fresh produce.

Roksana Afroz, a resident of Dhaka’s Badda area, said she mainly buys products that are easier to find in superstores than in local shops. “In grocery stores, there is usually a limited variety of packaged goods and the brands are limited to a few specific ones. However, super shops make a wider range of products easily available.”

“Since I do not have to pay extra VAT, I can buy products at the same price, and sometimes even get discounts. In some cases, certain vegetables are also cheaper than in the market, and there is no hassle of bargaining,” she added.

She also said imported goods offer added assurance in superstores. “Additionally, for imported products, the importer’s seal ensures confidence and allows for safe purchases.”

Shahjahan Ali, a resident of Mirpur in Dhaka, said he uses both superstores and kitchen markets depending on need. He said superstores offer more stable pricing.

As an example, he said edible oil prices recently increased by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per litre in the open market without notice, while superstores continued selling at earlier rates.