The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up. In Taiwan, it’s a time for moon-watching and barbecues. While it’s a good time for grocers to make some money, businesses are saying inflation and competition are eating into profits.
Fresh fish in a hot pan. Wait for it to cook, flip it, and you’ve got yourself a delicious dish. Taiwanese sausages are another favorite. These are filled with fish roe which give the links that much more flavor.
What’s with all the good food? Well, the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up, and that means it’s barbecue time in Taiwan.
The Changhua Fisheries Association, as usual, has rolled out a barbecue gift set for this year’s holiday. Each box is packed to the brim. One returning customer says the gift box is a good deal.
Unfortunately, inflation will likely eat into sales profits. Association official Chen Chu-zhan says that logistics costs alone have increased 15% to 20%.
Raising prices is not a viable option either. The association says people are very price-sensitive, and with increased competition from online seafood sellers, it’s not wise to ask consumers for more money.
Though holidays are a time to get festive and indulge, this year, people are being more prudent with their pursestrings. It’s not just consumers that are having a hard time, but businesses, too.