Artfood, Ashtarag, Marianna, Biogat….local products are really good!
Supermarkets in this city are popping up by the day it seems. There are more and more new large supermarkets where the one-stop-shop concept has developed. It’s so nice to be able to find practically everything you need – from peanut butter, to Pine-Sol and everything in between. SAS just opened up a large supermarket on Baghramyan/Gomidas (near Kievyan st.), and Yeritsyan & Sons completely revamped its store, not to mention the huge Star market in Zeitun, and Xpress near the Dashir mall.
I personally get a great kick seeing how this city is transforming itself so quickly and how modern the stores are becoming, but the problem remains that most products sold in these posh supermarkets are still relatively expensive, namely non-local products. You can expect to pay at least 20% more of the same product you are used to buying out of Armenia. Another problem is that you may be used to buying a particular product but by the time you return to the store, the product is no longer on the store shelves or has been discontinued.
These two problems are namely due to the landlocked situation, and it is still comparatively difficult (though much less difficult than a few years back) or costly to import foreign goods. For instance, Parmalat products are quite big here, but they are usually imported from Russia – which means that they must transit through Georgia. There have been so many occasions where the Parmalat products have been short or have simply ceased to be sold in the stores temporarily. This is due to the transport problems that have arisen resulting from the political conflicts between Russia and Georgia.
We are so dependent on Georgia for so many of our imports, and it frustrates me to see this country economically grow at Armenia’s expense. As for Turkey, well, here’s a country that loads its goods onto the Armenian markets. When you go to the Armenia-Georgia border, you will notice countless Turkish trucks transporting Turkish goods into Armenia. And since the Turkish products are much cheaper than say European ones, local people increasingly purchase these at a massive rate. (I don’t really see what the fuss is about opening the Turkish borders, since the Turkish products are still heavily penetrating the local market).
Bottom line in all of this? Encourage local products! Our food products – namely – are tastier, well made, AND cheaper. I know that Armenians have yet to produce peanut butter, or home cleaning products, but in the meantime, I would choose Artfood (or any other local brand) over Bonduelle anytime!
I personally get a great kick seeing how this city is transforming itself so quickly and how modern the stores are becoming, but the problem remains that most products sold in these posh supermarkets are still relatively expensive, namely non-local products. You can expect to pay at least 20% more of the same product you are used to buying out of Armenia. Another problem is that you may be used to buying a particular product but by the time you return to the store, the product is no longer on the store shelves or has been discontinued.
These two problems are namely due to the landlocked situation, and it is still comparatively difficult (though much less difficult than a few years back) or costly to import foreign goods. For instance, Parmalat products are quite big here, but they are usually imported from Russia – which means that they must transit through Georgia. There have been so many occasions where the Parmalat products have been short or have simply ceased to be sold in the stores temporarily. This is due to the transport problems that have arisen resulting from the political conflicts between Russia and Georgia.
We are so dependent on Georgia for so many of our imports, and it frustrates me to see this country economically grow at Armenia’s expense. As for Turkey, well, here’s a country that loads its goods onto the Armenian markets. When you go to the Armenia-Georgia border, you will notice countless Turkish trucks transporting Turkish goods into Armenia. And since the Turkish products are much cheaper than say European ones, local people increasingly purchase these at a massive rate. (I don’t really see what the fuss is about opening the Turkish borders, since the Turkish products are still heavily penetrating the local market).
Bottom line in all of this? Encourage local products! Our food products – namely – are tastier, well made, AND cheaper. I know that Armenians have yet to produce peanut butter, or home cleaning products, but in the meantime, I would choose Artfood (or any other local brand) over Bonduelle anytime!
posted by Lara at 10:22 PM
9 Comments:
I agree. Artfood have got it right down to a T. Their packaging is "rustic" and tasteful, I think if they could get it here, their products would do well as "luxury" goods to supply the sudden surge for "mediterranean" food which has hit the UK imparticular. Their ketchup for example, is so tasty!
yes, the local products are getting better and the new supermarkets (i am still waiting for a real big one to open in the center though) not only offer convenient-shoppping but add color to the city.. even that makes me happy..
there is still room for improvement, but progress is obvious..
the opening of the turkish border is very important for armenia, particularly the western regions.. Hrant Dink in his interview to vem radio was saying that armenia's socio-economic development depends more on turkey than on russia or the states... the turkish border opening will further reduce the prices of turkish goods - consumers will benefit, while the local producers might be worse off... but overall armenia will benefit from increased trade turnover and all the benefits that healthy competition should bring with it... georgia would experience short term losses and may no longer be able to grow at our homeland's expense...
great post!
I'm not so familiar with brands and such as I barely have time to buy my own water... or I'm lazy and resort to supporting the restaurant industry. But my roommate just found this incredible cheese made in Sisian with nice packaging. If things like this keep popping up, perhaps I wont get those cravings for imported products. There's nothing better than buying something you know was made (and WELL made) within your borders. Ahhh.
Sorry for writing in Armenian :) Barekamuthyan vra verjers bacvats SAS supermarketic urbat or@ tort em gnel u tunavorvel. 2 or shat vat ei. Asum en, wor aynteghi mterqner@ himnakanum hin en, worovhetev SAS@ urish xanutneri hamemat aveli tank e (iskapes el aydpes e, erevi mi 20% avel en gner@). Inch verabervum e haykakan pahatsonerin, apa iskapes el dranc worak@ bavakanin lavn e, bayc arayjm hayer@ maiyn pahatsoner en karoghanum normal patrastel. Dranc himnakan mas@ exporti hamar e naxatesvats, depqer gitem, erb pahatsoner artadrogh @nkeruthyun@ chi karoghacel jamanakin bavararel rusakan kam evropakan patviratui pahanjner@ ev gortsarq@ cheghyal e haytararvel. Ardyunqum artadrvats amboghj xmbaqanak@ taratsel en hayastanyan supermarketnerum. Andzamb handipel em aydpisi, miayn ruseren kam miayn angleren grarumnerov pahatsoneri. Ha, emk el haykakan pahatsoner@ utelis zguysh egheq - verjers shatacel en depqer@, erb pahatsoi mej apaku ktor en gtel. Andzamb handipel em "Tamara"-i pahatsoneri mej.
Local food products are great and improving day by day. I'm glad we've started relying less and less on imports.
1L Parmalat milk sells for about $2.50, whereas local producers Marianna and Ashtarak sell for about $0.85. I don't know much about expiration of Parmalat milk, but the Russian milk can last for weeks ... that's just abnormal. Local milk only lasts about 3 days.
Why do we even need Parmalat or Russian milk? Why is the market flooded with imported juices when we have Sis/Yan and Noyan producing a great variety of juices? Who would have ever thought we'd have Armenian mozzarella? Produced by European cows up in Dilijan. Unfortunately, we still rely on some foreign companies such as Bonduelle for canned corn and green peas, but I'm sure sooner or later that will change as well.
Star supermarkets are great, and A LOT more affordable than SAS. SAS prices are ridiculously expensive. Who even buys produce from there? I suppose what Aramk mentioned about SAS produce sitting around for so long, and eventually going bad due to not being sold because of high prices makes perfect sense.
I'm looking forward to the day someone buys the Mashtots market and transforms it into a decent and clean market similar to "Goom". Seeing vendors smoking and blowing the smoke all over non-covered cheese, pickles, sweets, bread, and produce is just disgusting.
Armenia must seriously reconsider its import tax policy and come up with a reasonable system that will protect home made products while get rid of taxes on most imported products that are not produced in Armenia. The current import tax system has created an industry for corrupt custom’s officials who have liberty to arbitrary set prices for import products and cut deals with the importer to reduce their tax fee in return for a kick back from the savings. Also government connected individuals are currently importing products at NO or very low import tax rates and driving out competition who can’t afford to compete with paying the “official” high import tax rates. Hence these gov’t connected individuals are free to set any price on their imported products due to their monopoly on the local market and again average folks end up with the burden of paying the high prices.
DerHova, Agree with you to an extent about the Mashtots market, but there is also something amazing about walking in there and seeing the amazing colour of all the fresh produce. At the end of the day, markets are good, they exist even in "developed"countries and are a great way to interact with people. I guess maybe just tightening of the rules on smoking around produce/their storage may be all that's necessary.
If I am honest I found Star supermarket to have a smaller selection than SAS. I am just basing my observation on the Tumanyan SAS. I am yet to visit this new superstore in Zeitun....Still I remember years ago asking my family about supermarkets and the concept was unfamiliar...now, it seems everywhere you look there is a new "supermarket"
At least 24 hour opening happened straight away, thats brilliant :)
Ashtarak Kat rocks, to be fair.
Hey Harmick, I mentioned "Goom" because they did a great job renovating that market. I think it's a perfect example of what the Mashtots market should be like. The architecturally beautiful market is in a terrible and depressing condition right now.
By the way, Star supermarket's selection has improved, and they have more stores than SAS. ;-)
What's interesting is it's completely expected for all these supermarkets to deliver. Some, such as Galaxy, also have online shopping.
Yea, the gum thing is really well made..just a shame its full of junk shops with nothing worth buying..but I guess that may change with time. I am surprised that big name chains like MANGO etc didnt open small boutiques in the Tashir centre.. ah well
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